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IMDb > The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
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The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   1,555 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Eugène Lourié
Writers:
Ray Bradbury (story)
Fred Freiberger (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 June 1953 (USA) more
Genre:
Sci-Fi | Horror more
Tagline:
It's alive ! more
Plot:
A ferocious dinosaur awakened by an Arctic atomic test terrorizes the North Atlantic and ultimately New York City. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
THE BEST DINOSAUR MOVIE EVER MADE more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Paul Hubschmid ... Professor Tom Nesbitt (as Paul Christian)
Paula Raymond ... Lee Hunter
Cecil Kellaway ... Prof. Thurgood Elson
Kenneth Tobey ... Col. Jack Evans
Donald Woods ... Capt. Phil Jackson
Lee Van Cleef ... Cpl. Stone
Steve Brodie ... Sgt. Loomis
Ross Elliott ... George Ritchie
Jack Pennick ... Jacob Bowman
Ray Hyke ... Sgt. Willistead
Michael Fox ... ER Doctor
Alvin Greenman ... 1st Radar Man
Frank Ferguson ... Dr. Morton
King Donovan ... Dr. Ingersoll
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Vera Miles ... Announcer in trailer (scenes deleted)
Paul Picerni ... Announcer in trailer (scenes deleted)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Monster from Beneath the Sea (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
80 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White | Black and White (Sepiatone)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #16143, General Audience) | West Germany:12

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The "Coney Island Amusement Park" in the film is actually The Long Beach Amusement Park in Long Beach, California. The production was able to film at the park from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Shortly after the beast comes ashore in New York, he is shown emerging onto a street from a side street, and pausing. Behind him are a number of cars and pedestrians who continue to drive or walk casually, which they would certainly not be doing if a huge prehistoric monster had just appeared less than a block away. more
Quotes:
Cpl. Stone: Colonel says you need a dead shot, mister.
Professor Tom Nesbitt: Yes. Ever use a grenade rifle?
Cpl. Stone: Pick my teeth with it.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Deadly Spawn (1983) more

FAQ

Is "Clovervield (2008)" based on this?
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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful:-
THE BEST DINOSAUR MOVIE EVER MADE, 8 August 2002
Author: sferber from NYC

"The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" is, quite simply, the best dinosaur-on-the-loose movie ever made. I would say "best monster-on-the-loose movie ever made" if it weren't for that King Kong guy (need we even say which version?). I loved "The Beast" when I was a little kid, and today--some 40 years later--the movie still knocks me out. Forty years ago I loved the fact that, unlike a lot of similar movies that followed in its wake, you don't have to wait a long time for the Beast to make its appearance. It shows up in the first 10 minutes of the film and makes regular appearances thereafter. The look of the creature is very realistic; one of Ray Harryhausen's greatest creations. There are so many terrific set pieces in this film that one doesn't know where to begin, but the attack on the lighthouse, beautifully done in silhouette; the initial sighting of the Beast from the bathysphere; the Beast's attack on lower Manhattan; and the grand finale at the Coney Island roller coaster are certainly all standouts. Music, acting and photography are all first rate, and the script is intelligent and moves along briskly and with purpose. But the main attraction of the movie is the Beasty himself, and every moment that he is on screen is riveting. This picture is a true classic; the inspiration for Godzilla and all the other thawed-out creatures that followed. I have seen this one over 50 times and never seem to get tired o f it. I have seen it several times on the big screen, at one of NYC's many revival theatres, and it is always greeted with cheers whenever the Beast theme begins during the opening whirlpool credits. The movie is well loved and remembered for good reason: It's the best in its class! By the way, it took me many, many years to figure out, but the Professor's last word in the diving bell is "cantileveric." 10/10

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