#925. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Directed By: Jack Arnold

Starring: Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning



Tag line: "Centuries of passion pent up in his savage heart!"

Trivia: The physical appearance of the Creature was modeled after a likeness of the Oscar, the figurine awarded annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences






Creature from the Black Lagoon is both a throwback to the early days of horror, providing Universal Studios with yet another iconic monster to add to its collection, and a fine example of the science fiction genre, which would come into its own in the '50s.

During an expedition to the Amazon, Dr. Carl Maia (Antonio Moreno) uncovers an amazing fossil - a skeletal hand with webbed fingers - that he brings with him to a Marine Laboratory for further examination. His good friend, Ichthyologist Dr. David Reed (Richard Carlson), is fascinated by the discovery, and persuades his sponsor, Dr. Mark Williams (Richard Denning), to fund a second expedition to the site so that they can find the rest of the skeleton. 

Joined by Reed’s girlfriend, Kay Lawrence (Julie Adams), the team eventually makes its way to an area of the Amazon known as the Black Lagoon, which, unbeknownst to them, is home to an amphibious creature - part man and part fish - that isn't exactly happy to see them. 

Things get even more dangerous when the creature spots Kay, and falls instantly in love with her!

Directed by Jack Arnold, Creature from the Black Lagoon relates a harrowing tale of man’s intrusion into the natural world. Much like the giant ape in King Kong, we end up feeling sorry for the Creature (the locals nicknamed him the “Gill-Man”), and we want Reed and the others to leave him in peace (many of the Creature’s so-called acts of terror are retaliatory in nature; his initial attack is the result of a glass bottle being thrown at him). 

Yet the fact that we sympathize with the monster doesn’t make him any less frightening. The sequence where the Creature spies on Kay while she's swimming - matching her speed and, at times, gliding only a few feet below her - is incredibly suspenseful, as is the scene where the monster is captured (its gasps for air while trying to escape from its cage sent a chill up my spine). 

Two separate performers played the Gill-Man: Olympic swimming champion Ricou Browning handled the underwater scenes, while actor Ben Chapman donned the suit on dry land. Through their combined efforts, one of the cinema’s best-known monsters was brought convincingly to life. 

Along with its renowned title character, Creature from the Black Lagoon also boasts stunning underwater photography, a number of inspired set pieces (the monster’s subterranean lair is wonderfully realized), and, in Julie Adams, one of the most alluring actresses ever to appear in a Universal horror picture.

Originally shot in 3-D, Creature from the Black Lagoon is equal parts jungle adventure and monster movie, with a dash of Beauty and the Beast thrown in for good measure. 

It is also one of the greatest horror films ever made.