Beginning of the End (1957)

Director:

Bert I. Gordon

Writers:

Fred Freiberger (writer)
Lester Gorn (writer)

Release Date:

28 June 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Filmed in New Horrorscope!

Plot:

Audrey Ames, an enterprising journalist, tries to get the scoop on giant grasshoppers accidentally created at the Illinois State experimental farm...

Plot Keywords:

Grasshopper | Military | Scientist | Reporter | Locust

Cast

Peter Graves	...	Dr. Ed Wainwright
Peggie Castle	...	Audrey Aimes
Morris Ankrum	...	Gen. John Hanson
Than Wyenn	...	Frank Johnson
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Col. Tom Sturgeon
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	...	Teenager in Car
Hylton Socher	...	Frank - Soldier
Frank Wilcox	...	Gen. John T. Short
Douglas Evans	...	Norman Taggart - News Editor
Paul Grant
Richard Emory
Hank Patterson	...	Dave
Steve Warren	...	Soldier at Observation Post #3
Frank Connor	...	Soldier at Observation Post #1
Don Eitner	...	Soldier at Observation Post #2
Rayford Barnes	...	Chuck - National Guard Corporal
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kirk Alyn	...	B-52 Pilot (uncredited)
Bill Baldwin	...	TV Announcer (uncredited)
Frank Chase	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Patricia Dean	...	Red Cross Representative (uncredited)
James Douglas	...	Army Sentry (uncredited)
Paul Frees	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited) (voice)
Lyle Latell	...	Police Lt. MacKenzie (uncredited)
Dennis Moore	...	Police Dispatcher (uncredited)
Zon Murray	...	National Guard Sergeant (uncredited)
Alan Reynolds	...	Insecticide Man (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford	...	Extra beside Red Cross Representative (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Col. Hill (uncredited)
Alan Wells	...	Headquarters Sergeant (uncredited)

Directed by
Bert I. Gordon

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Fred Freiberger		writer
Lester Gorn		writer

Produced by
Bert I. Gordon	....	producer

Original Music by
Albert Glasser

Cinematography by
Jack A. Marta

Film Editing by
Aaron Stell

Art Direction by
Walter E. Keller

Set Decoration by
George Milo

Makeup Department
Steve Drumm	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melville Shyer	....	assistant director
Wilson Shyer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
James Harris	....	property master
Duncan 'Dean' Parkin	....	stagehand

Sound Department
George J. Eppich	....	sound effects
Douglas Stewart	....	sound effects
Dick Tyler Sr.	....	sound

Special Effects by
Bert I. Gordon	....	special effects
Flora M. Gordon	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Austin Herrick	....	electrician

Music Department
Morrie McNaughton	....	music editor

Production Companies

• AB-PT Pictures Corp.

Distributors

• Republic Pictures (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Video Treasures (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Nothing's New Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Sinister Cinema (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Rhino Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Rhino Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  optical effects

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

AB-PT Pictures Corp.

Trivia:

The National Guardsmen wear the insignia of the U.S. 33rd Infantry Division, which is indeed the designated unit of the Illinois National Guard. The soldiers in Chicago wear the insignia of the U.S. Fifth Army, which at the time was headquartered in Chicago, where the film takes place.

Goofs:

Continuity: The plane carrying the A-Bomb is referred to as a B-52 Superfortress, but the stock footage used is of a B-36 Peacemaker.

Quotes:

Col. Tom Sturgeon: Where do I get off asking the Regular Army for help with a bunch of oversize grasshoppers?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Pixar Story (2007)

My first Bert I. Gordon flick.

Bert I. Gordon liked big things. His parents must've known, because they made sure his initials spelled out a specific word. This is the first one I've ever seen, and it's nothing short of hilarious. The army stock footage, the grasshoppers superimposed onto the film (as opposed to that "phony" stop-motion stuff), Peter Graves, Morris Ankrum, and Tom Browne Henry all in one film, and Gordon still has room to put mountains into Illinois. This has got to be the typical big bug film - and, supposedly, this is one of Robert Zemeckis's favorite films! If you have a chance, watch it on MST3K (Mystery Science Theater to non-fans.)