Plunging into the shadowy waters of cinematic history, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) emerges not just as a film but as a phenomenon that has captivated the imaginations of horror enthusiasts and film buffs alike for seven decades. Celebrating its 70-year legacy, this masterpiece has swum far beyond its origins, securing a revered spot in the heart of monster movie lore.
As we dive deeper, we’re embarking on a journey through time, revisiting the ingenious craft and visionary storytelling that have made the Gill-man a beloved icon of horror. This retrospective aims to unearth the secrets behind the movie’s creation, its groundbreaking achievements, and the enduring fascination it holds. Let’s submerge ourselves in the murky depths where the Creature lurks, to rediscover the magic that makes Creature from the Black Lagoon a timeless treasure of the horror genre.
Universal Diving Into the Depths: The Origin Story
Creature from the Black Lagoon...
As we dive deeper, we’re embarking on a journey through time, revisiting the ingenious craft and visionary storytelling that have made the Gill-man a beloved icon of horror. This retrospective aims to unearth the secrets behind the movie’s creation, its groundbreaking achievements, and the enduring fascination it holds. Let’s submerge ourselves in the murky depths where the Creature lurks, to rediscover the magic that makes Creature from the Black Lagoon a timeless treasure of the horror genre.
Universal Diving Into the Depths: The Origin Story
Creature from the Black Lagoon...
- 3/6/2024
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
The Universal monsters are arguably the most classic and iconic of all horror cinema's spooky creations. Whether you're a fan of Bela Lugosi's Dracula or Lon Chaney Jr.'s Wolfman, there is a monster for everyone. If you're the kind of person who enjoys a good beach day, then there's a decent chance that the monster that suits your fancy is none other than the highly misunderstood Gill-Man who makes his first appearance in Jack Arnold's 1954 flick, "Creature from the Black Lagoon." The movie tells the story of a group of scientists trying to locate the rest of a mysterious fossilized skeleton that has been discovered in the Amazon. As they make their way down the river towards the Black Lagoon, they are unaware that an amphibious creature is stalking their every move. The Creature, often known to the film's many fans as the Gill-Man, develops a fascination (or love?...
- 11/27/2022
- by Miyako Pleines
- Slash Film
A young woman clad in a white bathing suit swims blissfully in a lagoon. She glides through the water, and, for a moment, she is suspended in time. It's just her and the water ... until it's not. Something is watching her. A creature, a mixture of fish and man, is watching her from the depths, and after moments of observation, it pursues her. They swim in synchronicity, the woman still completely unaware of its presence and the creature in awe of the beautiful woman.
All peace shatters when the woman takes pause and the creature, too curious for its own good, reaches out to touch her. A threshold is breached when its claws brush against her feet. Its presence known, the creature swims away before she can find him. Thus ends one of the most memorable scenes in "Creature from the Black Lagoon" between Julie Adams' Kay Lawrence and the titular creature.
All peace shatters when the woman takes pause and the creature, too curious for its own good, reaches out to touch her. A threshold is breached when its claws brush against her feet. Its presence known, the creature swims away before she can find him. Thus ends one of the most memorable scenes in "Creature from the Black Lagoon" between Julie Adams' Kay Lawrence and the titular creature.
- 11/27/2022
- by Sarah Musnicky
- Slash Film
The Invisible Man reboot has proven to be a success with both audiences and critics alike, opening the door for more reinventions from the Universal Classic Monsters collection. Next up, it seems that Creature from the Black Lagoon will be getting the remake treatment and the studio has two McU powerhouses in mind to lead this ambitious endeavor.
After the less than stellar performance from Tom Cruise’s remake of The Mummy, the Dark Universe was pretty much dead in the water. Instead of doing something similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Universal then decided to focus on updated versions of their classic horror creatures with the emphasis being on standalone stories.
