Paul Hubschmid

Paula Raymond

Cecil Kellaway

Kenneth Tobey

Donald Woods

Lee Van Cleef

Steve Brodie

Ross Elliott

Jack Pennick

Ray Hyke

Paula Hill

Michael Fox

Alvin Greenman

Frank Ferguson

King Donovan

Eugène Lourié

Lou Morheim

Fred Freiberger

Ray Bradbury

Hall Waller

Max M. Hutchinson

Maurice De Packh

Bernard W. Burton

Hal E. Chester

Jack Dietz

David Buttolph

John L. Russell

Edward G. Boyle

Louis Phillipi

Horace Hough

Willis Cook

Ray Harryhausen

Drama

Horror

Science Fiction

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

Jack Dietz Productions

United States of America

Rhedosaurus rampage as Harryhausen genius starts to work.

Nuclear testing out in the arctic rouses a prehistoric Rhedosaurs from its icy incarcerated sleep. It promptly lays waste to everything that gets in its path, and its next stop is New York City.

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms stands as one of the most important of the 50s sci-fi/creature feature films that filled the screens during that particular decade. Notable for being the first picture where Ray Harryhausen had total control over the effects (and thus setting his career on an upward route), it is also one of two pictures from 1953 that would be the first adaptations of the gifted writings of Ray Bradbury (the other being It Came from Outer Space).

Watching it now you can see just what a template movie it was to be for the genre, the perils of nuclear testing a vivid jolt of paranoia, the rugged alpha male, the svelt sexy strong lady, and of course the creature to terrify all who come into contact with it, yep it's safe to say that this picture has all the trademarks. The Rhedosaurus (completely made up name) is a wonderful creation from Harryhausen, a giant stalking lizard who sinks ships for fun, pulls down lighthouses, and has no problems about feasting on local police officers, it's safe to say that since being woken from his sleep he is in a very bad mood! While the ending is wonderful, as the giant beast finds himself cloaked in a roller-coaster with mankind fighting the good fight, a perfect finish to a hugely enjoyable picture. 8/10

English

Colorized Showcase

Darren Bousman on The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

Trailer