Tarantula (1955)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Robert M. Fresco (screenplay) and
Martin Berkeley (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 December 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Even Science was stunned!

Plot:

A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

Plot Keywords:

Laboratory | Day | Tarantula | Arizona | Giantism

Cast

John Agar	...	Dr. Matt Hastings
Mara Corday	...	Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton
Leo G. Carroll	...	Prof. Gerald Deemer
Nestor Paiva	...	Sheriff Jack Andrews
Ross Elliott	...	Joe Burch
Edwin Rand	...	Lt. John Nolan
Raymond Bailey	...	Townsend
Hank Patterson	...	Josh
Bert Holland	...	Barney Russell
Steve Darrell	...	Andy Andersen

Also Known As:

The Giant Tarantula (USA) (informal title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG (re-rating) (2006) | UK:X (original rating) | Germany:12 (re-rated) (video) | West Germany:18 | Australia:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #17651) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Dead Man's Point, Lucerne Valley, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

The tarantula was an actual live spider. Air jets were used to make it move in the desired way over a miniature landscape.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The shadow from the off-screen hand holding the first rock in the "rockslide" can be seen before and after the rock is released.

Quotes:

Andy Andersen: [viewing what's left of his dead cattle] I never saw anything like it! No footprints! No blood! No sign of a struggle! The bones just stripped clean like peeling a banana!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Clint Eastwood: Director (1982) (TV)

Fun monster movie with serious undercurrent...

Ostensibly a quickie B-flick made for kids at matinées, "Tarantula" certainly isn't High Art but it does take a refreshingly serious tact on its story. Mad scientist in small desert town experiments with growth serum, accidentally unleashing one humongous spider on the terrified locals. Very nice atmosphere, decent special effects, not-bad performances. John Agar is the stalwart hero, and of course he's coupled with a pretty girl prone to screaming (Mara Corday as Stephanie, whom Agar affectionately calls 'Steve'). Probably more fun today for nostalgic adults than modern pre-teens, and certainly not as gripping as "Them!", but still a well-enough produced creep-show. Look fast for Clint Eastwood in an uncredited bit. ** from ****