Beginning of the End (1957)

Director:

Bert I. Gordon

Writers:

Fred Freiberger (screenplay) and
Lester Gorn (screenplay)

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 (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
Richard Emory	...	Lieutenant
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
Fred Freiberger		(screenplay) and
Lester Gorn		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bert I. Gordon	....	producer

Original Music by
Albert Glasser

Cinematography by
Jack A. Marta		(director of photography) (as Jack Marta)

Film Editing by
Aaron Stell

Art Direction by
Walter E. Keller		(as Walter Keller)

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
George Milo	....	set dresser
Duncan 'Dean' Parkin	....	stagehand (uncredited)

Sound Department
George J. Eppich	....	sound effects editor
Douglas Stewart	....	sound effects editor
Dick Tyler Sr.	....	sound mixer (as Richard E. Tyler)

Special Effects by
Bert I. Gordon	....	special technical effects
Flora M. Gordon	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Austin Herrick	....	chief set electrician (as Austin Herick)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Albert Glasser	....	conductor
Morrie McNaughton	....	music editor (as Morris K. McNaughton)

Production Companies

• AB-PT Pictures Corp.

Distributors

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

Other Companies

• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  optical effects

Also Known As:

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:

200 grasshoppers were used for the film. During the filming, they began to cannibalize one another, so by the time the last shots were done, only a dozen were left.

Goofs:

Plot holes: It's never explained how the number of grasshoppers increased from a few hundred to endless thousands.

Quotes:

Dr. Ed Wainwright:You can't drop an atom bomb on Chicago!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tremors: The Sounds of Silence (#1.10)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Natural, Natural Baby

Gotta' Love It!

Bert I Gordon.....you gotta love this man. He was the maven of cheapo science fiction films in the 50's and gave us a lot of laughs and fun from his efforts. Don't get me wrong....I think his films are worth watching. There was always a message of some kind, albeit ludicrous and his "special effects" were of the superimposed, see-through type.....but still you get a kick out of viewing people running from oversized insects, amazing colossal men, etc. This film, like most during the 50's deals with mutation of some life form (here it's grasshoppers) into giant beasts who wreak havoc on the world.....in this case Chicago or postcards of Chicago as in the building climbing sequence at the finale. Peter Graves, who seemed to be stuck in this type of film for several years, does a serviceable job as the hero but probably wished he could be someplace else. Peggy Castle plays it straight as the gal pal and some other faces that we all know pop up in supporting roles. But it's the grasshoppers who steal the show.....crawling around on pictures, flying through the air and apparently eating people alive. We salute you, Bert I. Gordon!!! You made late night TV viewing worthwhile!