The Giant Gila Monster is a film that tries to rise above the typical B science fiction film of the 50's. It contains relatable characters who have interesting relationships rather than just pure stereotypes. The settings have an air of authenticity and the eerie background music adds to the atmosphere of the film. Despite the dismal special effects and a largely unconvincing and almost irrelevant monster, it is pretty darn hard to hate the film.
Directed by Ray Kellogg
Produced by Ken Curtis, B.R. McLendon, Gordon McLendon
Written by Ray Kellogg (story), Jay Simms (screenplay)
Music by Jack Marshall
Cinematography: Wilfred M. Cline
Edited by Aaron Stell
Distributed by McLendon-Radio Pictures Distributing Company
Running time: 74 minutes
Budget: $138,000 (estimated)
Cast
Don Sullivan: Chase Winstead
Fred Graham: Sheriff Jeff
Lisa Simone : Lisa
Shug Fisher: Old Man Harris
Bob Thompson: Mr. Wheeler
Janice Stone: Missy Winstead
Ken Knox: Horatio Alger 'Steamroller' Smith
Gay McLendon: Mom Winstead
Don Flournoy: Gordy
Cecil Hunt: Mr. Compton
Stormy Meadows: Agatha Humphries
Howard Ware: Ed Humphries
Pat Reeves: Rick
Jan McLendon: Jennie
Jerry Cortwright: Bob
Trailer
Thank goodness for the grand disembodied voice of the narrator! If only life in today’s bewildering and over-complicated world had the comforting baritone voice of an all-seeing narrator to waft over us as it explains to us what the hell is going on……And what do we have instead? Bloody Alexa and Google Assist! God help us!
Read on for more.....
Spoilers Follow below.....
Old Man Harris rolls up in his 1932 Ford which Chase would love to transform into a hot rod. Chase wants to buy his car, but Harris is not keen on selling it. No Siree!
Sheriff Jeff meets up with Mr. Wheeler who informs the sheriff that both his son Pat and his son’s girlfriend didn't come home last night. The sheriff seems to believe that they may have eloped while Wheeler holds Chase responsible as he thinks that Chase has too much influence over his son and the rest of the kids in town. The Sheriff points out that Chase is a good kid who is responsible and has worked hard after his dad died on one of Wheeler’s drill rigs.
I know it sounds corny in this day and age, but wouldn’t it be good to have a mutual regard, respect and trust between members of the community (as is the case between the Sheriff and Chase) and those in positions of authority instead of the all too often instances of mistrust and lack of respect?
As he leaves, the Sheriff comes across a somewhat jolly and tipsy Harris at the wheel of his old car. Going well beyond the call of duty, the Sheriff asks to smell his breath! Without so much as a breathalyzer or sobriety test, the Sheriff sends Harris on his way. The Sheriff is barely out of the scene when Harris takes a swig out of a bottle before driving off.
The working man-stance perfected!
Mr. Compton, the owner of the garage has just returned with a load of four quarts of nitro-glycerine which Wheeler had ordered should there be a blowout and oil fire. Compton thought it would be a great idea to take the nitro out of the safety cases. Who wouldn’t? This is one case where an expletive or two would be warranted, but Chase acts immediately based on what his dad had taught him, and he places the volatile substance in the shed and in their safety cases.
In the meantime, a problem of a more personal nature is beginning to rear its ugly head. It seems that Mr. Wheeler has demanded that Lisa stop seeing Chase whom he holds responsible for Pat's disappearance.
Being the kinda guy he is, Chase hooks up the caddy with Shickered Shmitty in it and tows it back to the garage.
I know that about up to this point some us might start shuffling our feet and squirm uncomfortably in our seats at the seemingly corny portrayal of 1950’s Hicksville small-town life. But I ask you, what is wrong with people looking out for and helping out other folks even if they are strangers? What’s wrong with knowing the names of our neighbours, knowing who they are and greeting one another in a friendly manner instead of nervously scampering by each other wearing anonymous cat’s-bum expressions on our faces?
BANG! BANG! BANG! goes Chase’s hammer as he works on the fender of Smith's car. Now here’s where I do squirm and become almost homicidal – whenever Chase opens his mouth and starts singing which he does now as he hammers away. He manages to wake up a hungover Smith, who actually likes Chase’s singing. He gives Chase his card and tells him to look him up. He also tips Chase $40 before he leaves. This will only wind up encouraging him!
While on a fuel oil delivery run, Compton’s fuel oil truck is knocked off the road by the Big-Less-Than-Friendly-Monster. The wrecked truck along with its hapless driver is engulfed in a fiery conflagration.
After Chase closes up the garage, he heads off home and is playfully greeted by his mother who has a surprise for him: His little sister, Missy is sporting new leg braces which Lisa bought for her. Missy makes a couple of attempts to cross the room before Chase punishes us all by singing her a song.
After witnessing the carnage, Harris drives back to the Sheriff’s office and makes a report. The Sheriff suspects that Harris was affected by alcohol and locks him up. One hopes he applied the earlier nose test to determine the DUI conclusion on this occasion.
Harris, along with some of the train wreck survivors, claim to have seen a creature that would fit the bill. Chase adds credence to such a possibility by recounting Steamroller Smith's story of an encounter with what he described as being a large pink and black creature. This is a veritable dot-joining fiesta!