The first attempt was from Saw co-creator Leigh Whannell, who directed The Invisible Man starring Elisabeth Moss. While many doubted it would be anything more than another B-level horror release, it’s since defied expectations and there are...
After the less than stellar performance from Tom Cruise’s remake of The Mummy, the Dark Universe was pretty much dead in the water. Instead of doing something similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Universal then decided to focus on updated versions of their classic horror creatures with the emphasis being on standalone stories.
The first attempt was from Saw co-creator Leigh Whannell, who directed The Invisible Man starring Elisabeth Moss. While many doubted it would be anything more than another B-level horror release, it’s since defied expectations and there are...
- 3/6/2020
- by D.J. Rivera
- We Got This Covered
One of a number of Paramount noirs seemingly forever Mia on disc, Hal Wallis’ show reunites Burt Lancaster and Lizabeth Scott with promising newcomers Kirk Douglas and Wendell Corey. It’s light on action but strong on character — and it contains a key scene in the development of both the noir style and the gangster genre.
I Walk Alone
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1947 / B&W / flat Academy / 97 min. / Street Date July 24, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey, Kristine Miller, George Rigaud, Marc Lawrence, Mike Mazurki, Mickey Knox, Gino Corrado.
Cinematography: Leo Tover
Film Editor: Arthur Schmidt
Original Music: Victor Young
Written by Charles Schnee, Robert Smith, John Bright from a play by Theodore Reeves
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Directed by Byron Haskin
One reason we keep going to theatrical Noir festivals is that a substantial number of interesting classic-era features still haven’t surfaced on disc.
I Walk Alone
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1947 / B&W / flat Academy / 97 min. / Street Date July 24, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Wendell Corey, Kristine Miller, George Rigaud, Marc Lawrence, Mike Mazurki, Mickey Knox, Gino Corrado.
Cinematography: Leo Tover
Film Editor: Arthur Schmidt
Original Music: Victor Young
Written by Charles Schnee, Robert Smith, John Bright from a play by Theodore Reeves
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Directed by Byron Haskin
One reason we keep going to theatrical Noir festivals is that a substantial number of interesting classic-era features still haven’t surfaced on disc.
- 7/17/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Doug Jones is a chameleon who quite literally disappears into his work.
With over 150 film credits in the last three decades, Jones has become a king of the screen, but you may never have seen his face. Essentially, he has the kind of anonymity many celebrities dream of.
“I get the best of both worlds, honestly,” Jones admitted to Et when we sat down to discuss his latest transformation in Guillermo del Toro’s monster romance The Shape of Water, which is now in theaters. “I get to be in major motion pictures for 30 years and I can go to Starbucks and no one knows who I am. That’s delightful. But also, when it’s announced that I am at Comic-Con or something like that and I’m being ‘Doug Jones’ that day and people know it, I get to play that card, too.”
The key to Jones’ facelessness lies in the fact that his face has...
With over 150 film credits in the last three decades, Jones has become a king of the screen, but you may never have seen his face. Essentially, he has the kind of anonymity many celebrities dream of.
“I get the best of both worlds, honestly,” Jones admitted to Et when we sat down to discuss his latest transformation in Guillermo del Toro’s monster romance The Shape of Water, which is now in theaters. “I get to be in major motion pictures for 30 years and I can go to Starbucks and no one knows who I am. That’s delightful. But also, when it’s announced that I am at Comic-Con or something like that and I’m being ‘Doug Jones’ that day and people know it, I get to play that card, too.”
The key to Jones’ facelessness lies in the fact that his face has...
- 12/8/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Scarlet Johansson might go from The Avengers to The Avengers of monster movies. After playing Black Widow in three movies (and a fourth and fifth on the way) in the Marvel universe, the actress is now being eyed for one of Universal.s remakes of a classic monster: The Creature From The Black Lagoon. Can you imagine one of the most badass action stars as a scream queen? According to a report on Tracking Board, ScarJo is Universal.s top choice for the leading role in the remake. The 1954 original from filmmaker Jack Arnold is considered a horror movie classic and saw a group of scientists on an expedition through the Amazon who discover a human-fish hybrid. Julie Adams played the leading female role of Kay Lawrence, and her portrayal helped define the scream queen genre. Just because Universal reportedly wants Johansson to be involved, doesn.t mean she.ll...
