The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

John Sherwood

Writer:

Arthur A. Ross (writer)

Release Date:

26 April 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The second sequel to The Creature from the Black Lagoon!

Plot:

In this third Gill-Man feature, the Creature is captured and turned into an air-breather by a rich mad scientist...

Plot Keywords:

Creature | Gill Man | Scientist | Fall From Height | Electric Fence

Cast

Jeff Morrow	...	Dr. William Barton
Rex Reason	...	Dr. Thomas Morgan
Leigh Snowden	...	Marcia Barton
Gregg Palmer	...	Jed Grant
Maurice Manson	...	Dr. Borg
James Rawley	...	Dr. Johnson
David McMahon	...	Capt. Stanley
Paul Fierro	...	Morteno
Lillian Molieri	...	Mrs. Morteno
Larry Hudson	...	State trooper
Frank Chase	...	Steward

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #17742) | USA:Unrated (video rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and Revenge of the Creature (1955), and the only one of the three not made in 3-D.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the climax, when the creature escapes and begins throwing furniture around, you can see the wires attached to the pieces of furniture.

Quotes:

Dr. Thomas Morgan: ... because we all stand between the jungle and the stars, at a crossroads. I think we better decide what brings out the best in humankind, and what brings out the worst, because it's the stars or the jungle.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Tremors: The Key (#1.11)" (2003)

THE CREATURE LIVES

After seeming to have been killed at the end of each prior installment (with no explanation in this or the prior sequel how he survived), the Gill Man is now residing in the Everglades of Florida. Wealthy scientist Jeff Morrow has gathered a team of medical and scientific types to help him catch the Gill Man and study him. The creature is caught, but seriously burned in the process. Rushing him back to the boat, they wrap him up in bandages, and try to save his life. As he recuperates, his gills fall off, and a humanistic skin if found underneath. Okay, a little far fetched, but, the Gill Man is in between man and fish, so this plotline works. What got me was that the new human Gill Man is gigantic and lumbering in size, where the original was trim and athletic. That never made sense to me. Don Megowan (the new Gill Man) was a big fellow, and his size made him more menacing, but, I have always had a problem with that size and weight difference.

Again, we're treated to some excellent underwater photography. And, the action is on par. Jeff Morrow is nicely evil, and Rex Reason is ruggedly masculine as the hero. Leigh Snowden as Morrow's wife, lends the added touch of beauty to the story, and Greg Palmer's rather slimey character is played perfectly.

Almost any movie could have been improved upon (well maybe not an Orson Welles or Frank Capra film), and yes, there could have been some changes that would have made this better, but, I still like today as I did in 1956 when I first saw it. It's a proud member of my classic library. For most, this would be a fair at best movie, but, you gotta give 'em credit for trying to be original with the Gill Man, and not just rehashing parts one and two. Also, the team of Morrow and Reason always made for good viewing.