Beginning of the End (1957)

Audrey Ames, an enterprising journalist, tries to get the scoop on giant grasshoppers accidentally created at the Illinois State experimental farm. She endeavors to save Chicago, despite a ... See full summary »

Director:

Bert I. Gordon

Writers:

Fred Freiberger (screenplay), Lester Gorn (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Graves, Peggie Castle, Morris Ankrum

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Graves	...	Dr. Ed Wainwright
Peggie Castle	...	Audrey Aimes
Morris Ankrum	...	Gen. John Hanson
Than Wyenn	...	Frank Johnson
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Col. Tom Sturgeon (as Thomas B. Henry)
Richard Benedict	...	Cpl. Mathias
James Seay	...	Capt. James Barton
John Close	...	Maj. Everett
Don C. Harvey	...	Guard at Lab
Larry J. Blake	...	Illinois Highway Patrolman
Eilene Janssen	...	Girl Teenager in Car
Hylton Socher	...	Frank - Soldier
Frank Wilcox	...	Gen. John T. Short
Douglas Evans	...	Norman Taggart - News Editor
Paul Grant	...	Male Teenager in Car

Storyline

Audrey Ames, an enterprising journalist, tries to get the scoop on giant grasshoppers accidentally created at the Illinois State experimental farm. She endeavors to save Chicago, despite a military cover-up.

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Plot Keywords:

Grasshopper | Military | Reporter | Scientist | Radioactive Material | 

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Taglines:

Filmed in New Horrorscope!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pelon katu

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

AB-PT Pictures Corp.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

200 grasshoppers were used for the film. During the filming, they began to cannibalize one another, so by the time the last shots were done, only a dozen were left.

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Goofs

When Audrey is caught taking photos of Ludlow by the soldier there is no flashbulb in the camera but when it is returned to her at the checkpoint a bulb can be seen.

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Quotes

Col. Tom Sturgeon: Where do I get off asking the Regular Army for help with a bunch of oversize grasshoppers?

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Earth vs. the Spider (1991)
referenced in Crow's paper

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Soundtracks

"Natural, Natural Baby"
Words and Music by Lou Bartel & Harriet Kane
Sung by Lou Bartel & Chorus
An ABC - Paramount Record

User Reviews

Gotta' Love It!

Bert I Gordon.....you gotta love this man. He was the maven of cheapo science fiction films in the 50's and gave us a lot of laughs and fun from his efforts. Don't get me wrong....I think his films are worth watching. There was always a message of some kind, albeit ludicrous and his "special effects" were of the superimposed, see-through type.....but still you get a kick out of viewing people running from oversized insects, amazing colossal men, etc. This film, like most during the 50's deals with mutation of some life form (here it's grasshoppers) into giant beasts who wreak havoc on the world.....in this case Chicago or postcards of Chicago as in the building climbing sequence at the finale. Peter Graves, who seemed to be stuck in this type of film for several years, does a serviceable job as the hero but probably wished he could be someplace else. Peggy Castle plays it straight as the gal pal and some other faces that we all know pop up in supporting roles. But it's the grasshoppers who steal the show.....crawling around on pictures, flying through the air and apparently eating people alive. We salute you, Bert I. Gordon!!! You made late night TV viewing worthwhile!