IMDb > The Giant Gila Monster (1959)
The Giant Gila Monster
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The Giant Gila Monster (1959) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
2.9/10   2,100 votes »
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MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ray Kellogg
Writers:
Ray Kellogg (original story)
Jay Simms (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Giant Gila Monster on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Horror See more »
Tagline:
Only Hell could breed such an enormous beast. Only God could destroy it!
Plot:
A giant lizard terrorizes a rural Texas community with a heroic teenager attempting to destroy the creature. Full summary » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
NewsDesk:
(20 articles)
The B-Movie Road Tour Wants You
 (From Dread Central. 13 June 2013, 9:45 AM, PDT)
The B-Movie Road Tour Bringing Spooky Drive-In Fun to the Masses
 (From Dread Central. 7 June 2013, 10:45 AM, PDT)
Two New Trailers and a Poster Stomp Around for Gila!
 (From Dread Central. 1 April 2013, 9:15 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A Pleasurable Guilty Pleasure See more (91 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Don Sullivan ... Chase Winstead
Fred Graham ... Sheriff Jeff
Lisa Simone ... Lisa
Shug Fisher ... Old Man Harris
Bob Thompson ... Mr. Wheeler
Janice Stone ... Missy Winstead
Ken Knox ... Horatio Alger 'Steamroller' Smith
Gay McLendon ... Mom Winstead
Don Flournoy ... Gordy
Cecil Hunt ... Mr. Compton
Stormy Meadows ... Agatha Humphries
Howard Ware ... Ed Humphries
Pat Reeves ... Rick
Jan McLendon ... Jennie
Jerry Cortwright ... Bob
Beverly Thurman ... Gay
Clarke Browne ... Chuck
Grady Vaughn ... Pat Wheeler
Desmond Doogh ... Hitchhiker
Ann Sonka ... Whila
Yolanda Salas ... Liz Humphries
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Andrews ... Extra (uncredited)
Patricia Simmons ... Sherry (uncredited)
Angus G. Wynne III ... Dumb Teen (uncredited)
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Directed by
Ray Kellogg 
 
Writing credits
Ray Kellogg (original story)

Jay Simms (screenplay)

Produced by
Ken Curtis .... producer
B.R. McLendon .... producer
Gordon McLendon .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Jack Marshall 
 
Cinematography by
Wilfred M. Cline  (as Wilfrid M. Cline)
 
Film Editing by
Aaron Stell 
 
Set Decoration by
Louise Caldwell 
 
Makeup Department
Corinne Daniel .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Ben Chapman .... production manager
 
Art Department
Louise Caldwell .... art designer (as Louis Caldwell)
 
Sound Department
Milton Citron .... sound effects
James Richard .... sound effects
Earl Snyder .... sound
 
Special Effects by
Ralph Hammeras .... special photographic effects
Wee Risser .... special photographic effects
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Harry L. Gianneschi .... camera assistant
Henry A. Kokojan .... camera operator
George Gordon Nogle .... camera operator
William John Ranaldi .... camera assistant
 
Music Department
Audrey Granville .... music associate (as Audray Granville)
Jack Marshall .... conductor
Paul Tanner .... musician: electro-theremin (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Audrey A. Blasdel .... script supervisor (as Audrey Blasdel)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
74 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #19329) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)
Filming Locations:
Cielo, Texas, USASee more »
Company:
Hollywood Pictures Corporation (II)See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
This was one of two features produced by an independent company in Texas and meant for release as a double feature. The other feature was The Killer Shrews (1959). Unlike many such features produced in the South, these films received national distribution.See more »
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: As the freight train crashes, you can plainly see the string pulling the engine off of the tracks. Once it goes off, the rest of the train follows.See more »
Quotes:
Sheriff Jeff:Have you heard the reports of a "giant lizard"?
Mr. Wheeler:Yes, but it's just not possible.
Sheriff Jeff:Well, why not? There have been giants before!
See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Svengoolie: The Giant Gila Monster" (1998)See more »
Soundtrack:
I Ain't Made That WaySee more »

FAQ

Is this available on DVD?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
26 out of 26 people found the following review useful.
A Pleasurable Guilty Pleasure, 5 August 2001
Author: BaronBl00d (baronbl00d@aol.com) from NC

I know this film is bad. I know the gila monster is nothing more than a live one put on the ground with some miniature trucks, cars, buildings, and even a train. I know the acting is overall very poor. The script is full of holes, and the special effects are not special. But I really like this film overall. What this film DOES have is a whole lot of heart. The story deals with people missing in a very small town. The sheriff(played very nicely by Fred Graham) is pressured by the local industrialist to find his son that has been missing. Where does the lawmen go for help? Well, he goes to a teenager that happens to work at a local garage, drive a souped up hot-rod, sing rock and roll in his spare time, and is a swell guy in general. Don Sullivan plays the young man, and I think he is actually pretty good. Sure, the film is hokey. What film wouldn't be with a title like The Giant Gila Monster? But this film is more than your typical B science fiction film of the 50's. It really tries hard to create characters rather than just stereotypes. There are scenes that you just would not find in your average teen science fiction flick. The scene where Chase sings to his crippled sister is just one example. This film was produced by Festus..I mean Ken Curtis who also had his hand in that other fun, campy science fiction film of the same year The Killer Shrews.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Giant Gila Monster (1959)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Which Platter-Party Attendee Would The Monster Have First Eaten First? Attillio
great film carlin4737
drunk driving and mushrooms ZootAllures
RetroVirus Episode #1: The Giant Gila Monster thetoadsagejiraya
Remake curator99
Chase Winstead's Curious 'Non-Regional Accent'? Attillio
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