USA, 1955
79m, 7134 feet
35mm film, black and white
mono, English
An American science fiction/horror film directed by David Kramarsky. Some interiors scenes were shot by Roger Corman and Lou Place did one day’s work on the film before being replaced when film unions threatened to shut down the production unless everyone joined the Guild. It was AIP’s first science fiction/horror film.
Plot Summary
The Kelley family are struggling to keep their date ranch going when a mysterious object crashes nearby and causes animals, and eventually the farm’s handyman, to become violent and turn on the family.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: David Kramarsky; Roger Corman *; Lou Place *
Copyright 1955 San Mateo Productions, Inc.
The American Releasing Corporation presents
Produced by: David Kramarsky
Associate Producer: Charles Hanawalt
Production Manager: Jack Haze
Assistant Director: Donald Myers
Screenplay by: Tom Filer
Photography: Everett Baker; Floyd Crosby *
Special Effects: Paul Blaisdell
Film Editor: Jack Killifer
Music: John Bickford 1Although the score is credited to John Bickford, it’s actually made up of public domain library cues by classical composers like Wagner, Shostakovich, Verdi and Prokofiev]
Art Director: Albert Ruddy
Technical Dir.: Sheldon Mitchell
Cast
Paul Birch (Allan Kelly)
Lorna Thayer (Carol Kelly)
Dona Cole (Sandy Kelly)
Richard Sergeant (Larry)
Leonard Tarver (“Him” (Carl))
Bruce Whitmore
Chester Conklin (Old Man Webber)
Alternative Titles
Ausgeburt der Hölle – West German title
The Beast with 1,000,000 Eyes! – US advertising title
A Besta do Milhão de Olhos – Brazilian title
La bestia de 1,000,000 de ojos – Argentine title
La bestia de un millón de ojos – Spanish, Venezuelan title
The Unseen
References
Periodicals
- Castle of Frankenstein no.7 p.8
- Classic Images no.115 (January 1985) pp.50-53 – illustrated article
- Delirium no.25 (2020) p.10 – short review (Corman’s greatest creatures by Chris Alexander)
- Fantasy Zone no.3 (December 1989) pp.28-29 – illustrated article (The King B by Adrian Rigelsford)
- Film Index no.36 (1976) pp.327-330 – credits
- Filmfax no.102 (April/June 2004) pp.46-53, 132 – illustrated article (The Monster Makers Part Three by Vincent Di Fate)
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.23 no.269 (June 1956) p.75 – credits, synopsis, review
- Motion Picture Herald vol.199 no.5 (30 April 1955) p.29 – note
- Motion Picture Herald vol.202 no.3 (21 January 1956) p.754 – review
- Today’s Cinema vol.86 no.7518 (9 May 1956) p.10 – review
- Variety 14 December 1955 p.6 – credits, review
Books
- American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography by Rob Craig pp.55-56
- American International Pictures: A Filmography by Robert L. Ottoson p.4 – credits, synopsis, review
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) p.155
- Escape Velocity by Bradley Schauer p.84
- Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures by Mark Thomas McGee pp.27-31; 302
- Horror and Science Fiction Films: A Checklist by Donald C. Willis p.40 – credits
- Horrorshows: The A-Z of Horror in Film, TV, Radio and Theatre by Gene Wright p.110 – credits, review
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.28 – credits
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Monsters: The American International Story by Bruce G. Hallenbeck pp.21-26; 288
