TOP TEN GIANT MONSTER MOVIE CLASSICS
With King Kong recently returning to the big screen, the 2014 American reboot of Godzilla and Godzilla making his Japanese comeback last year, plus 2015's Jurassic World and 2013's Pacific Rim one might say that...
Giant monster movies are back!
Kong: Skull Island was my most anticipated film for March 2017 and perhaps my most anticipated film for all of 2017. And it looks like next year we'll be receiving the long awaited PACIFIC RIM 2 and Jurassic World 2, 2019 we'll see the sequel to the 2014 Godzilla reboot, and then finally in 2020 (if all goes as planned and these movies make money at the box office) we'll be treated to KING KONG VS GODZILLA.
In spirit of this new dawning age of giant monster movies I wanted to take a look back at the first age of giant monsters. During the 1950's and 1960's giant monsters loomed large on the silver screen. With the classic Universal Monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man having run their course at the movie theaters for a period, the new batch of monsters were far bigger, primal and animalistic, born of the atomic age and space age. New frontiers in science and space exploration provided the means and origins of these new monsters rather than the old world superstitions.
These were new monsters for a new era.
As many of you know, I love giant monsters and have since I was a little kid. Below is a list of my favorite classic giant monster movies. There are few parameters for this list. I've excluded Asian monster movies from this list because I could write several lists just on them. So no kaiju films, despite a few kaiju in the picture above. I've also kept the list to basically the golden age of giant monster films, roughly the 1930's through the 1960's. So no modern monster movies like Cloverfield or Peter Jackson's King Kong.
So, without further adieu, on with the list already!
I've included bonuses as usual but these two bonuses are quite the opposite of the films making up the top ten.
Enjoy!
#12
THE GIANT CLAW
Directed by Fred F. Sears
Special Effects by Ralph Hammeras and George Teague
A giant prehistoric bird wreaks havoc across the world.
So... it's a remake of RODAN. All right, some monster movies are not to be taken seriously. The first two films on this list are such films of the "So bad it's funny" variety. I love them dearly but you do truly enjoy these films more if you're laughing. The Giant Claw is pure entertainment.
Jeff Morrow, known for such sci-fi horror classics as THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US and THIS ISLAND EARTH, stars as Mitch, the only man who can possibly save the world from this monstrous threat. I am obligated to like this movie ;)
#11
REPTILICUS
Directed by Sidney W. Pink
Visual Effects by Kai Koed
A piece of a tail of an ancient creature is discovered. The tail regenerates the rest of the creature and it proceeds to wreak havoc.
Reptilicus is a genuine classic of "so bad it's funny" films. What's interesting is the design of the monster, if it had been well executed, would've made for an incredible monster. As it is the monster was brought to life using marionettes and hand puppets (not inherently bad means of execution, but executed badly here).
To be clear, this is not giant monster movies at their finest. But you can't help but love it because of how bad it is. No giant monster collection is complete without the train wreck that is Reptilicus.
#10
GORGO
Directed by Eugene Lourie
Visual Effects by Tom Howard
A giant monster stalks the waters off the coast of a small fishing village in Ireland. When money-grubbing capitalists capture the creature and transport it to London for live exhibition, its much larger mother arrives to reclaim her child. The adult monster is so massive no weapon on Earth can hurt it. How will man deal with such a force of nature?
Gorgo is a true giant monster movie classic. Eugene Lourie directed three giant monster movies and Gorgo was the last of them and the biggest. Unlike most of the films on this list, Gorgo follows in the footsteps of Asian monster movie cinema in which the monster is brought to life via a man in a monster suit. The actor playing Gorgo rampages through a model version of London a la Godzilla. What makes Gorgo stand out is that introduced the plot of a monster causing death and mayhem only to retrieve its offspring.
It's like the movie TAKEN if Liam Neeson were a 200 foot tall monster.
#9
THEM
Directed by Gordon Douglas
Special Effects by J. Leslie Asher, Dick Smith, and Robert Turner
Ants, mushroomed to the size of cars by nuclear bomb tests in the desert, wreak havoc in the American Southwest.
Most of the movies on this list are considered science fiction fantasy films. THEM is one of two on this list that fall into the Horror category. Well directed and well executed, Them was one of the earliest films to broach the subject of the effects of atomic testing on nature. In this case, the radiation turns ordinary ants into giant sized monsters. They may be the smallest monsters on the list but considering where they started these ants are genuinely colossal.
Staring James Arness from Gunsmoke fame and the 1951 horror classic THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD, Them is both fun and horrifying (if you suspend your disbelief a bit, of course).
#8
THE GIANT BEHEMOTH
Directed by Eugene Lourie
Special Effects by Willis O'Brien
Atomic tests in the ocean awaken an aquatic dinosaur from the deepest depths. Those who've sighted the beast believe it to be the great behemoth written of in the Bible. Wherever the creature travels it leaves a trail of deadly radiation in its wake. The monster looms close to London and must be stopped before the great British city is razed completely.
