USA, 1956
77m
35mm film, black and white, 1.85:1Mono (Ryder Sound Services)
English
An American horror film directed by Edward L. Cahn.
Plot Summary
Dr Carlo Lombardi uses hypnosis to regress a woman back to a previous existence as a strange sea creature which takes over her body and goes on a murderous rampage.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Edward L. Cahn
Copyright MCMLVI [1956] by Golden State Productions
Golden State Productions presents. A Golden State production
Executive Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff
Produced by: Alex Gordon
Associate Producer: Israel M. Berman
Story and Screenplay by: Lou Rusoff
Based on an Original Idea by: Jerry Zigmond
Director of Photography: Frederick E. West
Film Editor: Ronald Sinclair
Music by: Ronald Stein
Sound: Ben Winkler
Wardrobe: Marjorie Corso
Makeup: Jack Dusek
Art Director: Don Ament
Cast
Chester Morris (Carlo Lombardi)
Tom Conway (Timothy Chappel)
Cathy Downs (Dorothy)
Lance Fuller (Ted Erickson)
Ron Randell (Lieutenant James)
Frieda Inescort (Mrs Chappel)
Marla English (Andrea)
Frank Jenks (police sergeant)
El Brendel (Olaf)
Paul Dubov (Johnny)
Bill Hudson (Bob)
Flo Bert (Marta)
Jeanne Evans (Mrs Brown)
Kenneth MacDonald (Professor Anderson)
Jack Mulhall (Lombardi’s lawyer)
Edward Earle (Professor Anderson)
Luana Walters (party guest)
Paul Blaisdell (creature)
Alternative Titles
La criatura – Spain
Geschöpf des Schreckens – Germany (television)
Thilykos daimonas – Greece (DVD)
Существо из прошлого – Russia
Links
Remakes
Creature of Destruction (1967)
Mermaid Chronicles Part 1: She Creature (2001)
Extracts included in
The Dark Side of Hollywood (1998)
Horrible Honeys (1988)
How to Make a Monster (1958)
Monsterama Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show Vol. 1 (1996)
Some Nudity Required (1998)
Teenage Cave Man (1958)
Production Notes
Pre-release
In the UK, the film was trade shown to critics for registration under the terms of the Cinematograph Act 1952 on 28 September 1956 in London.
References
Periodicals
- Cinefantastique vol.20 no.5 (May 1990) pp.19, 58 – illustrated article (50s effects: the She-Creature by Randy Palmer)
- Daily Film Renter no.7223 (1 October 1956) p.3 – credits, review
- L’Écran Fantastique no.4 (1978) pp.76-79 – illustrated article
- Filmfax no.103 July/September 2004) pp.46-53, 124-125, 127 – illustrated article (The monster makers (part four) by Vincent Di Fate and Bob Burns
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.141 no.14 (30 August 1956) p.3 – credits, review
- Kine Weekly no.2564 (4 October 1956) p.20 – credits, review
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.23 no.274 (November 1956) p.141 – credits, synopsis, review
- Motion Picture Herald vol.205 no.2 (13 October 1956) p.106 – credits, review
- To-day’s Cinema no.7600 vol.LXXXVII (4 September 1956) p.6 – note (Anglo has more “exploitation specials”)
- To-day’s Cinema no.7608 vol.LXXXVII (14 September 1956) p.8 – note (For registration)
- To-day’s Cinema no.7614 vol.LXXXVII (24 September 1956) p.10 – note (Anglo’s new all-horror bill for trade show)
- To-day’s Cinema vol.87 no.7620 (2 October 1956) p.9 – credits, review
- Variety 5 September 1956 – credits, review
Books
- American International Pictures: A Comprehensive Filmography by Rob Craig p.334
- American International Pictures: A Filmography by Robert L. Ottoson p.12
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror by Phil Hardy (ed.) p.105
- Beasts and Behemoths: Prehistoric Creatures in the Movies by Roy Kinnard pp.91-96
- Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures by Mark Thomas McGee pp.54-57, 59, 94, 238; 323
- Horrorshows: The A-Z of Horror in Film, TV, Radio and Theatre by Gene Wright p.223 – credits, review
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.432 – credits
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Monsters: The American International Story by Bruce G. Hallenbeck pp.42-47; 288
- The Vampire in Science Fiction Film and Literature by Paul Meehan p.129
