The Black Scorpion (1957)

Director:

Edward Ludwig

Writers:

Robert Blees (writer)
David Duncan (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

DON'T BE ASHAMED TO SCREAM - IT HELPS TO RELIEVE THE TENSION

Plot:

Volcanic activity frees giant scorpions from the earth who wreak havoc in the rural countryside and eventually threaten Mexico City.

Plot Keywords:

Mexico City | Scorpion | Mexico | Geologist | Cavern

Cast

Richard Denning	...	Hank Scott
Mara Corday	...	Teresa Alvarez
Carlos Rivas	...	Artur Ramos
Mario Navarro	...	Juanito
Carlos Múzquiz	...	Dr. Velazco
Pascual García Peña	...	José de la Cruz
Fanny Schiller	...	Florentina
Pedro Galván	...	Father Delgado
Arturo Martínez	...	Major Cosio

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #18505) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Estadio Universitario, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Amex Productions

Trivia:

The trapdoor spider that attacks Juanito in the scorpions' underground home is one of the original models left over from the famous deleted spider sequence in King Kong (1933)

Goofs:

Continuity: Drs. Scott and Ramos switch positions three times while driving in the Jeep.

Quotes:

Teresa Alvarez: Caviar? Aren't you overdoing it a bit, Hank?
Hank Scott: Well, I've got to make an impression on you in 48 hours that'll last for two months. What's the matter, don't you like caviar?
Teresa Alvarez: Oh, I love it, but, I must say, I could never understand why it's so expensive!
Hank Scott: Well, it's a whole year's work for a sturgeon.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Black Scorpion (#2.12)" (1990)

Giant Scorpions Unleashed In Mexico!

A volcano erupts and spits up these scorpions that are huge and prehistoric. This is the premise for The Black Scorpion, a 50's sci-fi/giant bug film. As cheesy 50's films go, this one is entertaining, if not a little slow in places. The Mexican landscape looks authentic and the scorpions themselves are pretty good when left in the hands of Willis O'Brien. But the close-ups of the creatures are a bit overused, almost to the point of becoming annoying. The scorpions kill each other off until one giant one is left to wreak his vengeance(and whet his appetite) in Mexico City. The best scene is the one when scientist Richard Denning(and his incredibly boring assistant Carlos Rivas, and annoying stow-a-way Juanito) are lowered into a giant cavern and the realm of Willis O'Brien's wonderful stop-motion animation. The rest of the film is rather predictable but still entertaining, and Mara Corday is at least pleasant to the eye as she must have had her clothing painted onto her.