Gargoyles (1972) (TV)

Director:

Bill L. Norton

Writers:

Elinor Karpf (writer)
Steven Karpf (writer)

Release Date:

21 November 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

They're coming for you!

Plot:

An anthropologist/paleontologist and his daughter, while travelling through the southwestern US, stumble upon a colony of living, breathing gargoyles who in the end only want to be left alone.

Plot Keywords:

Gargoyle | Desert | Father Daughter Relationship | Anthropologist | Anthropology

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Cornel Wilde	...	Dr. Mercer Boley
Jennifer Salt	...	Diana Boley
Grayson Hall	...	Mrs. Parks
Bernie Casey	...	The Gargoyle
Scott Glenn	...	James Reeger
William Stevens	...	Police Chief
John Gruber	...	Jesse
Woody Chambliss	...	Uncle Willie
Jim Connell	...	Buddy
Timothy Burns	...	Morris Ray (as Tim Burns)
Mickey Alzola	...	Gargoyle
Greg Walker	...	Gargoyle
Rock A. Walker	...	Gargoyle (as Rock Walker)

Runtime:

74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Carlsbad Caverns National Park - 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Tomorrow Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Dr. Mercer Boley and his daughter Diana replay the recording from "Old Willie" they listen through the part where Diana had to turn around the tape without turning the tape around again. You even hear her say "Just a minute..." with a pause but then the recording continues.

Movie Connections:

References Häxan (1922)

Worthy of a remake

This is one of those childhood films that has always stuck in my mind. As a kid, I was freaked out by gargoyles because of this movie (unlike the next generation who saw gargoyles as defenders of evil, thanks to a Disney series). Seeing it again as an adult is a different matter entirely...

For 1972, this was one helluva TV movie. The effects, though dated by today's CGI-laden standards, were spectacular -- and the Stan Winston created gargoyle suits still look good pretty damn today.

What the film lacks is a coherant story. The bare-bones 74 minute movie had potential to be so much better than 50's b-movie fare, but instead the filmmakers opted to skip a solid story and add in a group of bikers and other silliness that reflected the times. Cornel Wilde was probably in the late stages of his alcoholism, and it showed in his hokey performance as the lead. His lines are delivered with a wooden tone and no conviction. Jennifer Salt, who I liked in "Soap," seemed miscast here, though she was effective. The only really memorable human character is the horny lady that owns the motel which Wilde and Salt stay in. The REAL stars of the film were Bernie Casey, Richard Moll and all the other Gargoyles, hidden under latex costumes... with the ability to scare young children. By today's standards, this comes close to "The Creature from the Black Lagoon," "Them" and other '50s drive-in films.

Another person commented the similarities to the gargoyles and "Jeepers Creepers." While I agree that The Creeper had certain similarities, there was only one Creeper and the impact of that character certainly couldn't be what Gargoyles had on a 1972 audience. More than any other TV movie I've ever seen, I think Gargoyles should be remade today with a big-screen release, and Winston should recreate his creature suits with modern makeup technology. Although it is just a minor cult film, Gargoyles has the potential to be so much more... Just a thought.