Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1954
Running Times: 79m
Length:
Format: 35mm/3D
Colour Format: black and white
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Sound: Western Electric Sound System

DIRECTION

Directed by: Jack Arnold

PRODUCTION
Copyright: MCMLIV [1954] by Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
Production Company: Universal-International presents
Produced by: William Alland

SCRIPT
Screenplay by: Harry Essex and Arthur Ross
Story by: Maurice Zimm

DIRECTION
Underwater Sequences Directed by: James C. Havens
Assistant Director: Fred Frank

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: William E. Snyder

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Film Editor: Ted J. Kent

MUSIC
Musical Direction: Joseph Gershenson
Music: Robert Emmett Dolan [uncredited], Henry Mancini [uncredited], Milton Rosen [uncredited], Hans J. Salter [uncredited], Herman Stein [uncredited]

SOUND
Sound: Leslie I. Carey, Joe Lapis
Western Electric Recording

COSTUMES AND MAKE-UP
Miss Adams' Wardrobe by: Rosemary Odell
Make-Up: Bud Westmore
Hair Stylist: Joan St Oegger

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Creature Designer: Milicent Patrick [uncredited]

VISUAL EFFECTS
Special Photography: Charles S. Welbourne

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Direction: Bernard Herzbrun, Hilyard Brown
Set Decorations: Russell A. Gausman, Ray Jeffers

LOCATIONS
Locations: Green Cove Springs, Florida, USA; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Paradise Cove, California, USA; Silver Springs, Ocala, Florida, USA; Wakulla Springs, Florida, USA

STUNTS
Underwater Stunts: Ginger Stanley [uncredited]

CAST

Richard Carlson ([Dr] David Reed)
Julia Adams (Kay [Lawrence])

With
Richard Denning ([Dr] Mark Williams)
Antonio Moreno ([Dr] Carl Maia)
Nestor Paiva (Lucas, [Captain of the Rita])
Whit Bissell (Dr [Edwin] Thompson)
Bernie Gozier (Zee, [Rita crewman])
Henry Escalante (Chico, [Rita crewman])

UNCREDITED CAST

Ricou Browning (Gill-Man (in water)
Ben Chapman (Gill-Man (out of water)
Perry Lopez (Tomas)
Sydney Mason (Dr Matos)
Rodd Redwing (Louis)

A group of scientists and explorers are searching for fossils in the Amazon basin and get more than they ever bargained for when they arrive at the Black Lagoon. Here they find a prehistoric Gill-Man which they quickly capture. It escapes but returns to abduct one of the expedition members, Kay.

Introducing the last of the great Universal monsters, The Creature From the Black Lagoon is a fun monster romp with a slightly silly looking monster but some fabulous underwater photography. The jungle settings are also beautifully realised and the film has endured thanks to its energy and its tactfully handled beauty and the beast love story.

Portugal
Theatrical Distributor: Doperfilme

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Universal Pictures
Video Distributor: MCA; Goodtimes; Hollywood Movie Greats
Laserdisc Distributor: MCA Home Video (23005 - 1991); Pioneer (PLFEB 35801 - 1997)
DVD Distributor: Universal (20760)

Australia
Rating: PG

Finland
Rating: K-12

USA
Rating: approved
MPAA: 16854

1954
March
5: USA - theatrical release

November
29: Sweden - theatrical release

December
10: Finland - theatrical release

1955
January
24: Denmark - theatrical release

May
12: Portugal - theatrical release

1991
October
10: USA- laserdisc release (MCA Home Video (23005))

1997
July
7: USA - laserdisc release (Pioneer (PLFEB 35801))

2000
August
29: USA - DVD release (Universal (20760))

2002
January
6: USA - television broadcast (on American Movie Classics)
7: USA - television broadcast (on American Movie Classics)

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

Centuries of passion pent up in his savage heart!

Terrifying monster ravages mankind!

Amazing! Startling! Shocking!

Clawing Monster From A Lost Age strikes from the Amazon's forbidden depths!

Black Lagoon - working title

SEQUELS
Revenge of the Creature (1955)
The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

SEE ALSO
El castillo de los monstruos (1957)
Fade to Black (1980)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Mad Monster Party? (1967)
Matinee (1993)
The Monster Squad (1987)
Saturday the 14th (1981)

EXTRACTS INCLUDED IN
Coming Soon (1982)
It Came from Hollywood (1982)
Il mondo di Dario Argento 3: Il museo degli orrori di Dario Argento (1997)

PERIODICALS

Cinefantastique vol.12 no.2 (April 1982) p.13 (USA)
review

Cinefantastique vol.27 no.3 (December 1995) pp.44-47, 61(USA)
illustrated article

Classic Images no.276 (June 1998) pp.C4-C9 (USA)
Illustrated article

Classic Images no.277 (July 1998) pp.C2-C7 (USA)
illustrated article

L'Ècran Fantastique no.26 (1982) p.76 (France)
review

Empire no.163 (January 2003) pp.168-169 (UK)
illustrated DVD review

Fangoria no.68 (1987)
interview ith Harry Essex (The Creator from the Black Lagoon by Tom Weaver)

Fangoria no.120 (1993) pp.14-19, 58-59
illustrated production notes (Behind the Black Lagoon by Tom Weaver)

Fangoria no.198 (November 2000) p.65 (USA)
illustrated DVD review

Film Score Monthly vol.6 no.2 (February 2001) pp.42-43 (USA)
illustrated soundtrack review

Filmfax no.58 (October 1996/January 1997) pp.86-94 (USA)
illustrated interview

Filmfax no.73 (June/July 1999) pp.50-58, 87; 76-80, 89 (USA)
illustrated article; illustrated interview

Hollywood Reporter vol.128 no.9 (9 February 1954) p.3 (USA)
review

Journal of Popular Film vol.2 no.1 (Winter 1973) pp.15-28 (USA)
article

Kinematography Weekly no.2474 (25 November 1954) p.16 (UK)
review

The Listener vol.117 no.2994 (15 January 1987) p.26 (UK)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.22 no.252 (January 1955) p.7 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review

Motion Picture Herald vol.194 no.7 (13 February 1954) p.2182 (USA)
review

Starburst no.45 (1982) pp.36-40 (UK)
review

Starburst no.295 (February 2003) p.6 (UK)
illustrated article

Starlog no.164 (March 1991)
illustrated interview with Richard Denning (Creature Hunter by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.167 (June 1991)
illustrated interview with Julie Adams (Creature Love by Tom Weaver); illustrated interview with Ricou Browning (Creature Man by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.180 (July 1992)
illustrated interview with Ben Chapman (Creature King by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.218 (September 1995)
illustrated interview with William Alland (The Producer from the Black Lagoon by Tom Weaver)

Starlog no.250 (May 1998) pp.61-65
interview with Arthur A. Ross (Anatomy of a Merman by Tom Weaver)

Today's Cinema vol.83 no.7145 (19 November 1954) p.12 (UK)
review

Total Film July 1999 p.106
review (by John Walker)

Variety 10 February 1954 (USA)
credits, review

Video Watchdog 11 pp.16-17
illustrated review

BOOKS

Creature from the Black Lagoon by Tom Weaver (Absecon NJ: MagicImage Books, 1992)
production notes, script

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.81
credits, review

Reference Guide to Fantastic Films p.78
credits

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

3D, The Amazon, boats, expeditions, fossils, jungles, monsters, rivers, scientists, scuba diving, spear guns, underwater

Last Updated: 6 January, 2010