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) ...
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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

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Breslin	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Nigel Green	...	Bulletin Announcer (uncredited)
Harvey Hall	...	Squadron Leader (uncredited)
Brian Jackson	...	Army Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Eugène Lourié		(as Eugene Lourie)

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

Produced by
Wilfred Eades	....	producer
Frank King	....	executive producer
Herman King	....	producer
Maurice King	....	executive producer
James Leicester	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Angelo Francesco Lavagnino		(as Angelo Lavagnino)

Cinematography by
Freddie Young		(as F.A. Young)

Film Editing by
Eric Boyd-Perkins

Art Direction by
Elliot Scott

Makeup Department
Stella Morris	....	makeup artist

Production Management
George Mills	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Douglas Hermes	....	assistant director
Joe Marks	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Ted Morley	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Graysmark	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Bramall	....	sound recordist
Archie Ludski	....	sound editor
Peter Thornton	....	sound editor
A.W. Watkins	....	recording supervisor

Visual Effects by
Tom Howard	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Peter Brace	....	stunts
Michael Dillon	....	stunts
Peter Perkins	....	stunts
Connie Tilton	....	stunts
David Wilding	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Douglas Adamsson	....	additional photographer
Jack Mills	....	camera operator
Jim Dawes	....	grip (uncredited)
Roy Gough	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Harry Haynes	....	wardrober

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Pamela Davies	....	script supervisor
Herman King	....	public relations
Jack Labow	....	assistant to producer
Jean Clarkson	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Production Companies

• King Brothers Productions

Distributors

• British Lion-Columbia Distributors (BLC) (1961) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• CMV Laservision (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• DD Video (1994) (UK) (VHS)
• F.J. Lucas (Brazil) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Regal Films International (UK) (re-release)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Star Classics Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• United Video (video)
• VCI Home Video (video)
• Video Dimensions (video)

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:

Crew or equipment visible: When using the "flame throwers" on the baby monster, you can see the gas line running down the inside guy's pants legs and trailing behind them.

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:

Featured in Fantastic Fantasy Fright-o-Rama Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V)

Not your usual catch of the day.

One of my favorite Sci-Fi creature flicks. After an undersea earthquake, a baby sea monster is captured off the Irish coast and is put in a London circus. The creature called Gorgo escapes and raises havoc. Turn the excitement up a notch when the infant creature's mother comes to reclaim her baby. This movie has a better look and feel than most small budget features. Cast includes: Bill Travers, Bruce Seton, William Sylvester and Christopher Rhodes. Gorgo is large enough, but wait until you see mama!