Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), dir. Jack Arnold, Universal Pictures
As other reviews have pointed out, the Creature from the Black Lagoon may be the first truly unique American monster. He has no ties to mythology or classic literature. He would also be the last real superstar of the Universal Monsters, no mean feat that.
Dr. Maia (Antonio Moreno) is conducting research in the Amazon basin. He discovers a find that amazes him, namely what appears to be a roughly humanoid hand/arm that clearly has amphibian attributes. He rushes back to civilization to document his findings and come back with a bigger party.
His supervisor, Dr. Williams (Richard Denning), is keen on the idea and soon a team is assembled:
Dr. Reed (Richard Carlson)-marine biologist
Kay Lawrence (Julia Adams)-grad student
Edwin Thompson (Whit Bissell)-generic scientist
They also acquire the services of the Rita and its grizzled skipper Lucas (Nestor Paiva). They sail back to the dig site, but they find only tragedy. Seems something rather large attacked in the night and clawed Dr. Maia's men to pieces.
A jaguar is blamed, but Dr. Reed suggests that the deposit the fossil was found in may have drifted downstream. Lucas points out that the only thing at the end of the jungle is a lagoon which people seldom venture.
Arriving at the lagoon, the first search goes poorly. All the scientists found was a large amount of limestone deposits, similar to what they found downriver. Kay goes for a swim, but she isn't alone in the water...
Wonderful; Ricou Browning is the diver inside the Gill Man suit and his work puts him on par with Karloff and Channey in terms of physical acting. I'm also surprised at some of the rules that the film establishes. Why is the Gill Man so taken with Kay? Why not?
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