Gorgo (1961)

Director:

Eugène Lourié

Writers (WGA):

Robert L. Richards (screen story) (originally as John Loring) and
Daniel James (screen story) (originally as Daniel Hyatt) ...

Release Date:

29 March 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Neither Bombs, Bullets, Jets or Rockets Can Stop Gorgo...But This Little Boy Knew His Secret!

Plot:

A salvage vessle is nearly sunk off the Irish coast by an undersea earthquake. A few nights later, a...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Sea Monster | Multiple Monsters | Mythological Reference | Circus

Cast

Bill Travers	...	Joe Ryan
William Sylvester	...	Sam Slade
Vincent Winter	...	Sean
Christopher Rhodes	...	McCartin
Joseph O'Conor	...	Professor Hendricks
Bruce Seton	...	Professor Flaherty
Martin Benson	...	Dorkin
Maurice Kaufmann	...	Radio Reporter
Basil Dignam	...	Admiral Brooks
Barry Keegan	...	Mate
Tommy Duggan	...	First Naval Officer
Howard Lang	...	First Colonel
Dervis Ward	...	Bosun

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Irish Gaelic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-12 (re-rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Coliemore Harbour, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

King Brothers Productions

Trivia:

Scenes in which the baby Gorgo is driven through London were shot on a Sunday morning, which meant hardly anyone was in the streets. This was then explained away by a "TV announcer" who said that people were told to stay indoors.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they are about to set fire to fuel dumped in the Thames as Gorgo wades up the river, the wreckage of the Tower Bridge behind the monster can be clearly seen in one shot. But the bridge isn't destroyed by Gorgo until a few minutes after the fuel is set on fire.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Out of this World Super Shock Show (2007) (V)

Godzilla...with a stiff upper lip!

Is imitation the most sincere form of flattery? Only if you're not trying to rip off Godzilla. The Brits try their hand at a monster movie. They end up with pretty much the same results -- lots of toy buildings and cars broken and some guy with sore feet from stepping on them.

Having grown accustomed to seeing Godzilla or Gamera being every insurance salesman's dream, the idea of seeing a monster wiping out Parliament, the Tower of London, and Picadilly Circus is mildly disconcerting. But, the comforting thing is that the actor's dialogue is not dubbed in.

In essence, a couple of pirates ERRR fishermen capture this monster that is terrorizing a small island. They sell him to a businessman who will use the monster in his circus. Trouble is, everyone forgot to consult the monster's MUCH bigger mom. When she realizes that her baby has been monsternapped (?), the stage is set for some miniature building destruction.

Sterno says take a walk with Gorgo, but ask his mom first!