A fossil expedition is traveling down the Amazon. They search for fossils in a small lagoon. Unknown to them there is a prehistoric creature (that they call the "Gill Man") still alive in the waters. It gets a look at the one female member Kay (Julia Adams) and falls in love. They try to leave, but it won't allow them....
The story is overly familiar but this is the one that started off the 1950s monster cycle. Let's get the debits out of the way: the acting is just OK (Richard Carlson and Richard Denning are bad; Adams is just called upon to look beautiful--which she does); there are really stupid things in the script (they bring along a spear gun on a fossil expedition? Adams takes a swim in the AMAZON????); the movie was shot in 3-D...and it shows (countless scenes of the spear gun pointing at the audience).
The good things: beautiful atmosphere; great music score; incredible underwater photography and an impressive creature. Also it is short (79 minutes) and really kicks into high gear during the end.
This is now considered the best 1950s monster film--but I can't agree. I did see it in 3-D in the early 1980s and I remember being very impressed then. So, maybe with the 3-D it works better. Still, worth catching. I'm giving it a 7.
The story is overly familiar but this is the one that started off the 1950s monster cycle. Let's get the debits out of the way: the acting is just OK (Richard Carlson and Richard Denning are bad; Adams is just called upon to look beautiful--which she does); there are really stupid things in the script (they bring along a spear gun on a fossil expedition? Adams takes a swim in the AMAZON????); the movie was shot in 3-D...and it shows (countless scenes of the spear gun pointing at the audience).
The good things: beautiful atmosphere; great music score; incredible underwater photography and an impressive creature. Also it is short (79 minutes) and really kicks into high gear during the end.
This is now considered the best 1950s monster film--but I can't agree. I did see it in 3-D in the early 1980s and I remember being very impressed then. So, maybe with the 3-D it works better. Still, worth catching. I'm giving it a 7.