Monster on the Campus (1958)

The blood of a primitive fish exposed to gamma rays causes a benign research professor to regress to an ape-like, bloodthirsty prehistoric hominid.

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writer:

David Duncan

Stars:

Arthur Franz, Joanna Moore, Judson Pratt

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Arthur Franz	...	Prof. Donald Blake
Joanna Moore	...	Madeline Howard
Judson Pratt	...	Lt. Mike Stevens
Nancy Walters	...	Sylvia Lockwood
Troy Donahue	...	Jimmy Flanders
Phil Harvey	...	Sgt. Powell
Helen Westcott	...	Nurse Molly Riordan
Alexander Lockwood	...	Prof. Gilbert Howard
Whit Bissell	...	Dr. Oliver Cole
Ross Elliott	...	Sgt. Eddie Daniels

Storyline

A college professor acquires a newly discovered specimen of a prehistoric fish. While examining the find he is accidentally exposed to it's blood, turning him into a murderous Neanderthal.

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Plot Keywords:

fish | professor | gamma rays | fingerprints | campus | 

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Taglines:

Chills! Thrills!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monster in the Night

Filming Locations:

Occidental College -1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Professor Blake calls Madagascar he speaks to Dr Moreau, a reference to the H.G. Wells novel, "The Island of Doctor Moreau".

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Goofs

Towards the end of the movie, the Creature is revealed and begins to damage the cabin, which is well lighted. He breaks out a window and escapes, but the exterior shot doesn't show any evidence of the opening - which should be easily seen given the cabin's lighting. Minutes later, the window is clearly seen intact when police come to the cabin to further investigate.

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Quotes

Professor Donald Blake: Unless we learn to control the instincts we/ve inherited from our ape-like ancestors, the race is doomed.
Madeline Howard: Why don't you learn to control your instincts and stop being so pessimistic?
Professor Donald Blake: You know, you're right, and when I look at you, the future's very bright.

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Crazy Credits

The one-sheet poster lists "The Beast" as the sixth cast member.

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Connections

Referenced in Ding et Dong le film (1990)

User Reviews

The Devolution of a Man

When the student Jimmy (Troy Donahue) brings a coelacanth to the science professor and scientist at Dunsford University Dr. Donald Blake (Arthur Franz), his dog licks the water thawed from the freezer in the van. It is encaged in Sr. Blake´s laboratory and soon it turns into a primitive species. Dr. Oliver Cole (Whit Bissell) asks a sample of the dog´s saliva to Dr. Blake and sends his Nurse Molly Riordan (Helen Westcott) to take it. Meanwhile Dr. Blake scratches his hand in the coelacanth´s mouth and touches into the water where the fossil is and when Molly arrives, she drives him home. Dr. Blake passes out and Molly calls Dr. Cole, but she is attacked. When his fiancée Madeline Howard (Joanna Moore) arrives, she finds Blake with ripped clothes and Molly murdered. Who might have attacked Dr. Blake and Molly?

"Monster on the Campus" is a horror film from Universal with a story of the devolution of a man that turns into a caveman. The plot has many similarities with "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and the conclusion recalls "The Beauty and the Beast", but the film is highly entertaining. My vote is seven.

Title (Brail): "O Monstro Sanguinário" ("The Bloody Monster")