Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Ben Chapman, Ricou Browning & Richard Denning Written by Harry Essex, Arthur A. Ross & Maurice Zimm Directed by Jack Arnold

In 1931, two films based off of two of the most famous horror novels of all time, would be released, "Dracula" and "Frankenstein". There popularity would spawn several sequels for both series, and be the gates for several other films. In 1932 they created "The Mummy" and in 1933 released "The Invisible Man", both being successful and starting there own series.

In the 1940's another classic series would begin, "The Wolf Man" Series. The sequels to the series before would continue as well and all 3 of the famous monsters, plus a cameo by the Invisible Man would appear in "Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein".

The 1950's though saw a new breed of horror, giant monsters as Nuclear War was the new big fear. Universal though managed to create one more old school monster flick that would create a monster that would join the ranks of Dracula, Wolf Man, Frankenstein and the Mummy. That was Gill Man from 1954's "The Creature from the Black Lagoon".

The Movie starts off showing misty haze and a voice talking of how God created the Heavens and Earth, and we then get to see an explosion happening (presumably the Big Bang). We then cut to the Earth that was when it was first created billions of years ago and how it cools in just millions of years.

We then see as it shows the oceans and the narrator talks of how it was here that life began. As a beach is shown, the voice talks of how on land is where the history of life is written. We then see footprints or some creature as it ventured from the waters onto the land. The narrator talks of how man is still trying to read it, pin pointing the Amazon in particular.

The film then shows us a scene of a camp on the Amazon River which is the site of a dig. Dr. Carl Maia and his helpers rush through the camp as a discovery is found on the dirt wall. Sticking out of the rock is a fossil, webbed hand with long claws, both resembling a man and fish like creature. After getting some pictures, Carl takes it out and decides to take it to the Brazilian Institute to have it further analyzed, giving orders for his men to stay behind at camp. While they walk on though, they fail to notice the webbed hand coming out of the water and briefly touching land before going back under.

Back on the coast, Carl is brought to a diving raft by Kay Lawrence to meet up with one of his students and her love interest, Dr. David Reed. After he surfaces from diving, he greets his former teacher. On the way back to land, Carl shows him a picture of the fossil, which immediately sparks his interest. Carl also asks if there boss Mark Williams would be interested, which David says he would if there was publicity and money (with distain).

At the institute, David, Carl, Kay, Mark and Dr. Edwin Thompson along with a few others all look at the hand fossil. As they inspect it, the only conclusion they come to is that it was aquatic and it had great power in it. David brings up that it could very well be the evolutionary link with land and water creatures, how it evolution has tried with other fish (Lung Fish for example) and how it could help humans in the future. Mark also points out how the finances could be grown with this discovery, which convinces him to fun the expedition.

That night though, the webbed hand is seen rising out of the water again. We watch from the view of whatever came out as it closes in on the tent. The two men inside then notice as the webbed hand reach in. One tries and throws a lamp at it but it fails. All we see then is the webbed hands grab them and do things not seen on camera and hear there screams.

Next day, the crew has assembled and is now heading back to the camp site. Mark isn't pleased with the shabby fishing boat "Rita" which they're stuck with which is captained by Lucas. Mark and David again have a disagreement about the reward and the science, which Kai tries to play equal on as she makes a point that both matter. Later on, Kai and David watch in amazement of how the Amazon is just like it was millions of years ago, and the wild life is still just as ferocious.

When they finally reach campsite, they immediately sense something isn't right, David having Kay stay back. The men then head into the tent to find it ravaged and Carl's men savagely killed. Meanwhile, Kay is by the water when suddenly the webbed hand reaches out but she leaves before it can grab him.

After over a week of digging, the crew is disappointed to find nothing. David though comes up with the idea that maybe part of the hill fell into the water and if so, then the river must have pulled it away. Lucas informs them that at the end of the river is what the locals call "The Black Lagoon" which is a paradise.except no one's come back to confirm it. Despite that, the fear of Kay going and what happened to Carl's men, they decide to go on.

As they travel on, David and Kay are talking and it slowly turns romantic. Eventually, they share a kiss, but Mark comes up and discovers them (something they had kept hidden from him). When Lucas comes up, he shows him spear gun.

