When TV first became popular and affordable for most people, the medium was seen as a serious threat to the motion picture industry. There was a time when, if you wanted entertainment, you went to the movies. And that was it. In the 1950's, TV offered people the option of being able to consume prepackaged entertainment in their own home. Why go out to the movie theater when you could watch TV at home? Movie studios began concocting different schemes to get people out to their cinemas, by offering experiences that could not be replicated on TV, thus 3D was born as a desperate attempt to lure people to their local movie theaters. Some things never change.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon was a standout monster movie from this "Golden Age of 3D" and introduced audiences to one of the most iconic movie creatures of all time, Gill Man. The creature also spun off into two sequels, and a truly staggering amount of tie-in merchandise. Gill Man is also a junior member of that elite club known as the Universal Monsters, which is sort of a monster Rat Pack.
The movie is also notable for its extensive use of underwater photography, which was far from common in 1954. The Creature from the Black Lagoon spends a surprising amount of time underwater. Gill Man is also the forefather of the numerous fish man creatures that have appeared in movies and TV over the subsequent years, such as Abe Sapien from Hellboy and Mer-Man from the Masters of the Universe franchise.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon is inspired by a legendary South American fish-man creature. The producers decided to build a horror movie around this creature set in an Amazonian research station. The science team encroaches on the Gill Man's lair and are picked off one by one. Unlike many '50's movie monsters, the creature is presented in a fairly sympathetic way and there is a definite environmental message buried in The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Like many horror movies, The Creature has a beauty and the beast theme running through it. Gill Man takes a liking to one of the scientist's girl friend. One of the most memorable and even erotic moments occurs during an extended scene in which she goes for a swim with the creature swimming below her in the murky water, apparently enjoying her silhouette.
THE MONSTER/EFFECTS
Gill Man is realized through a couple of different rubber suits, which are actually very photogenic. When I watch this movie, the phrase "Glorious black and white" comes to mind and the suit looks really great on film. I've seen images of the creature in color and he usually looks pretty awful, with rubbery dark green skin and often bright red lips. In the movie, though, he looks great. The creature even manages to look realistic in the movie's many underwater shots, in which Gill Man's various fins and flaps move in a fluid and natural way.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
Gill Man's synchronized swim with his would-be girl friend is a great moment. The kind of of lyrical, visually poetic moment is rare in genre movies like this.
SEQUELS
Revenge of the Creature (1955) , The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)
There has been a lot of talk about a remake of this movie and one is tentatively schedule for next year.
TRAILER
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