Earth vs. the Spider (1958)

User Rating:

3.1/10   

Director:

Bert I. Gordon

Writers:

László Görög (screenplay) and
George Worthing Yates (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

September 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

It Must Eat You to Live!

Plot:

Teenagers from a rural community and their high school science teacher join forces to battle a giant mutant spider.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Cave | Ddt | Night | Giant Spider

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Nov. 21

3:30 AM

AMC

Cast

Ed Kemmer	...	Professor Art Kingman
June Kenney	...	Carol Flynn
Eugene Persson	...	Mike Simpson (as Gene Persson)
Gene Roth	...	Sheriff Cagle
Hal Torey	...	Mr. Simpson
June Jocelyn	...	Mrs. Jack Flynn
Mickey Finn	...	Sam Haskel, Road Foreman
Sally Fraser	...	Mrs. Helen Kingman
Troy Patterson	...	Joe
Skip Young	...	Sam the Bass Player
Howard Wright	...	Jake
Bill Giorgio	...	Deputy Sheriff Pete Sanders
Hank Patterson	...	Hugo the River Falls H.S. Janitor
Jack Kosslyn	...	Mr. Fraser, Camera Club Teacher
Bob Garnet	...	Springdale Pest Control Man
Shirley Falls	...	Switchboard Operator
Bob Tetrick	...	Deputy Sheriff Dave
Nancy Kilgas	...	Dancer
George Stanley	...	Man in Cavern
David Tomack	...	Power Line Foreman
Merritt Stone	...	Jack Flynn, Carol's Dad
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dick D'Agostin	...	Pianist (uncredited)

Directed by
Bert I. Gordon

Writing credits
László Görög		(screenplay) (as Laszlo Gorog) and
George Worthing Yates		(screenplay)
Bert I. Gordon		(story)

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	executive producer
Bert I. Gordon	....	producer
James H. Nicholson	....	executive producer
Henry Schrage	....	assistant producer

Original Music by
Albert Glasser

Cinematography by
Jack A. Marta		(director of photography) (as Jack Marta)

Set Decoration by
William F. Calvert		(as Bill Calvert)

Makeup Department
Kay Shea	....	hair stylist
Allan Snyder	....	makeup artist (as Allen Snyder)

Production Management
Marty Moss	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marty Moss	....	assistant director
John W. Rogers	....	assistant director

Art Department
James Harris	....	property master (as Jim Harris)
Walter E. Keller	....	set designer (as Walter Keller)

Sound Department
Al Overton	....	sound recordist
Bruce Schoengarth	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Bert I. Gordon	....	special technical effects
Flora M. Gordon	....	assistant technical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Calvin A. Maehl	....	chief set electrician (as Cal Maehl)
Del Nodine	....	key grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marjorie Corso	....	costumer (as Marge Corso)

Editorial Department
Ronald Sinclair	....	editorial supervisor
Paul Wittenberg	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Albert Glasser	....	conductor
Samuel Hoffman	....	musician: theremin (uncredited)

Other crew
Jackie Blaisdell	....	special designer
Paul Blaisdell	....	special designer
Jim Dannaldson	....	spider handler
Elayne Garnet	....	script supervisor
Thol Simonson	....	special devices

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1958) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• The United States Department of Interior, National Park Service  settings of the world famous Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico courtesy of (as The Department of the Interior National Park Service)
• Ryder Sound Services  sound

Also Known As:

Earth vs. the Giant Spider
The Spider (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (Certificate #19120) | USA:Not Rated (DVD) | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

This was filmed as "The Spider". Prior to completion, the title was changed to "Earth vs. The Spider" and that was used for the main title on the film itself. When The Fly (1958) became a blockbuster for 20th Century Fox, American International decided to ride on their success by changing the title back to simply "The Spider" on all advertising material. The main title on the film itself was never changed.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The spider expert repeatedly refers to them as insects.

Quotes:

Mr. Kingman: Well, speaking of spiders - are you sure rifles are just the thing? Insects have a pretty simple nervous system, sherriff. You could plug holes in one all day and never hit a vital spot. If you want to be on the safe side, call the pest control people in Springdale and have 'em send out all the DDT they can find.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Being from Another Planet (#5.5)" (1992)

ONE OF BERT I. GORDON'S BEST MOVIES

For a craftsman who specialized in rather cheezy special effects, this was really one of his best movies.

You still see the holes in the superimposed spider's legs as it walks along, lines around it's body in some scenes, and the prop leg during the house sequence only dangles limply in front of the people, which is more humorous than scary. The spider's "growl" is a bit much. I don't know if arachnids make any audible noises, but, this one is very vocal.

The cave sets are pretty impressive, interlaced with real shots of Carlsbad Caverns. The story is fairly plausible, and Gene Roth is a trip as the town sheriff.

Albert Glasser gives us, again, a terrific score that adds to the terror of the story.

For it's theatrical release, the original title was shortened to just "The Spider". That would fit easily on any marquee.