The Black Scorpion (1957)

Director:

Edward Ludwig

Writers:

David Duncan (screenplay) and
Robert Blees (screenplay) ...
(more)

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 (as Carlos Muzquiz)
Pascual García Peña	...	José de la Cruz (as Pascual Peña)
Fanny Schiller	...	Florentina
Pedro Galván	...	Father Delgado (as Pedro Galvan)
Arturo Martínez	...	Major Cosio (as Arturo Martinez)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Johnson	...	Narrator / Police Radio Dispatcher / Radio Newscaster / Public Address Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Ludwig

Writing credits
David Duncan		(screenplay) and
Robert Blees		(screenplay)
Paul Yawitz		(story)

Produced by
Jack Dietz	....	producer
Frank Melford	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Sawtell

Cinematography by
Lionel Lindon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Richard L. Van Enger

Art Direction by
Edward Fitzgerald

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jaime Contreras	....	assistant director
Ray Heinz	....	assistant director (as Ray Heinze)

Sound Department
Mandine Rogne	....	sound effects
Rafael Ruiz Esparza	....	sound (as Rafael L. Esparza)

Special Effects by
Willis H. O'Brien	....	supervisor of special effects (as Willis O'Brien)
Wah Chang	....	creator: scorpion puppet (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Pete Peterson	....	animator (as Peter Peterson)
Ralph Hammeras	....	additional effects (uncredited)

Music Department
Jack Cookerly	....	composer: electronic music
Paul Sawtell	....	conductor
Bert Shefter	....	orchestrator

Production Companies

• Amex Productions
• Frank Melford-Jack Dietz Productions

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

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 sounds of the scorpions are the same sounds as the ant chirps in Them! (1954).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the train is being attacked, the "passengers" are just black silhouettes painted on the train windows. As mentioned in another goof, this is a small scale model train made by 'Lionel Linden'.

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)

Great movie...when the monsters are on screen

Giant scorpions are unearthed by an earthquake and threaten to attack New Mexico. By the numbers script, but the acting is (surprisingly) good...it's just that the script is VERY dull. And when the giant scorpions (and worms and spiders) are on screen the movie is fantastic. These creatures look terrifying (the close ups of the scorpions' face are not pleasant) and the stop motion animation is superb. So...dull except when the monsters are on screen. Worth seeing for monster fans.