- 4/9/2015
- cinemablend.com
She’ll always be best known as Kay Lawrence, the beauty that the Gillman falls in love with the moment he spies her swimming above him in The Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954). Mimicking her movements in the water, the Creature performs a lustful underwater mating dance – he’s directly beneath her but she’s unaware of his amorous overtures in the murky depths of the river. It’s a desire most men (and monster kids) could relate to and Julie Adams is the actress who will always be fondly remembered as the ‘girl in the white one-piece’. Now lucky St. Louis movie fans will have the opportunity to meet Ms Adams when she attends a screening of The Creature From The Black Lagoon this Thursday, October 17th at the Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, Il (just outside St. Louis). They’re calling the event ‘Creatures, Cupcakes and Cocktails’ because guests...
- 10/14/2013
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After opening day of the World 3-D Film Expo III at the Sid Grauman Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, where two diverse hits from 1953 where aired, Hondo and House Of Wax, the next day brought with it the blockbuster outing of the entire festival. Especially for monster kids.
Following The Maze and Bwana Devil, Saturday brought us Jack Arnold’s Creature From The Black Lagoon on the big screen, in 3-D, how it was intended to be seen, with star Julie Adams (aka Kay Lawrence, the luminescent bombshell in the classic white swimsuit) in attendance for a Q&A after the show. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I was blessed with the opportunity to talk with Julie Adams and her son Mitch Danton before the festival, in an interview that is forthcoming (stay glued to Facebook, Twitter, and the website for details!). At the Expo, I was able...
Following The Maze and Bwana Devil, Saturday brought us Jack Arnold’s Creature From The Black Lagoon on the big screen, in 3-D, how it was intended to be seen, with star Julie Adams (aka Kay Lawrence, the luminescent bombshell in the classic white swimsuit) in attendance for a Q&A after the show. It doesn’t get much better than that.
I was blessed with the opportunity to talk with Julie Adams and her son Mitch Danton before the festival, in an interview that is forthcoming (stay glued to Facebook, Twitter, and the website for details!). At the Expo, I was able...
- 9/10/2013
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
The Academy continues it’s October-long celebration of classic horror films in honor of “Universal.s Legacy of Horror”- part of the studio.s year-long 100th anniversary celebration. Tomorrow night features some of my favorite films. Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954, in 3D) and The Invisible Man (1933). See these films in the best possible way at the Academy on Tuesday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. The films will be shown at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills. Special guests scheduled include actress Julie Adams, who played Kay Lawrence in “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Mondo has released this neat poster from Creature From The Black Lagoon along with a few others to celebrate Universal’s Legacy of Horror”.
If tomorrow doesn’t work, but you’re in the area, there’s plenty left to see during the month of October. Check out the list below.
“The Birds” (1963)
Tuesday,...
If tomorrow doesn’t work, but you’re in the area, there’s plenty left to see during the month of October. Check out the list below.
“The Birds” (1963)
Tuesday,...
- 10/16/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
As we gear up for Halloween. the Academy is hosting an October-long celebration of classic horror films in honor of “Universal.s Legacy of Horror“- part of the studio.s year-long 100th anniversary celebration. This week’s films highlight The Man Who Laughs, The Wolfman and An American Werewolf In London. Just last week writer, director Guillermo del Toro, a big fan of Jaws, hosted the kick-off screening celebrating the studio that defined .horror films..
Del Toro also answered questions from fans on the Academy’s Facebook page.
For those not in the Southern California area, you can watch all these cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre on Blu-ray in the Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection which debuted on October 2 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
If you’re in the Beverly Hills area, check out the lineup for the rest of the month:
“The Man Who Laughs” (1928) Monday,...
