Tarantula (1955)
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- Approved
- 1h 20min
- Horror, Sci-Fi
- 20 Feb 1956 (Sweden)
- Movie
A spider escapes from an isolated Arizona desert laboratory experimenting in gigantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| John Agar | ... |
Dr. Matt Hastings
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| Mara Corday | ... |
Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton
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| Leo G. Carroll | ... |
Prof. Gerald Deemer
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| Nestor Paiva | ... |
Sheriff Jack Andrews
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| Ross Elliott | ... |
Joe Burch
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| Edwin Rand | ... |
Lt. John Nolan
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| Raymond Bailey | ... |
Townsend
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| Hank Patterson | ... |
Josh
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| Bert Holland | ... |
Barney Russell
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| Steve Darrell | ... |
Andy Andersen
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Benjie Bancroft | ... |
Trooper (uncredited)
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| Wag Blesing | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Dee Carroll | ... |
Telephone Operator (uncredited)
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| Edgar Dearing | ... |
Second Tramp (uncredited)
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| George DeNormand | ... |
Arizona State Trooper (uncredited)
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| Don Dillaway | ... |
Jim Bagny (uncredited)
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| Stewart East | ... |
Trooper (uncredited)
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| Clint Eastwood | ... |
Jet Squadron Leader (uncredited)
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| Jack Hendricks | ... |
Ranch Hand (uncredited)
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| Jane Howard | ... |
Jean - Professor Townsend's Assistant (uncredited)
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James Hyland | ... |
Trooper Grayson (uncredited)
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| Tom London | ... |
Jeb - First Tramp (uncredited)
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Robert Nelson | ... |
State Trooper (uncredited)
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| Eddie Parker | ... |
Paul Lund / Eric Jacobs (uncredited)
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Ray Quinn | ... |
State Trooper (uncredited)
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| Vernon Rich | ... |
Ridley (uncredited)
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Robert Robinson | ... |
Charlie - Castle Rock Townsman (uncredited)
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| Bing Russell | ... |
Deputized Townsman (uncredited)
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| Robert R. Stephenson | ... |
Warehouseman (uncredited)
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| Jack Stoney | ... |
Pickup Passenger (uncredited)
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| Sailor Vincent | ... |
Townsman (uncredited)
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| Billy Wayne | ... |
Murphy (uncredited)
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Rusty Wescoatt | ... |
Pickup Driver (uncredited)
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| Bud Wolfe | ... |
Bus Driver (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Jack Arnold | ||
Written by
| Robert M. Fresco | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Martin Berkeley | ... | (screenplay) |
| Jack Arnold | ... | (story) and |
| Robert M. Fresco | ... | (story) |
Produced by
| William Alland | ... | producer |
Music by
| Henry Mancini | ... | (uncredited) |
| Herman Stein | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| George Robinson | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| William Morgan | ... | (as William M. Morgan) |
Art Direction by
| Alexander Golitzen | ||
| Alfred Sweeney | ||
Set Decoration by
| Russell A. Gausman | ||
| Ruby R. Levitt | ||
Costume Design by
| Jay A. Morley Jr. | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Joan St. Oegger | ... | hair stylist |
| Bud Westmore | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Cliff Reid | ... | assistant director |
| Frank Shaw | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Eddie Case | ... | props |
Sound Department
| Leslie I. Carey | ... | sound |
| Frank H. Wilkinson | ... | sound (as Frank Wilkinson) |
| Edward L. Sandlin | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| Joe Sikorsky | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Wah Chang | ... | creator: tarantula puppet (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Clifford Stine | ... | special photography |
| David S. Horsley | ... | special photographic effects supervisor (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Eddie Parker | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bud Wolfe | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Joseph Gershenson | ... | music supervisor |
| Henry Mancini | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| David Tamkin | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Reynold Brown | ... | movie poster art (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Universal International Pictures (UI) (presents)
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1955) (United States) (theatrical) (as Universal-International)
- Empire Universal Films (1955) (Canada) (theatrical)
- General Film Distributors (GFD) (1955) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures Proprietary (1956) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures Corporation of Far East (1956) (Philippines) (theatrical)
- Universal Filmverleih (1956) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- International Film (1956) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1956) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Väinän Filmi (1956) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1956) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Universal Films of India (1956) (India) (theatrical)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (United States) (VHS)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2004) (Finland) (tv)
- Universal Pictures Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (United States) (DVD) (included in "The Classic Ultimate Sci-Fi collection Volume 1")
- L'Atelier 13 (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
- Emerald (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Spain (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2011) (United States) (DVD) (Universal Vault Series)
- Koch Media (2014) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- 101 Films (2017) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2018) (Australia) (DVD)
- Scream Factory (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Artaire Films (2020) (Spain) (VOD)
- Universal Pictures Spain (2020) (Spain) (Blu-ray)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2021) (Australia) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Deluxe Digital Studios (DVD transfer)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under jurisdiction of: affiliated with A. F. of L.)
- Western Electric (recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the Arizona desert, Professor Gerald Deemer (Leo G. Carroll) is experimenting with growth hormones in the hopes of finding a way to increase the world's food supply. His partner in the project was recently found dead in the desert, suffering from a disease that normally takes years to advance, but, in his case, seems to have afflicted him in only a few days. The local doctor, Matt Hastings (John Agar), is puzzled by the strange case and, with Deemer's recently arrived (and very pretty) assistant, Stephanie "Steve" Clayton (Mara Corday), tries to figure out what is going on. When cattle remains are found in the countryside, evidence points to a giant tarantula as the culprit. Written by garykmcd |
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| Taglines | More terrifying than any horror known to man comes a creeping crawling monster whose towering fury no one can escape! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The spider that portrayed the giant tarantula later appeared in The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) as the spider threatening the shrinking man. See more » |
| Goofs | Prof. Deemer takes special care to fill the hypodermic needle inside an isolation box wearing rubber gloves; however, once filled, he pulls it out of the box with his bare hands and then removes air from the needle by shooting a little bit of serum out. Had the toxicity of the serum been that dangerous, he probably would have done that with the needle still in the box and would have worn gloves while handling the needle outside the box. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Attack of the 50 Foot Monster Mania (1999). See more » |
| Quotes |
Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton:
Science is science, but a girl MUST get her hair done. See more » |