Village of the Giants (1965)

User Rating:

2.6/10   

Director:

Bert I. Gordon

Writers:

H.G. Wells (novel)
Bert I. Gordon (story)

Release Date:

20 October 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

She's 30 feet tall!

Plot:

Delinquent teens ingest a substance and grow to 30 ft tall, then proceed to take over a small town.

Plot Keywords:

Teen | Miniaturization | Growing | Mod | Shrinking

Cast

Tommy Kirk	...	Mike
Johnny Crawford	...	Horsey
Beau Bridges	...	Fred
Ron Howard	...	Genius (as Ronny Howard)
Joy Harmon	...	Merrie
Robert Random	...	Rick (as Bob Random)
Tisha Sterling	...	Jean
Charla Doherty	...	Nancy
Tim Rooney	...	Pete
Kevin O'Neil	...	Harry
Gail Gilmore	...	Elsa
Toni Basil	...	Red
Hank Jones	...	Chuck
Jim Begg	...	Fatso
Vicki London	...	Georgette

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Berkeley Productions

Trivia:

Exteriors were shot on the Columbia Studios backlot (now part of the Warner Bros. Backlot), the same lot as the exteriors for the TV series "Bewitched" (1964) and "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965). Many scenes were shot on Courthouse Square at Universal Studios, which doubled as Hill Valley in Back to the Future (1985).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Visible wires attached to the giant ducks in the nightclub making them jump into the air.

Quotes:

Genius: This time I was sure I had it. It's a very elusive formula.
Elsa: Had what, kiddo?
Genius: Kiddo? I prefer to be called Genius, if you don't mind.
Elsa: Okay, Genius, no offence. What formula?
Genius: For the Goo. There's not much of it, and they want me to make some more. But it's not easy.
Elsa: Why don't we go for a walk, Genius? I'll buy you an ice cream cone.
Genius: I never touch it. It's high in cholesterol. But I'll go for a walk with you.
Elsa: Okay.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Village of the Giants (#6.23)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Woman

The Silly Side Of A Land Of Giants

Fun! Fun! Fun! Great Casting! Great Music! Before this film, we had other "Giant Movies", such as The Incredible Shrinking Man, but a recent YouTube viewing of Village Of The Giants has made me wonder if "Village" is the best of the lot. It has a sense of B-Grade fun that is hard to capture on film...without looking too stupid that is. The dance scene alone, with the little boy grabbing the giant girl, makes the film a winner. And note the music for the dance scene...brainwashing music!

Story elements and character names (Genius) and Ron Howard were all shifted into a Land Of The Giants (1968,ABC) episode called...Genius At Work. However, LOTG played it out in a straight faced way that was demanded by producer Irwin Allen. You could say that LOTG is the best straight Giants show ever and "Village" is the best silly/sexy Giants show ever. Both have a place.

Interestingly, probably like other corners of the world, in 1970s Australia, this film was replayed on network TV every year (at midday), but now it is gone from TV, thank god for the DVD release! Attention Hollywood: Don't remake this film today, "Village" is a product of the 1960s, it is about the 1960s mentality and 1960s music, it would not fit in this century.