Monster Movie of the Week: It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955)

IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1955)
Director: Robert Gordon
Genre: Natural Horror/Monster on the loose

THE MOVIE

When it comes to bogeymen, there’s nothing like a good “It.” “It” was a terror from beyond space! “It” was alive! Even Stephen King had an “It.” Next to a good “Thing,” there’s nothing like “It” (unless you are an Addams in which case you have regular contact with both). One day I hope they will make a movie called It! vs. Thing!

Today we will be talking about the particular “It” that came from beneath the sea. This is one of Ray Harryhousen’s most iconic monster movies and tells the story of a giant octopus irradiated by nuclear testing and driven from its home at the ocean depths. The octopus eventually makes its way to San Francisco and goes on a rampage before being blown up in the harbor. It Came from Beneath the Sea gave Harryhousen the opportunity to work on a different kind of creature, this being an aquatic monster composed mainly of tentacles. Other than that, it is pretty standard 1950’s monster fare.

This is the kinda crap that happens when you develop a relaxed attitude towards earthquakes.

THE MONSTER/EFFECTS

Other than its size, there is nothing particularly monstrous about this octopus (except that it has only five or six tentacles, but lets say it lost a couple in the initial run-in with the sub). The effects are overall very good as you would expect from a Harryhousen movie and the wonderful three-dimensionality that stop motion gives you. There are some sequences that are among the most famous of 1950’s monster movies, such as the creature’s attack on the Golden Gate Bridge.
MONSTERS FEATURED

San Fran joins the community of monster-hosting cities.

Just one octopus, which is the titular "It." Back in the day, they tried to keep the monster's nature under wraps. For example, Godzilla vs. Mothra was known as here in the states prior to its initial release as Godzilla vs. The Thing, and Mothra's identity was kept under wraps with poster that only teased a couple of bug eyes and a pair of antenna. Which is I guess better than calling the movie Godzilla vs. Butterfly. The same is true here, I mean, who wants to see a movie called The Octopus Came From Beneath The Sea.

DVD AVAILABILITY

Widely available with a few Harryhousen interviews and featurettes.

If you only have five arms, are you still an Octopus? Discuss.

SEQUELS

None.

SEE ALSO

20 Million Miles to Earth 1957 The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms 1954

TRIVIA

This movie is being watched by a security guard in a scene prior to the creature’s initial attack in the American Godzilla (1998), which is another clue as to where the filmmakers hearts lie.

TRAILER