Back at the garage, Wheeler confronts the Sheriff over the fact that his son’s car was moved without a proper investigation. He then accuses the sheriff of protecting Chase and is convinced that his son is dead. Taking note of the stolen tyres, Wheeler demands that the Sheriff arrest Chase otherwise failure to do so may cost him his job. Both men then drive over to the barn dance hop to make the arrest.
At the barn dance, the place is jumpin’ with music and dancing. DJ Smith spins a platter and asks the audience to name the singer. Ooh La La Lisa takes a crack at it and guesses that it is Chase. Of course, this sets Chase off and he picks up his bloody little ukulele / banjo thingy and starts singing. I would love to suggest a couple of things he could do with his little ukulele / banjo thingy which would give us all “Deliverance” from his singing!
At least the kids in this film are not attached to devices, staring at screens, texting or sharing narcissistic pouty-lipped photos. They are actually out and about, socializing face-to-face, doing stuff for themselves and others and using their initiative. And shock – horror, the girls are treated respectfully!
As the Sheriff and Wheeler arrive at the barn dance, the Gila Monster approaches the barn and crashes through the wall causing panic among those inside.
The Sheriff grabs his shotgun, and in Chuck Connors Rifleman style blasts away at the Monster. However, he only succeeds in chasing it off.
The Sheriff then deputizes Wheeler and instructs him to stay there and keep everyone else there as well.
Meanwhile, Chase has a cunning plan. Remember that nitro-glycerine he stored away earlier? Of course, you do! Chase heads off to the garage to retrieve the four quarts of nitro-glycerine. Laden with the volatile cargo, Chase and Lisa race along the bumpy road in his car (nothing could go wrong there, of course) until he spots a break in the fence and notices the damaged Blackwell residence, where his little sister Missy was visiting. He then sees the Blackwells and Missy running across a field.
Suddenly, Missy falls and while Lisa covers her, Chase aims his roadster at the Monster. He just manages to jump clear before it hits the creature and explodes. There’ll be barbecued Gila Monster at the barn dance tonight!
The Sheriff arrives and asks Chase, "What did you hit him with?" Chase responds with, "my brand new, 100% completed hot rod." The Sheriff comments, “You'd have had to start in the next county to get up enough momentum to do that to him.” To which Chase then replies “not with 4 quarts of nitro-glycerine riding with me.” Incredulously, the Sheriff asks him, “you drove across that rough field carrying nitro?.... Do you realize what could have happened?” Chase simply replies, “it did. I lost my car!”
With Compton now dead, Chase is unemployed, but not for long as Wheeler tells the Sheriff that he has a job for him. One hopes it isn’t the same job his father had or that they at least have improved occupational health and safety at Wheeler’s rigs!
The Giant Gila Monster is a film that tries to rise above the typical B science fiction film of the 50's. It contains relatable characters who have interesting relationships rather than merely being pure stereotypes. The settings have an air of authenticity and the eerie background music adds to the atmosphere of the film. Despite the dismal special effects and a largely unconvincing and almost irrelevant monster, it is pretty darn hard to hate the film.
Remember, it’s just an innocent movie that was aimed at a teen audience and intended for the drive-in circuit...try to enjoy for what it is - if that is possible in these fun-sapping times.
©Chris Christopoulos 2019
At least the kids in this film are not attached to devices, staring at screens, texting or sharing narcissistic pouty-lipped photos. They are actually out and about, socializing face-to-face, doing stuff for themselves and others and using their initiative. And shock – horror, the girls are treated respectfully!
The Sheriff grabs his shotgun, and in Chuck Connors Rifleman style blasts away at the Monster. However, he only succeeds in chasing it off.
Meanwhile, Chase has a cunning plan. Remember that nitro-glycerine he stored away earlier? Of course, you do! Chase heads off to the garage to retrieve the four quarts of nitro-glycerine. Laden with the volatile cargo, Chase and Lisa race along the bumpy road in his car (nothing could go wrong there, of course) until he spots a break in the fence and notices the damaged Blackwell residence, where his little sister Missy was visiting. He then sees the Blackwells and Missy running across a field.
The Sheriff arrives and asks Chase, "What did you hit him with?" Chase responds with, "my brand new, 100% completed hot rod." The Sheriff comments, “You'd have had to start in the next county to get up enough momentum to do that to him.” To which Chase then replies “not with 4 quarts of nitro-glycerine riding with me.” Incredulously, the Sheriff asks him, “you drove across that rough field carrying nitro?.... Do you realize what could have happened?” Chase simply replies, “it did. I lost my car!”
With Compton now dead, Chase is unemployed, but not for long as Wheeler tells the Sheriff that he has a job for him. One hopes it isn’t the same job his father had or that they at least have improved occupational health and safety at Wheeler’s rigs!
***************
The Giant Gila Monster is a film that tries to rise above the typical B science fiction film of the 50's. It contains relatable characters who have interesting relationships rather than merely being pure stereotypes. The settings have an air of authenticity and the eerie background music adds to the atmosphere of the film. Despite the dismal special effects and a largely unconvincing and almost irrelevant monster, it is pretty darn hard to hate the film.
Who are you calling unconvincing?
Remember, it’s just an innocent movie that was aimed at a teen audience and intended for the drive-in circuit...try to enjoy for what it is - if that is possible in these fun-sapping times.
Special mention should go to the customized hot-rods.
Full Movie Colorized
©Chris Christopoulos 2019
No comments:
Post a Comment