Gorgo (1961)

Director:

Eugène Lourié

Writers (WGA):

Robert L. Richards (screen story) (originally as John Loring) and
Daniel James (screen story) (originally as Daniel Hyatt) ...

Release Date:

29 March 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Neither Bombs, Bullets, Jets or Rockets Can Stop Gorgo...But This Little Boy Knew His Secret!

Plot:

A salvage vessle is nearly sunk off the Irish coast by an undersea earthquake. A few nights later, a...

Plot Keywords:

Monster | Sea Monster | Multiple Monsters | Mythological Reference | Circus

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Bill Travers	...	Joe Ryan
William Sylvester	...	Sam Slade
Vincent Winter	...	Sean
Christopher Rhodes	...	McCartin
Joseph O'Conor	...	Professor Hendricks
Bruce Seton	...	Professor Flaherty
Martin Benson	...	Dorkin
Maurice Kaufmann	...	Radio Reporter
Basil Dignam	...	Admiral Brooks
Barry Keegan	...	Mate
Tommy Duggan	...	First Naval Officer
Howard Lang	...	First Colonel
Dervis Ward	...	Bosun

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Irish Gaelic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (original rating) | Finland:K-12 (re-rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Coliemore Harbour, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

King Brothers Productions

Trivia:

The film was originally set in Japan. Later, the King Brothers and Eugène Lourié thought of setting it in Paris, but that would have meant the monster would have had to wade about 100 miles up the Seine to get to the city. Finally, the location was changed to Ireland and England.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the British aircraft carrier Royal Oak is sent to take on the monster, the stock footage of jets taking off from a carrier show US aircraft.

Quotes:

Radio Reporter: We prayed for a miracle. Maybe our prayers have been answered. A great city, overwhelmed, exhausted, lies helpless under the immeasurable power and ferocity of this towering apparition from before the dawn of history. Yet, as disdaining the pygmies under her feet, she turns back! Turns with her young, leaving the prostrate city, leaving the haunts of man, and leaving man himself to ponder the proud boast that he alone is lord of all creation.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Waiting for Gorgo (2009)

The British Godzilla

This film is came out seven years after the debut of the "Big G" and it is quite a surprise. This is a great story, and the ending is definitely a twist on what usually happens in most giant monster films. This film could definitely be seen as a parable on the consequences of greed. This film is definitely a cult classic.