The Blob (1958)

Director:

Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.
(more)

Writers:

Theodore Simonson (screenplay) and
Kay Linaker (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 September 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Beware of the Blob! It creeps, and leaps, and glides and slides across the floor.

Plot:

An alien lifeform consumes everything in its path as it grows and grows.

Plot Keywords:

Blob | Doctor | Alien | Meteorite | Police

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	Steve Andrews (as Steven McQueen)
Aneta Corsaut	...	Jane Martin
Earl Rowe	...	Lt. Dave
Olin Howland	...	Old Man (as Olin Howlin)
Alden 'Stephen' Chase	...	Dr. T. Hallen (as Steven Chase)
John Benson	...	Sgt. Jim Bert
George Karas	...	Officer Ritchie
Lee Payton	...	Kate the Nurse
Elbert Smith	...	Henry Martin
Hugh Graham	...	Mr. Andrews
Vincent Barbi	...	George - Cafe Owner (as Vince Barbi)
Audrey Metcalf	...	Elizabeth Martin
Jasper Deeter	...	Civil Defense Volunteer
Tom Ogden
Elinor Hammer	...	Mrs. Porter
Pamela Curran	...	Smooching Teenager
Ralph Roseman
Charlie Overdorff
David Metcalf
Josh Randolph
George Gerbereck
Julie Cousins	...	Sally - Waitress
Kieth Almoney	...	Danny Martin
Eugene Sabel
Robert Fields	...	Tony Gressette
James Bonnet	...	'Mooch' Miller
Anthony Franke	...	Al
Molly Ann Bourne	...	Teenager
Diane Tabben	...	Teenager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Howard Fishlove	...	Man running out of theater (uncredited)

Directed by
Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.
Russell S. Doughten Jr.		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Theodore Simonson		(screenplay) and
Kay Linaker		(screenplay) (as Kate Phillips)
Irvine Millgate		(original idea) (as Irvine H. Millgate)

Produced by
Russell S. Doughten Jr.	....	associate producer (as Russell Doughten)
Jack H. Harris	....	producer

Original Music by
Ralph Carmichael

Cinematography by
Thomas E. Spalding		(director of photography) (as Thomas Spalding)

Film Editing by
Alfred Hillmann

Art Direction by
William Jersey
Karl Karlson

Makeup Department
Vin Kehoe	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Elbert Smith	....	assistant director (as Bert Smith)

Sound Department
Gottfried Buss	....	sound
Robert Clement	....	sound

Special Effects by
Bart Sloane	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Vincent Spangler	....	chief set electrician
Wayne Trace	....	camera operator
Howard Fishlove	....	head grip (uncredited)
Frank Pasquine	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Floyd Ver Voorn	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ralph Carmichael	....	conductor
Jean Yeaworth	....	music supervisor
Burt Bacharach	....	composer: title theme (uncredited)

Other crew
Frank B. Fuhr	....	assistant to producer (as Frank Fuhr)
Travis Hillmann	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Fairview Productions
• Tonylyn Productions Inc.

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Allied Artists Pictures (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Paramount (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Beverly Wilshire Filmworks (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2000) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Criterion Collection, The (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Indies Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• MRA Entertainment Group (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Mad Monster Video (video)
• NovelFilms (2004) (DVD) (non-USA)
• Opção (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Video Gems (video)
• Vogue Video (1982) (Canada) (video)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Glob (USA) (working title)
The Glob That Girdled the Globe (USA) (working title)
The Meteorite Monster (USA) (working title)
The Molten Meteorite (USA) (working title)
The Night of the Creeping Dead (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

86 min | USA:82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 (nf) | UK:12 (re-rating) | Italy:T | Australia:M (alternate rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:PG | Finland:K-16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Fairview Productions

Trivia:

Partially filmed in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The theater everyone is seen running from is the Colonial Theater.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the backwards drag race, the car exhaust can be seen going back into the exhaust pipes.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Lieutenant Dave: At least we've got it stopped.
Steve Andrews: Yeah, as long as the Arctic stays cold.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Dead End (1985)

Soundtrack:

THE BLOB

Excellent B-grade entertainment!

The Blob is a classic 1950s B-movie sci-fi flick. You probably know the story: two teens (Steve McQueen & Aneta Corsaut) see a meteorite hit the ground, and when they go to look for it, they run into an old man with some weird...blob attached to his arm. They take him to the doctor's office, and then go to find out what happened. From there, the blob spreads, eating everyone in its path. The special effects are cheesy fun, as is the story. There are a lot of great touches, like the cop who plays chess over the radio with a cop in another district. It's no masterpiece, but it has a special place in its genre. Steve McQueen is very good. 8/10.