Finally, they make it to the Lagoon after some tricky parts on the river. Mark and David agree to quickly lower the net and get the scuba gear ready and go to the bottom to get rock samples. Kay though is rather reluctant for them to go.

After the net is down, David and Mark go under. While Carl tries to educate Lucas on the study of rocks and why they're fishing for them, the two divers search and find several good rocks. But as one of them goes by a large deep cave on the bottom, the Gill Man suddenly swims up and eyes both of them in fascination. After getting there rock samples (and a rather lovely plant for Kay), both head back up to the surface.

Once there equipment's off, everyone except Kay goes down to begin work (Mark and David having another heated moment). After being told what it's like down below, Kay decides to jump in and swim around in the water. At first she's all alone, but suddenly the Gill Man notices her. He slowly follows her and swims extreme close while not being spotted, even going so far as to touch her leg a few times.

When the boys on the Rita come back up, they find she's gone out rather far and go and fetch her. Once she's back on though, the net in the water starts to pull the boat down so hard that the boom starts to break. Finally it pulls back up, only to show a giant hole in it and the claw of something. This, along with Carl's discovery that the rocks date back to the same period of the rock the fossil was found it leaves everyone in awe.

Deciding to explore again, David and Mark get prepared, David with a Camera and Mark with a spear gun (much to David's frustration). Once down, they go looking at the fish and seaweed and get pictures.

Suddenly though, the Gill Man launches out and flees. David attempts to get a picture, but Mark instantly chases after it. After avoiding them a few times, Mark finally closes in and shoots it in the back with a spear. It eventually goes down into the cave at the bottom. David and Mark lose it and swim back up.

Back on the surface, they share there discovery and quickly get the camera's pictures developed in order to get the proof. While it's developing, they debate amongst itself weather or not it's possible that a Man-Fish could even exist. Finally, the picture is finished, but it has no sighting of the Gill Man at all. Mark then gets frustrated as he says that weather or not its dead wouldn't have mattered.

While this is going on, the Gill Man has climbed on bored and slowly makes its way for one of Lucas' workers, Chico. As it grabs him, they hear his screams and go to find his brother Zee crying as he saw him taken into the water. As they search the boat, they find wet webbed foot prints on deck.

After assembling a cage, they discuss weather or not they can take it alive, and if it's now seeking revenge for Marks attack. Lucas then offers an alternative, a local drug that dopes the fish as an easy means of fishing. They agree to try it.

Mark and David row out on a boat and drop some of the drug slowly. The Gill man watches from below. After no success, they manage to fix the drug so it goes deeper in the water. While doing it again, everyone is spooked by a near by splash. Mark and David discuss how no one at home will believe them, and that they must have proof.

That night, everyone stands guard and watches. Behind Kay, the Gill Man slowly climbs over but is spooked by the lamp. When she sees him, she screams in fear and everyone comes rushing as it dives back down. It then swims out and stands up as they focus a light on it, everyone seeing the truth. Suddenly, it collapses into deeper waters, the drug now taking affect on it.

While the rest of the crew goes to shore to wait, David and Mark go to the spot and look around. They then swim one at a time down into cave from earlier and find it leads into a land cave elsewhere. While they make there way through, the Gill Man walks out of the land entrance and finds Kay and Zee at the boat. Going slowly, Kay sees him and warns Zee, but his attack only leads to him getting killed. When it tries to get Kay, it finally collapses from lack of water and the men put the net on him.

Back on the boat, they put the Gill Man in the water cage and tighten it as best they can. Mark declares there expedition over and demands to leave, but David pushes that they still have to research the area to as much facts as they can. Mark considers it pointless but David refuses to back down, and Mark finally agrees.

While the rest are performing various tasks, Edwin keeps guard on the Gill Man. Kay comes up as she's unable to sleep from the sound at night and they start to have a discussion. At first, it's about the sound and wild life, but it then turns to the conflict between mark and David and how she loves David but owes her career to Mark.

However, while talking, they forget to watch the Gill Man who awakens and finally breaks free. Edwin takes a lantern and tries to scare him with it, but it manages to get past its fear and grabs its claws into his face and head. Finally, Edwin hit the lantern into it, catching it on fire which makes it dive away to safety.

