Italy, 1959
76m
black and white,
mono, Italian
An Italian science fiction film directed by Riccardo Freda using the pseudonym Robert Hamton and an uncredited Mario Bava.
Plot Summary
During their exploration of a ruined Mayan temple, a team of archaeologists discover a blob-like monster that they manage to destroy by setting it alight. They retain a sample, however, and as a comet passes the Earth – the same comet that appeared at the time of the fall of the Mayan civilization – the creature is reborn…
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Robert Hamton [real name: Riccardo Freda]; Mario Bava [uncredited]
© [not given on screen]
A Galatea film. A Samuel Schneider presentation [US prints]
Producer: Bruno Vailati [uncredited]
Screenplay by: Philip Just [real name: Filippo Sanjust]
Based on an ancient Mexican legend
Director of Photography: Mario Bava
Editor: Mario Serandrei
Music: Roberto Nicolosi
Westrex Recording System
Special Effects: Mario Bava
Scientific Consultant: Elle Bi
Cast
John Merivale (John Fielding)
Didi Sullivan [real name: Didi Perego] (Ellen)
Gerard Haerter [Gerald Haerter on US prints] (Max)
G.R. Stuart [real name: Giacomo Rossi Stuart] (Rodriguez)
Victor Andrèe [real name: Vittorio Andree] (lab assistant)
Daniel Vargas [real name: Daniele Vargas] (Bob)
Arthur Dominick [real name: Arturo Dominici] (Nieto)
Black Bernard [real name: Nerio Bernardi] (police commissioner)
Rex Wood
Gay Pearl (solo ballerina)
Daniela Rocca (Linda)
Daniele Pitani [uncredited]
Alternative Titles
Caltiki, the Immortal Monster
Links
See also
The Blob (1958)
The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)
References
Periodicals
- Cineaste vol.41 no.1 (Winter 2015) pp.22-26 – illustrated article (The Haunter of the Dark: H. P. Lovecraft and Modern Horror Cinema by Christopher Sharrett)
- Cineaste vol.43 no.1 (Winter 2017) pp.26-29 – article (Popularity and paradox: The legacy of Riccardo Freda by Chris Fujiwara)
- The Daily Cinema 19 January 1962 p.9 – review
- European Trash Cinema Special no.2 pp.7-8 – review
- Film Français 8 July 1960 p.17 – review
- Filmwoche 20 August 1960 p.5 – review
- The Hollywood Reporter 30 March 1961 p.3 – credits, review
- Kine Weekly 25 January 1962 p.13 – review
- Monthly Film Bulletin March 1962 p.39 – credits, synopsis, review
- Motion Picture Herald 3 December 1960 p.941 – review
Books
- Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.187 – credits, review
- Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby pp.81-82, 93
- Feature Films, 1960-1969: A Filmography of English-language and Major Foreign-language United States Releases by Harris M. Lentz III p.54
- The Haunted World of Mario Bava by Troy Howarth pp.17-19 – illustrated review
- Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991-1992 p.60 – credits, review
- Italian Horror Films of the 1960s: A Critical Catalog of 62 Chillers by Lawrence McCallum pp.47-54 – illustrated credits, synopsis, review
- Kinematograph and Television Year Book 1963 p.118 – credits (Films trade shown 1961-1962) – credits
- The Liverpool Companion to World Science Fiction Film by Sonja Fritsche (ed.) pp.172-187 – article (The Uncomfortable Relationship Between Science Fiction and Italy: Film, Humor, and Gender by Raffaella Baccolini)
- Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark by Tim Lucas pp.253-265 – illustrated review, synopsis, production notes, credits
- Nuclear Movies: A Filmography by Mick Broderick p.56 – note
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.54 – credits
- Sixties Shockers by Mark Clark and Bryan Senn pp.90-91 – illustrated credits, review
- Spaghetti Nightmares: Italian Fantasy-Horrors as Seen Through the Eyes of Their Protagonists by Luca M. Palmerini and Gaetano Mistretta p.164 – credits, review
- Unsung Horrors by Eric McNaughton & Darrell Buxton (eds) pp.44-47 – illustrated review (by Ian Taylor)
