The Beast of Yucca Flats (1961)

Director:

Coleman Francis

Writer:

Coleman Francis (written by)

Release Date:

2 May 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Commies made him an atomic mutant!

Plot:

A defecting Soviet scientist is hit by a nuclear explosion near Yucca Flats and roams around as a beast.

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Narration | B Movie | Rabbit | Strangulation

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
Graham Stafford	...	News Boy
Tor Johnson	...	Joseph Javorsky / The Beast
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lanell Cado	...	Woman Strangled in Opening Scene (uncredited)
Coleman Francis	...	Narrator / Gas Station Attendant / Man Buying Newspaper (uncredited)
Marcia Knight	...	Jim's Woman (uncredited)
Joseph Luis Rubin	...	Police Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Coleman Francis

Writing credits
Coleman Francis		(written by)

Produced by
Larry Aten	....	associate producer (as Laurence Aten)
Anthony Cardoza	....	producer
Coleman Francis	....	producer
Roland Morin	....	executive producer
Jim Oliphant	....	executive producer (as James Oliphant)
Bing Stafford	....	associate producer (as Charles Stafford)

Original Music by
Irwin Nafshun
Al Remington
Gene Kauer		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
John Cagle		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Coleman Francis		(as C. Francis)
Anthony Cardoza		(uncredited)
Austin McKinney		(uncredited)
Lee Strosnider		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Larry Aten	....	makeup artist (as L. Aten)

Production Management
Austin McKinney	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Austin McKinney	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Titus Moede	....	sound mixer
Lee Strosnider	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Ray Mercer	....	film effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Lee Strosnider	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)

Other crew
Anthony Cardoza	....	presenter
Theodore Charach	....	publicist (as Ted Charach)

Distributors

• Cinema Associates (II) (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anthony Cardoza Enterprises (1961) (USA) (theatrical) (states rights system)
• Tapeworm Video Distributors (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Gotham Distribution (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Bach Films (2009) (France) (DVD)
• Englewood Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Englewood Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• FilmAnnex (2006) (worldwide) (all media)
• Mad Monster Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

"Girl Madness" - USA (reissue title)

Runtime:

54 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Trivia:

The rabbit scene was filmed by John Cagle.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the police officer on plane opens the window and starts shooting, neither the strap around his gun nor his hair blow in the wind that would be created by a plane moving at such a high speed.

Quotes:

[after one of the Beast's victims dies]
Joe Dobson:Well, doctors can't help her. Maybe angels, but not doctors.

Movie Connections:

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

Cinema: How it should NOT be done!

Tor Johnson is probably best remembered for his starring in the so-called "worst movie ever made" Plan 9 from Outer Space! Well, the people who voted this obviously never saw The Beast of Yucca Flats! Ed Wood's Plan 9 is an authentic masterpiece compared to Coleman Francis' unendurable work of art. As most of my fellow-reviewers already pointed out: everything that can go possibly wrong in a movie features here…times ten! Even though the story only lasts 54 minutes, it's one of the most tedious experiences I ever had to sit through! Johnson plays a devoted scientist (oh yeah, he really looks like one) chased by cops (why? You tell me…) into a radiation test-area. There, he transforms into some sort of Hulky monster that goes on a lame prowl in the desert. What follows is a hilarious attempt by Francis to create tension and confusion, as he shows cops hunting down the wrong person (for 10 minutes!) and Johnson chasing two young boys that got lost in the wastelands. There's as good as no dialogue in the film, only Francis' own voice-over. And I guarantee you'll be wishing him dead after approximately 15 minutes. He talks the biggest nonsense (example: "Touch a button. Things happen. A scientist becomes a beast") and personally introduces you to even the most meaningless side-character! Argh, the humanity!! The spontaneously improvised ending (featuring Johnson kissing a baby rabbit) just stresses how ingeniously awful this production actually is. Oh well, at least it's bad in a fun way. Most of the time, you can't figure out whether to pity or worship everyone involved in this film. Johnson wisely decided to quit his acting career after this but Coleman Francis ambitiously persisted chasing his dreams and delivered the – even worse – film "Night Train to Munde Fino" in 1966. His cinema career regretfully ended with guest appearances where he got credited as "Fat drunk" or "1st man"… What a damn shame! Believe the public opinion on this one, folks! It really is awful…