The Black Scorpion (1957)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

Edward Ludwig

Writers:

Robert Blees (writer)
David Duncan (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

DON'T BE ASHAMED TO SCREAM - IT HELPS TO RELIEVE THE TENSION

Plot:

Volcanic activity frees giant scorpions from the earth who wreak havoc in the rural countryside and eventually threaten Mexico City.

Plot Keywords:

Mexico City | Scorpion | Mexico | Geologist | Cavern

Cast

Richard Denning	...	Hank Scott
Mara Corday	...	Teresa Alvarez
Carlos Rivas	...	Artur Ramos
Mario Navarro	...	Juanito
Carlos Múzquiz	...	Dr. Velazco
Pascual García Peña	...	José de la Cruz
Fanny Schiller	...	Florentina
Pedro Galván	...	Father Delgado
Arturo Martínez	...	Major Cosio

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #18505) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Estadio Universitario, Mexico City, México D.F., Mexico

Company:

Amex Productions

Trivia:

Many of the screams heard are stock sound effects that can also be heard in many Republic movie serials.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When the Scorpion is rampaging through Mexico City, one of the shots shows the Empire State Building in the background.

Quotes:

Hank Scott: [in a laboratory] One question, doctor...
Dr. Velazco: I hope I can answer it.
Hank Scott: Well, the alcohol, the distilled water, the salt solution - I can uderstand that, but what's the tequila for?
Dr. Velazco: Well, in your country I believe they call it a coffee break.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Black Scorpion (#2.12)" (1990)

Marauding, Drooling Beasts That Mangle and Murder

Way above average giant insect thriller, mainly due to the awesome special effects of Willis O'Brien ("King Kong" - 1933). Three set-pieces are superb: the first appearance, rather unexpectedly, of heroine Mara Corday talking to telephone linemen, who soon are under attack, then the train wreck which is terrifying and bizarre, and the final confrontation in the stadium, featuring grand editing and surprising touches. Mexico setting works well, music and sound effects are exemplary, sub-Earth sequence featuring more creatures is eerie. Title refers to the largest creature in the climax, budgetary limitations revealing a black traveling matte, still mystical, with fascinating zoom-in camera shots. Some have faulted the scorpion's "drooling" close-ups, but I find them bone-chilling. Only major defect: the leading actors, Corday, Richard Denning, and Carlos Rivas, are hammy and unsubtle and a Corday-Denning romance occurs too late in the script, especially after all the mayhem.