Beginning of the End (1957)

Audrey Ames, an enterprising journalist, tries to get the scoop on giant grasshoppers accidentally created at the Illinois State experimental farm. She endeavors to save Chicago, despite a ... See full summary »

Director:

Bert I. Gordon

Writers:

Fred Freiberger (screenplay), Lester Gorn (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Graves, Peggie Castle, Morris Ankrum

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Graves	...	Dr. Ed Wainwright
Peggie Castle	...	Audrey Aimes
Morris Ankrum	...	Gen. John Hanson
Than Wyenn	...	Frank Johnson
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Col. Tom Sturgeon (as Thomas B. Henry)
Richard Benedict	...	Cpl. Mathias
James Seay	...	Capt. James Barton
John Close	...	Maj. Everett
Don C. Harvey	...	Guard at Lab
Larry J. Blake	...	Illinois Highway Patrolman
Eilene Janssen	...	Girl Teenager in Car
Hylton Socher	...	Frank - Soldier
Frank Wilcox	...	Gen. John T. Short
Douglas Evans	...	Norman Taggart - News Editor
Paul Grant	...	Male Teenager in Car

Storyline

Audrey Ames, an enterprising journalist, tries to get the scoop on giant grasshoppers accidentally created at the Illinois State experimental farm. She endeavors to save Chicago, despite a military cover-up.

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Plot Keywords:

grasshopper | military | reporter | scientist | radioactive material | 

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Taglines:

The screen's first full-length science-fiction thriller with real live creatures!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pelon katu

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

AB-PT Pictures Corp.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There really is a town called Ludlow, in the right area in Champaign County, IL, and the town Paxton is just north of it in Ford County. They are also near Chanute AFB, where reporter Audrey Aimes (Peggie Castle) was headed at the beginning of the film.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, two teens are making out. Then, the female looks up and recoils in horror, intimating that she's seen one of the giant locusts. However, much later, Dr. Wainright says that before they attack, grasshoppers let out an ear-piercing screech. Yet, there was no screech before the teens were attacked. Even though they had the radio on, the screeches heard later in the film are deafening and, thus, the teens should have heard it.

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Quotes

Gen. John T. Short: Dr. Wainright, you're a scientist, you know what grasshoppers can do. I'm a soldier, I know what guns can do.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: The Cyclops (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Natural, Natural Baby"
Words and Music by Lou Bartel & Harriet Kane
Sung by Lou Bartel & Chorus
An ABC - Paramount Record

User Reviews

Reporter finds true love and saves the world all in one day!

Beginning of the End (1957) When better to meet your new man than while saving the world from GIANT radioactive grasshoppers! That's what happened to Audrey Ames in "Beginning of the End". Audrey is a persistent reporter who is trying to get the scoop on a new story discovered on her way to a lackluster flying demonstration. On her way to the flying demo, she is stopped at a roadblock to a town that's been mysteriously destroyed! On a hunch, she visits a handsome entomologist named Dr Ed Wainwright. Little does she know that Dr Wainwright is the source of all the trouble in town! After much research, the Dr Ed and Audrey find the first attack site of the killer locust! A little too late for poor Frank Johnson, Dr Wainwright's assistant. Escaping from the locust appetite, the pair try move quickly to convince the army of the problem at hand. After several mistakes and delays, the army is preparing a final assault on the grasshoppers outside and in Chicago! The dilemma: an Atom bomb or a sketchy pied piper routine, which will save the day...

Beginning of the End is an amusing movie to watch! The acting is traditional of the sci fi movies of the era. The special effects are mediocre, but the humor in retrospect is delightful. After some research, I discovered this movie is a B movie attempt at recreating the success of "Them". The studio tried to save some money by using some special effect footage several times and didn't build miniatures to imitate the city. Apparently, the director even went as far as to hire the star of "Them"s brother to fulfill the lead roll of Beginning of the End. The science behind the story line is patchy at best. Several key mistakes were quoted by the scientist and army officers. If you are a fan of cheesy sci fi suspense movies, give this flick a try! You will not be disappointed. Who knows maybe you'll learn something that could save the world the next time we are attacked by radioactive BUGS!