Creature from the Black Lagoon

PLOT:

A geology expedition in the Amazon uncovers fossilized evidence from the Devonian period of a link between land and sea animals in the form of a skeletal hand with webbed fingers. Expedition leader Dr. Carl Maia goes to see his friend Dr. David Reed, an ichthyologist who works at a marine biology institute. Reed persuades the institute’s financial backer, Mark Williams, to fund an expedition back to the Amazon to look for the remainder of the skeleton. They go aboard a tramp steamer called the Rita, which is captained by a rude old codger named Lucas. The expedition consists of Dr. Reed, Dr. Maia and Williams, as well as Reed’s girlfriend Kay Lawrence and another scientist named Dr. Thompson. When they arrive at Dr. Maia’s camp, however, they discover that his entire research team has been mysteriously killed while he was away. Lucas suggests it was done by a jaguar, but the others are unsure. The audience is privy to the attack upon the camp, which was committed by a living version of the fossil the scientists seek.

The excavation of the area where Maia found the hand turns up nothing. Mark is ready to give up the search, but David suggests that perhaps thousands of years ago the part of the embankment containing the rest of the skeleton fell into the water and was washed downriver. Lucas says that the tributary empties into a lagoon known as the “Black Lagoon,” a paradise from which no one has ever returned. The scientists decide to risk it, unaware that the amphibious “Gill-man” that killed Dr. Maia’s assistants earlier has been watching them. It, taking notice of the beautiful Kay, follows the Rita all the way downriver to the Black Lagoon. Once the expedition arrives, David and Mark go diving to collect fossils from the lagoon floor. After they return, Kay goes swimming and is stalked underwater by the creature, who then gets briefly caught in one of the ship’s draglines. Although it escapes, it leaves behind a claw in the net, revealing its existence to the scientists.

Subsequent encounters with the Gill-man claim the lives of two of Lucas’ crew members, before the Gill-man is captured and locked in a cage on board the Rita. It escapes during the night and attacks Dr. Thompson, who was guarding it. Kay hits the beast with a lantern; driving it off before it can kill Dr. Thompson. Following this incident, David decides they should return to civilization, but as the Rita tries to leave they find the entrance blocked by fallen logs, courtesy of the escaped Gill-man. While the others try to remove them, Mark is mauled to death trying to capture the creature single-handed underwater. The creature then abducts Kay and takes her to his cavern lair. David, Lucas, and Dr. Maia give chase to save her. Kay is rescued and the creature is riddled with bullets before he retreats to the lagoon where his body sinks in the watery depths, presumably dead (the creature’s death was left open to allow for a sequel).

REVIEW:

As a fan of classic horror/sci-fi, it was inevitable that I eventually venture away from the big 3 (Dracula, Wolf-Man, Frankenstein) and get acquainted with the elusive Gil-Man in Creature from the Black Lagoon. If you’re not familiar with the Gil-Man, think back to every film/cartoon/TV show where there is an accumulation of masters. Usually, there is this fish looking guy somewhere. THat is the Gil-Man. He is a character that is always around ,but never gets the respect.

I think the most he’s received in other media may be the character Gil in the short lives Saturday morning cartoon, Gravedale High.

As I was watching this picture, the creature reminded me a bit of Godzilla. Not in the fact that he was a guy in a cheesy costume or anything, but just in the way he moved and randomly attacked.

From what I’ve seen in films from the 50s, filming on site was a rare thing, so for this to be filmed outside was a surprise to me. I’m sure they didn’t travel to the Amazon, but rather just went to some lake or something on the studio lot, but its still better than some kiddie pool they could have set up and filled with toys made up to appear like the real thing.

The thing that bothers me about this picture is the same thing that bothers me with a lot of movies, past and present. There is this one guy who wants to shoot first and ask questions later. Dude is supposed to be a scientist. You would think he’d be asking more questions than anyone, rather than going off half-coked at the site of some random creature. Sure, he provoked them and all ,but this could have been a real find, not to mention they never bothered to ask why it is he was attacking them, let alone where came from and all that jazz.

Usually with films of this ilk, they take forever and day to get going, but Creature from the Black Lagoon gets almost right to the nitty-gritty. They set up the plot, and a few minutes later we meet the creature, then the gratuitous damsel in distress scene, and bam…the film is in full swing, and before you know it we’re at the climax and the denouement.

The cast is pretty solid here. I don’t really know anything about these actors, except for Richard Denning was Lucy’s husband in the radio version of I Love Lucy, so I can’t judge how they did compared to their other roles, but I van say that the two lead males seemed like they were a couple of high school boys fighting over some girl for mosto f the picture. I realize that there was supposed to be some sort of rivalry there, but it just came off as a bit juvenile to me.

The creature, as I mentioned before, isn’t exactly g oing to scare any of today’s audiences, but for a 1954 audience, it is pretty remarkable. The eyes were a litte freaky, and I would have liked for it to have eother been ab;le to talk or make some sort of noise Maybe that’s just me, though.

Classic films don’t seem to interest everyone as much as they do me, unless folks are watching them to get ready for the remake. Yes, this film is up for a remake, unfortunately. I’m not a fan of it nad am will to fight this thing to teether if I have to. It just isn’t right. Still, a good film is a good film. This spawned two sequels and has a place in the creature legacy, and it really isn’t more than an average film, but is worth seeing, if for nothing else than to watch classic footage of a true classic monster.

3 3/4 out of  stars