Del Toro also answered questions from fans on the Academy’s Facebook page.
For those not in the Southern California area, you can watch all these cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre on Blu-ray in the Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection which debuted on October 2 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.
If you’re in the Beverly Hills area, check out the lineup for the rest of the month:
“The Man Who Laughs” (1928) Monday,...
- 10/7/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Pictured: Bela Lugosi, Dracula, 1931. Courtesy of AMPAS
Looking for a good scare next month? Before you head out trick-or-treating on the 31st, and you’re in the Southern California area, you need to head over to the Academy in Beverly Hills. Our friends at AMPAS are hosting an October-long celebration of classic horror films in honor of “Universal.s Legacy of Horror”- part of the studio.s year-long 100th anniversary celebration. Writer & director Guillermo del Toro, a true aficionado of the horror-genre, will host the kick-off screening celebrating the studio that defined “horror films. ” The Academy will screen newly restored prints from Universal.
For those not wanting bad dreams the Academy will also present “Universal.s Legacy of Horror: A Centennial Exhibition,” which includes rare posters, stills and other artifacts celebrating Universal.s distinctive contributions to the classic horror genre and the studio.s founding 100 years ago. The exhibition...
Looking for a good scare next month? Before you head out trick-or-treating on the 31st, and you’re in the Southern California area, you need to head over to the Academy in Beverly Hills. Our friends at AMPAS are hosting an October-long celebration of classic horror films in honor of “Universal.s Legacy of Horror”- part of the studio.s year-long 100th anniversary celebration. Writer & director Guillermo del Toro, a true aficionado of the horror-genre, will host the kick-off screening celebrating the studio that defined “horror films. ” The Academy will screen newly restored prints from Universal.
For those not wanting bad dreams the Academy will also present “Universal.s Legacy of Horror: A Centennial Exhibition,” which includes rare posters, stills and other artifacts celebrating Universal.s distinctive contributions to the classic horror genre and the studio.s founding 100 years ago. The exhibition...
- 9/25/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
She.ll always be best known as Kay Lawrence, the beauty that the Gillman falls in love with the moment he spies her swimming above him in Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954). Mimicking her movements in the water, the Creature performs a lustful underwater mating dance . he.s directly beneath her but she’s unaware of his amorous overtures in the murky depths of the river. It.s a desire most men (and monster kids) could relate to and Julie Adams is the actress who will always be fondly remembered as the .girl in the white one-piece..
Born Betty May Adams and raised near Little Rock Arkansas, Julie was bit by the acting bug early and moved to California to become an actress. She worked as a secretary to support herself and spent her free time taking speech lessons and making the rounds at the various movie studio casting departments.
Born Betty May Adams and raised near Little Rock Arkansas, Julie was bit by the acting bug early and moved to California to become an actress. She worked as a secretary to support herself and spent her free time taking speech lessons and making the rounds at the various movie studio casting departments.
- 3/20/2012
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
This October the Universal Monsters return to the pegs of a toy store near you, courtesy of Diamond Select Toys. Your favorite fiends will be released in all new, completely original lines from the Mego-esque retro cloth series to your basic action figure format to the little, itty bitty block figures known as Minimates. Here's a quick rundown of what is on the way along with some new in-package pictures of the basic action figure line as well as the Minimate four-pack figure sets.
Let's start with Minimates. Two, four-packs are on the way with two central themes. The Creature from the Black Lagoon pack contains the Creature in classic colors and a glow-in-the-dark version, Dr. Reed with diving gear, and Kay Lawrence, the damsel in distress! The Wolf Man pack consists of the Wolf Man himself, the Wolf Man mid-transformation, Larry Talbot in human form, and the femme fatale Gwen Conliffe.
