Tarantula (1955)

Director:

Jack Arnold

Writers:

Robert M. Fresco (screenplay) and
Martin Berkeley (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 December 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Even Science was stunned!

Plot:

A spider escapes from an isolated desert laboratory experimenting in giantism and grows to tremendous size as it wreaks havoc on the local inhabitants.

Plot Keywords:

Day | Laboratory | Tarantula | Scientist | Arizona

Cast

John Agar	...	Dr. Matt Hastings
Mara Corday	...	Stephanie 'Steve' Clayton
Leo G. Carroll	...	Prof. Gerald Deemer
Nestor Paiva	...	Sheriff Jack Andrews
Ross Elliott	...	Joe Burch
Edwin Rand	...	Lt. John Nolan
Raymond Bailey	...	Townsend
Hank Patterson	...	Josh
Bert Holland	...	Barney Russell
Steve Darrell	...	Andy Andersen

Also Known As:

The Giant Tarantula (USA) (informal title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:PG (re-rating) (2006) | UK:X (original rating) | Germany:12 (re-rated) (video) | West Germany:18 | Australia:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #17651) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Dead Man's Point, Lucerne Valley, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

Look for a young Clint Eastwood as the (uncredited) leader of the jet squadron that attacks the tarantula in the film's climax.

Goofs:

Continuity: The positions of the books on the table when the tarantula attacks the house with the heroine in it.

Quotes:

Sheriff Jack Andrews: What have you git, Matt?
Dr. Matt Hastings: I don't know, but we've got to keep our mouths shut until we know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

One of the great "giant bug" movies of the 1950's.

Scientist Gerald Deemer (Leo G. Carroll) has developed a formula that he hopes will solve the problem of a growing world population with not enough food to feed them all. The formula causes animals to grow at an accelerated rate, and wouldn't you know it, a giant tarantula escapes and scours the Southwestern desert, devouring some hapless victims and terrorizing all.

I enjoyed this movie because it remains convincing instead of descending into laugh-ability as I'm sure some of the other "giant bug" movies of the period did. The special effects actually work, and the film is refreshingly serious when it could have turned into blatant camp. I thought it was genuinely chilling, with likable characters and good pacing. John Agar is an engaging hero, and Mara Corday fits the mold of other female leads from the period - brainy instead of being merely decorative.

The added subplot that shows what the formula does to human beings is a decent bonus - the makeup effects turn out to be pretty good, especially as they relate to the character of Deemer.

A certain gravely-voiced film legend, in one of his earliest feature film appearances, can be seen right at the end of the film, as the jet squadron leader.

A good effort by all concerned; an uncredited Henry Mancini was one of the composers of the effective music score.

8/10