The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961)

Director:

Coleman Francis

Writer:

Coleman Francis (writer)

Release Date:

2 May 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Commies made him an atomic mutant!

Plot:

A defecting Russian scientist is transformed by an atomic test into a hulking monster, Tor Johnson, of course...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Rabbit | B Movie | Narration | Mutant

Cast

Douglas Mellor	...	Hank Radcliffe
Barbara Francis	...	Lois Radcliffe
Bing Stafford	...	Jim Archer
Larry Aten	...	Joe Dobson
Linda Bielema	...	Wife on Vacation
Ronald Francis	...	Randy Radcliffe
Alan Francis	...	Art Radcliffe
Anthony Cardoza	...	KGB Driver / Helpful Neighbor (as Tony Cardoza)
Bob Labansat	...	Javorsky's Bodyguard
Jim Oliphant	...	Husband on Vacation
John Morrison	...	KGB Passenger
Eric Tomlin	...	Driver Run off Road
Jim Miles	...	Javorsky's Driver
George Prince	...	Man who Reports Murder (as George Principe)
Conrad Brooks	...	Man at Airfield

Also Known As:

Girl Madness (USA) (reissue title)
The Atomic Monster: The Beast of Yucca Flats
The Violent Sun (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

54 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Saugus, California, USA

Trivia:

This film was shot without sound. To avoid having to sync a lot of the sound during post production, the actors would turn away from the camera when speaking or cup their hands over their mouths when shouting.

Goofs:

Continuity: The Radcliffes' sodas disappear from their hands.

Quotes:

Narrator: Always on the prowl. Looking for something or somebody to kill. Quench the killer's thirst.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Beast of Yucca Flats (#7.21)" (1995)

Useful as meditation device

There is something very Zen-like about "Beast of Yucca Flats". The vast lingering views of the desert Southwest. The odd disconnected dialogue that sounds completely disembodied. The haiku like narration.

It is in the spirit of Coleman Francis' narration that I now give impressions of the film: A clock ticks. A beautiful girl. A hidden killer. The clock stops. There is no connection.

The vast desert. A plane lands. Joseph Javorski, noted scientist. Joseph Javorski, who looks like he could eat whole pigs, has the fate of the world in his briefcase. The Kremlin's best make him a target. The wheels of progress grind on.

A chase. Bullets. Murder. Flag on the Moon...how did it get there? A bomb. More progress. Touch a button, something happens. A scientist becomes a beast.

Figures in a landscape. Who knows how long we really have? Joe and Jim, desert patrolman. They guard freedom and democracy 24/7 in this landscape. A beast is on the loose. Joseph Javorski, once a noted scientist, now...nothing.

There is no progress in the desert. Yet its effects are everywhere. Man's progress. Quench the killer's thirst. A family stops for a rest. The beast appears. A terrible mistake. Policemen with quick guns and the minds of swine. An innocent man dies. Who cares? Two boys feed soda pop to thirsty pigs. It's progress, you know.

Confrontation. A fight that is not a fight. A gun with no bullets fires. Joseph Javorski, noted scientist, becomes rabbit food. The wheels of progress grind on. End.

The viewer's mind becomes nothing. What have we seen? Who believes in flying saucers? Coleman Francis. The name lingers on. The lonely cry of desert winds. I love the movies.