Let's start with Minimates. Two, four-packs are on the way with two central themes. The Creature from the Black Lagoon pack contains the Creature in classic colors and a glow-in-the-dark version, Dr. Reed with diving gear, and Kay Lawrence, the damsel in distress! The Wolf Man pack consists of the Wolf Man himself, the Wolf Man mid-transformation, Larry Talbot in human form, and the femme fatale Gwen Conliffe.
- 9/2/2010
- by Nomad
- DreadCentral.com
Throughout history there have been tales, legends, what-have-you about beautiful women and their effect on creatures considered unworthy or dangerous or abominations. The “love of a good woman” scenario carried to an extreme as these women do indeed usually fall in love with their hideous “captors”. Many of these stories go way back in oral history: fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast, several Greek myths - Persephone and the God of the Underworld. But it is in horror films that we see this phenomenon the most. All the way back to Lon Chaney and his Phantom of the Opera – although it could easily be argued that Christine was none too pleased when she de-masked her captor. But there are other horror (horrible?) couples that have endured in the genre:
1. King Kong and his Ann Darrow (Fay Wray in 1933, Naomi Watts in 2005) – King Kong is the film that gave...
1. King Kong and his Ann Darrow (Fay Wray in 1933, Naomi Watts in 2005) – King Kong is the film that gave...
- 6/22/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Chicago – The total number of horrendous, stupid, useless horror movie remakes could fill a film festival from Hell, but this year we’ve already seen the massively successful “Friday the 13th” and the critically lauded surprises of “My Bloody Valentine 3D” and “Last House on the Left”. Maybe there’s actually life in this horror remake trend after all and it’s not just the walking undead.
So, what’s the next “My Bloody Valentine”? Where will the next “Friday the 13th” come from? We’ve highlighted six horror movie remakes in current stages of production - from mere rumor to shooting to practically already at a theater near you - with the details about what we know so far, who’s in it, and our gut feeling on if it’s going to be a successful reboot or merely a reason to go back and rent the original. Hit rewind and take notes.
So, what’s the next “My Bloody Valentine”? Where will the next “Friday the 13th” come from? We’ve highlighted six horror movie remakes in current stages of production - from mere rumor to shooting to practically already at a theater near you - with the details about what we know so far, who’s in it, and our gut feeling on if it’s going to be a successful reboot or merely a reason to go back and rent the original. Hit rewind and take notes.
- 3/23/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
By Matt Singer
We're getting into the Halloween spirit at IFC.com this week by taking a look back at some famous movie makeup jobs (that are, at minimum, 25 years old) that have maintained their power to scare the bejeezus out of viewers. These kids today with their computer generated imagery and their Blu-rays and their "Saw V"s! Back in our day, we didn't have computers to do our imagination's dirty work for us. Visionary artists had only prosthetics, wire, plaster, rubber and a whole lot of Karo syrup to bring their creations to life! Back in our day, these were the movies you rented on Halloween! At the video store! As far as we're concerned, they still should be. And don't you dare teepee our Web site or we're calling the cops. [Part two of our list can be found here.]
10. The Man Who Laughs (1928)
Directed by Paul Leni
Makeup by Jack Pierce
To get a sense...
We're getting into the Halloween spirit at IFC.com this week by taking a look back at some famous movie makeup jobs (that are, at minimum, 25 years old) that have maintained their power to scare the bejeezus out of viewers. These kids today with their computer generated imagery and their Blu-rays and their "Saw V"s! Back in our day, we didn't have computers to do our imagination's dirty work for us. Visionary artists had only prosthetics, wire, plaster, rubber and a whole lot of Karo syrup to bring their creations to life! Back in our day, these were the movies you rented on Halloween! At the video store! As far as we're concerned, they still should be. And don't you dare teepee our Web site or we're calling the cops. [Part two of our list can be found here.]
10. The Man Who Laughs (1928)
Directed by Paul Leni
Makeup by Jack Pierce
To get a sense...
- 10/30/2008
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
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