The next day, Edwin is wrapped heavily on the head and is struggling. Mark blames him for being careless, but the rest say it wasn't his fault. David finally decides to end it and has them leave. Mark refuses as he wants his proof, but everyone joins David side.

As they try to leave, they find the entrance to the Lagoon is blocked by damn of trees placed there intentionally. Mark again tries to plea, but David won't hear it.

They then use the crane to lift and pull the tree out. When they start it, the tree hardly moves and when the Gill Man sees it, he breaks the wench. After looking it over, David decides the only proper way to attach it is underwater.

Mark goes down with him and tries again, even offering himself as bait, but David refuses again. Edwin wakes up as they finally break into a full blown fist fight, which David wins.

Armed with a spear gun, David goes down to start work on the Wench. While working, he fails to se the Gill Man swimming towards him. But just as he's about to close in, Mark now suited up fires at it and scares it away. While David continues to work, Mark swims after it and shoots another spear into its belly.

Fed up, the Gill Man pulls it out and swims after Mark, pulling him down. David sees and grabs his spear gun, swimming in to help. Mark and the Gill Man struggle as Mark sees he's no match and tries to escape, but keeps getting grabbed. David finally arrives and scares it away, but looks to see Mark floating lifelessly to the surface. Everyone on the boat is horrified to see him float up.

Back on deck, David again contemplates going back under, but Kay doesn't want it. Just before they give up hope though, David comes up with an idea of converting one of the air tanks into a sprayer to shoot the drug, which would scare him away. While they're below working on it, the creature again climbs on board and reaches into a window over Edwin's body, but gets attacked and flees.

After testing it, David goes under again to work on the wench. The Gill Man closes in but is sprayed and retreats several times. Finally it leaves for good and David finishes the wench.

Back up top, they start to move the tree and get it out of the way. But as this is going on, the Gill Man has slipped on board again and before they notice him, he grabs Kay and dives under. While Carl and Lucas go on shore to the land cave entrance, David arms himself with the spear gun and dives in after her.

After arriving through the water cave, David slowly works is way, looking for Kay. Eventually, he finds her in a big open chamber. Just as she awakens, the Gill Man rises from the small pool of water and grabs the spear gun before David can and smashes it. David tries throwing a rock and stabbing it, but it manages to grab him and lift him high.

Before hit can do anything else though, Carl and Lucas come in and shoot it. After dropping him, it slowly leaves the cave. Everyone watches as it walks back into the water and dives back deep. The last image we see is it floating lifelessly to the bottom.

Fun Facts

The film's story was thought up when Producer William Alland heard the legend of fish people in the Amazon over a decade before this was made.

Two different actors played The Gill Man. Ben Chapman played him on land and constantly needed hosed down in the suit, he also had trouble seeing and hurt actress Julie Adams while carrying her.

Ricou Browning played him underwater, and it's said he at times had to hold his breath for up to 5 minutes.

The film hints that the creature dies, but there would be two sequels.

First was Revenge of the Creature which had it being capture and put on display at a local marine zoo. He eventually would escape and terrorize the coast, while finding another lovely young lady to long for. This movie was also one of the first films of Clint Eastwood as he played a scientist (note as well that he played a fighter pilot in Tarantula which was out the very same year).

Second was The Creature walks Among us and was very different from the first two, as this time the Creature was captured but injured and sheds it's gills and fins and becomes more human with lungs. The story also focuses on a rather abusive and dark love triangle involving the head scientist, his wife and there guide, which involves the death of both me (one by the now lunged Gill Man).

This along with the first sequel was released in 3D, but the second was not.

There has been a Broadway Musical written for this film as well.

The Gill Man would join the other Universal Monsters in the Homage film The Monster Squad, with him where Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Wolf Man, The Mummy and Dracula's Daughters.

The Gill Man is considered by most to be the last of the Classic Universal Monsters.

My Rating for this film is G (6/7)

There's not much of a surprise with this. Really, this film was horrifying back then, but today's standards it isn't much. It's pretty much what you'd expect from a 1950's Black and White Monster flick. To be Honest, if there was any area of horror for young kids to start watching at, I'd say that it would be classic Universal monster films.

So that's this issues SfK. Next time, we take a classic Universal monster film and spoof it. Until then, enjoy your summer!