Behemoth the Sea Monster (1959)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Directors:

Douglas Hickox
Eugène Lourié

Writers (WGA):

Robert Abel (story) &
Alan J. Adler (story) ...

Release Date:

3 March 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The Biggest Thing Since Creation!

Plot:

Marine atomic tests cause changes in the ocean's ecosystem resulting in dangerous blobs of radiation and the resurrection of a dormant dinosaur which threatens London.

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Dinosaur | Radiation | Electric Shock | Helicopter

Cast

Gene Evans	...	Steve Karnes
André Morell	...	Professor James Bickford
John Turner	...	John
Leigh Madison	...	Jean Trevethan
Jack MacGowran	...	Dr. Sampson, the Paleontologist
Maurice Kaufmann	...	Mini Submarine Officer
Henri Vidon	...	Tom Trevethan
Leonard Sachs	...	Scientist

Also Known As:

Behemoth
The Giant Behemoth (USA)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Norway:16 | USA:Unrated | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Artistes Alliance Ltd.

Trivia:

The puppet of the behemoth is owned by Dennis Muren.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In several scenes of the crowds running from the monster, bystanders are visible watching the action while standing around on the sidewalks.

Quotes:

Steve Karnes: I feel Admiral, what we're facing is a marine animal of tremendous size and strength.
Admiral Summers: Do you mean to believe that a whale could've smashed through steel plates so high above the water line?
Steve Karnes: I didn't say a whale.
Professor James Bickford: Behemoth?
Steve Karnes: That's as good a name as any for now.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Monster Mania (1997) (TV)

Well-done treatment of a standard sci-fi theme.

Director Eugene (Gene) Lourie made three similarly-themed giant monster flicks, beginning with 1953's 'Beast From 20,000 Fathoms' to 1961's 'Gorgo', with 'Behemoth' sandwiched in between. The story line is much like a myriad of other films of the era (and very much like 'Beast...") but this one is a cut above. This time, the irradiated creature (weren't they all during the 50s?) turns up in British waters. Unlike 'Beast' and 'Gorgo' (as well as Godzilla and the others), this Behemoth not only was a huge creature, but also had the ability to project 'electrified fields of radiation', causing people to literally burn to death. Scenes with Behemoth climbing out of the Thames, destroying buildings and burning people to death (even kids aren't spared) is pretty exciting. While close-ups of Behemoth are not realistic (compared to Ray Harryhausen's work in 'Beast'), the full-body scenes done by Willis O'Brien are very effective. The acting, untypical of these films, is actually pretty well done. Character actor Gene Evans and Hammer Films regular Andre Morell do splendid jobs, and the supporting cast is fine too. One can quibble over which of these films is the best, but I agree with an observation made in Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film that The Giant Behemoth was "the scariest giant monster-on-the-loose film ever made." At least up to that point, anyway. Well worth having if you're a fan of old sci-fi & horror films.