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Tarantula

  • 1955
  • Approved
  • 1h 20m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
10K
YOUR RATING
John Agar and Mara Corday in Tarantula (1955)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:50
1 Video
99+ Photos
HorrorSci-Fi

A spider escapes from an isolated Arizona desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.A spider escapes from an isolated Arizona desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.A spider escapes from an isolated Arizona desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

  • Director
    • Jack Arnold
  • Writers
    • Robert M. Fresco
    • Martin Berkeley
    • Jack Arnold
  • Stars
    • John Agar
    • Mara Corday
    • Leo G. Carroll
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    10K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jack Arnold
    • Writers
      • Robert M. Fresco
      • Martin Berkeley
      • Jack Arnold
    • Stars
      • John Agar
      • Mara Corday
      • Leo G. Carroll
    • 133User reviews
    • 95Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Tarantula
    Trailer 1:50
    Watch Tarantula

    Photos111

    Leo G. Carroll in Tarantula (1955)
    Tarantula (1955)
    John Agar, Leo G. Carroll, and Mara Corday in Tarantula (1955)
    Tarantula (1955)
    Tarantula (1955)
    John Agar and Mara Corday in Tarantula (1955)
    Tarantula (1955)
    Tarantula (1955)
    John Agar in Tarantula (1955)
    Leo G. Carroll and Mara Corday in Tarantula (1955)
    Leo G. Carroll in Tarantula (1955)
    Leo G. Carroll and Mara Corday in Tarantula (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Agar
    John Agar
    • Dr. Matt Hastings
    Mara Corday
    Mara Corday
    • Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton
    Leo G. Carroll
    Leo G. Carroll
    • Prof. Gerald Deemer
    Nestor Paiva
    Nestor Paiva
    • Sheriff Jack Andrews
    Ross Elliott
    Ross Elliott
    • Joe Burch
    Edwin Rand
    Edwin Rand
    • Lt. John Nolan
    Raymond Bailey
    Raymond Bailey
    • Townsend
    Hank Patterson
    Hank Patterson
    • Josh
    Bert Holland
    Bert Holland
    • Barney Russell
    Steve Darrell
    Steve Darrell
    • Andy Andersen
    Wag Blesing
    Wag Blesing
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Dee Carroll
    Dee Carroll
    • Telephone Operator
    • (uncredited)
    Edgar Dearing
    Edgar Dearing
    • Second Tramp
    • (uncredited)
    George DeNormand
    George DeNormand
    • Arizona State Trooper
    • (uncredited)
    Don Dillaway
    Don Dillaway
    • Jim Bagny
    • (uncredited)
    Clint Eastwood
    Clint Eastwood
    • Jet Squadron Leader
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Hendricks
    Jack Hendricks
    • Ranch Hand
    • (uncredited)
    Jane Howard
    Jane Howard
    • Jean - Professor Townsend's Assistant
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jack Arnold
    • Writers
      • Robert M. Fresco
      • Martin Berkeley
      • Jack Arnold
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The spider that portrayed the giant tarantula later appeared in The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) as the spider threatening the shrinking man.
    • Goofs
      Mistake in the German translation: When Prof. Deemer refers to the world population growth, the numerical "billion" is translated into German as "Billionen", which actually mean "trillion".
    • Quotes

      Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton: Science is science, but a girl MUST get her hair done.

    • Connections
      Edited into Attack of the 50 Foot Monster Mania (1999)

    User reviews133

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Surprisingly Good Sci-Fi
    In Desert Rock, Arizona, a disfigured man is found dead and identified by Professor Gerald Deemer (Leo G. Carroll) as his assistant and friend Dr. Eric Jacobs, who would suffer from acromegalia. The country doctor Matt Hastings (John Agar) is puzzled with the mysterious disease and decides to investigate further about acromegalia. Professor Deemer omits that Dr. Eric Jacobs and Dr. Paul Lund were researching with him a nutrient to increase the food supply in the world and they have been affected by the experiment. Soon Paul Lund, who has also been affected and is mad, breaks and sets the laboratory on fire and a huge tarantula escapes.

    Meanwhile, the gorgeous Stephanie "Steve" Clayton (Mara Corday) arrives in town to work with Dr. Jacobs, and Dr. Hastings drives her to Professor Deemer's house in the desert. She is hired by Deemer and she finds that he is sick. When cattle bones are found in a farm, Hastings collects material and flies to a laboratory, where he learns that the sample is of tarantula's venom. But the scientist does not believe that one tarantula could ever produce such quantity of venom. The doctor returns to Desert Rock sure that the species is part of Prof. Deemer's experiment and the locals are threatened by the dangerous tarantula.

    "Tarantula" is a typical sci-fi of the 50's and a surprisingly good film. The screenplay is very well written and the movie is supported by good direction, performances, cinematography and special effects. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "Tarântula!" ("Tarantula!")

    Note: On 16 Sep 2018 I saw this film again.
    helpful•21
    4
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Jul 24, 2012

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 20, 1956 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tarantula!
    • Filming locations
      • Dead Man's Point, Lucerne Valley, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal International Pictures (UI)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,100,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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