1959 - THE GIANT BEHEMOTH, more of the same

Another monster is on the loose full of radioactivity in this very derivative science fiction film that steals from about every plot and situation from every other previous giant monster on the loose film up to this time.

The main films that this lack of monster inspiration seemed to borrow from are Godzilla and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.  The director/writer Eugene Lourie was also the director of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms so he was essentially stealing from himself in this film.

Some of the special effects particularly the monster rampage in London were done by Willis O'Brien the special effects guy behind King Kong.  However the very cheapness of the film particularly the monster who never moves his mouth really kill any effective moments the stop motion animation might contribute to the film.

The film has as it's lead Gene Evans one of Sam Fuller's regulars.  Evans usually played dog face soldiers but here he's a clean shaven marine biologist it's all very odd.  Well I've seen worse films.

80 minutes

1961 - GORGO, Godzilla comes to London

This reworking of Godzilla is kind of an odd bird of a film.  The film is set in the British Isles instead of Tokyo for a change.  It's fairly well made even if the giant London stomping monster Gorgo looks might phony.  The special effects which are mainly a guy in a rubber monster suit stomping through detailed models of London are well done for the early 1960's.

 

The director was Eugene Lourie who had worked as an art director for Jean Renoir, Charlie Chaplin and Sam Fuller of all people.  Lourie wanted to direct and ended up filming The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Ray Harryhausen's first important special effects film.  Lourie got stuck making "monster on the loose in the big city"  films before moving back into art direction.

F.A. Young photographed Gorgo and the film looks pretty good as is to be expected from the cinematographer who filmed David Lean's super epics.  Among the cast was actor William Sylvester who played Dr. Heywood Floyd in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.  One can only speculate whether Kubrick decided to cast Sylvester after watching Gorgo, but will the truth ever be known?

For a giant monster on the loose film, Gorgo did aim to be different.  The end of the film has Gorgo's mom stomping into London to rescue Gorgo from the circus that has been putting him on display.

As the old saying goes, "Mother, there is no other."


Writren by John Loring and Daniel Hyatt, the running time is 72 minutes.