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 Lawrence (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:

b movie | amazon | swimming | scientist | fossil | 

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Taglines:

Not since the beginning of time has the world beheld terror like this!

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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

Two different stuntmen were used to portray the creature and therefore two different suits were used in the movie. Ricou Browning played the creature when it was in the water and wore a lighter suit. Ben Chapman played the creature when it was out of the water with a darker suit.

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Goofs

In the cave, when the Gill Man lifts David over his head, the wires lifting David into the air are faintly visible, then can be seen snapping loose as the Gill Man lowers him back to the ground.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the Earth was without form and void. This the planet Earth, newly born and and cooling rapidly from a temperature 6,000 degrees to a few hundred in less than 5 billion years. Heat rises, meets the atmosphere, the clouds form, and rain pours down upon the hardening surface for countless centuries. The restless seas rise, find boundaries, are contained. Now, in their warm depths, the miracle of life begins. In infinite ...

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Connections

Referenced in The Fairly OddParents: Scary Godparents (2002)

User Reviews

The Gillman Strikes!!

As universal approached the 1950's they needed a new monster to follow in the footsteps of Frankensteins monster,Dracula,the wolfman,etc; they came up with the creature from the black lagoon a vicious yet sometimes playful monster,that likes a bathing beauty in the form of very beautiful Julie Adams(who looked very good in her little white bathing suit)the creature is sought by some scientists led by Richard denning and Richard Carlson,and whit bissell(teenage werewolf and teenage Frankenstein fame)along for the ride is sexy Julie Adams and boat captain Antonio Moreno,who likes to scare the alligators with his boat horn.the creature who is being hunted turns to the hunter.the creature was originally shown in 3d,and spawned two sequels and a popular monster model kit by aurora,that i had as a kid.the second creature movie was filmed in Florida,the creature joined the ranks of universal monsters and became a cult classic as well.10 out of 10.