Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

A strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle. A group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Harry Essex (screenplay), Arthur A. Ross (screenplay) (as Arthur Ross)

Stars:

Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Carlson	...	David Reed
Julie Adams	...	Kay (as Julia Adams)
Richard Denning	...	Mark Williams
Antonio Moreno	...	Carl Maia
Nestor Paiva	...	Lucas
Whit Bissell	...	Dr. Thompson
Bernie Gozier	...	Zee
Henry A. Escalante	...	Chico (as Henry Escalante)

Storyline

A scientific expedition searching for fossils along the Amazon River discovers a prehistoric Gill-Man in the legendary Black Lagoon. The explorers capture the mysterious creature, but it breaks free. The Gill-Man returns to kidnap the lovely Kay, fiancée of one in the expedition, with whom it has fallen in love.

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Plot Keywords:

amazon | swimming | scientist | fossil | first part | 

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Taglines:

Centuries of passion pent up in his savage heart!

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Lagoon

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$1,300,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Julie Adams has lightheartedly complained that no matter how well she acted or what roles she had in other films, fans always remember her as Julie Adams from Creature from the Black Lagoon.

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Goofs

When the Gill-Man tries to climb aboard the Rita after being drugged and is discovered by Kay, he is clearly standing on a platform before diving back into the water.

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Quotes

Lucas: I can tell you something about this place. The boys around here call it "The Black Lagoon" - a paradise. Only they say nobody has ever come back to prove it.

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Connections

Referenced in Lipstick Jungle: Chapter Twenty: La Vie En Pose (2009)

User Reviews

THE GILL MAN IS FANTASTIC

I was thrilled by this movie as a kid, and still love it today. For a small budget Science Fiction/Horror movie of the fifties, this is a great show. It's well paced, well acted, has great music to accompany the action, and Bud Westmore's Gill Man is a marvel to enjoy. Originally this was a 3-D movie, and thankfully, it looks so much better in regular flat screen. I never really did catch the 3-D craze.

This is a terrific adventure of Man out of his element fighting a Monster in his element. The Gill Man is a thinking being, but, still a monster, who remembers the injuries done him by man and seeks retribution. If the scientists had left him alone, he'd have left them alone. They were the invaders.

And, thank goodness that they didn't have a scene of the kidnapped Julia making friends with the now "peaceful" Gill Man (to show his human side), only to have the heroes show up and kill him. She was taken as "bait" to lure the humans into the Gill Man's lair.

It spawned two sequels (yes, there were sequels even back then), and both are good in their own right, they just didn't achieve what the original did all the way around. Enjoy.