It's a fairly standard plot in the vein of Godzilla and the Beast From 20,000 Fathoms but what makes this film special and a personal favorite of mine is the monster and the stop-motion animation of Willis O'Brien. I'm gonna repeat myself many times down the list here, but high quality stop-motion animation is a rare thing and quite incredible to see. The Behemoth looks quite good in both animation and design. And even though the plot is familiar it is quite engaging and well done.
For only having directed four feature films, three of Eugene Lourie's films are giant monster movies, The Giant Behemoth being essentially a remake of his first film, The Beast From 20,000 fathoms.
#7
CURSE OF THE DEMON
Directed by Jacques Tourneur
Special Effects by George Blackwell
Professor Harrington dies under mysterious circumstances. His colleague, parapsychologist John Holden arrives in London to investigate. There he discovers a devil-worshiping cult, their leader claiming a demon was responsible for Harrington's death. Holden sets out to disprove the cult's beliefs in magic and demons as mere superstition. But when the cult leader curses Holden to die at the hands of a demon, Holden's skepticism begins turning into genuine belief. Supernatural events start occurring around him the closer the demon gets.
Of all the movies on this list, CURSE OF THE DEMON stands alone as having the one giant monster that's a genuine demon of Hell. Again, the monster is seldom seen in the movie but each time it comes on screen it is a sight to behold. I love this movie, not only for the monster, but for the strength of its story. You're just as enthralled with the story when the demon's not on screen too. Directed by Jacques Tourneur, the horror master responsible for I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE and CAT PEOPLE, turns out one of his greatest thrillers here and George Blackwell delivers one of the most unique and frightening giant movie monsters ever.
#6
THE VALLEY OF GWANGI
Directed by James O'Connolly
Special Effects by Ray Harryhausen
During the early 20th century a group of cowboys from a traveling western stunt show discover a hidden valley in the Mexican wilderness where dinosaurs roam! A massive carnivore stalks onto the scene eating cowboys and dinosaurs alike. Local gypsies believe the carnivore to be an ancient demon named Gwangi. During a rockslide Gwangi is rendered unconscious and the cowboys tie the monster up and transport the beast to Mexico City. In the city Gwangi breaks free and all hell breaks loose!
Cowboys versus Dinosaurs! What more need be said? The Valley of Gwangi is truly a one of a kind film. From the mind of King Kong creator Willis O'Brien, completed after O'Brien's death by Ray Harryhausen. Gwangi is one of the best dinosaur/monster movies ever made. There are scenes in this film which directly inspired scenes in Spielberg's JURASSIC PARK.
The highlights of the film are undoubtedly everything with the title character Gwangi. Gwangi is one mean beast. At first he appears as if he's just an ordinary Allosaurus but there are hints of him being something more. The gypsy characters create a demonic aura about the character and Gwangi's personality certainly reinforces that. He is one mean malevolent beast. This isn't a list of the best dinosaur movies but Gwangi goes beyond being a simple dinosaur much like Bruce in JAWS goes beyond being a simple shark.
#5
THE BLACK SCORPION
Directed by Edward Ludwig
Special Effects by Willis O'Brien
The Black Scorpion wasn't the first film about giant insects nor was it the last. But it is probably my favorite. Giant man-eating scorpions are released from a subterranean cavern by a volcanic eruption. These gargantuan arachnids are loosed upon the Mexican countryside, killing and eating humans wherever they find them. The fate of the world rests with two geologists searching for the creatures weaknesses.
First off, this film's stop-motion animation was done by non-other than the pioneer of the art and King Kong creator, Willis O'Brien. In King Kong there was a deleted scene in which a group of sailors fall into a pit and are eaten alive by a host of monstrous insects and creatures. Known as the "Spider-Pit" sequence, this is perhaps the greatest and most sought-after deleted scene in the existence of cinema. The Black Scorpion is probably the closest many fans will ever get to seeing the Spider-Pit sequence.
The movie definitely has a 50's pulp sci-fi horror feel but has tremendous imagination too. Even though it's considered a B movie, everyone involved takes the content seriously and grants the movie that extra gravitas. Starring Richard Denning of Creature From the Black Lagoon fame, highlights of the film include the subterranean sequence, the train attack (in which two scorpions rip people to shreds), and the attack on Mexico City.
#4
20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH
Directed by Nathan Juran
Special Effects by Ray Harryhausen
A rocket ship crash lands in the ocean just off the shores of Italy. Before it sinks to the bottom of the ocean, two crewmen are rescued. One dies of a bizarre disease and the other starts raving about a mission to the planet Venus and a alien specimen brought back to Earth. Soon reports of a strange creature roaming the Italian countryside begin cropping up. The longer this creature breathes Earth's atmosphere the bigger it grows, eventually towering over the buildings of Rome and climbing atop the legendary Roman Colosseum.
The Ymir, the monster of this film (unrelated to the Frost Giant of Norse Mythology) is one of my top favorite movie monsters. I love the look and design of the creature as well as the idea behind it. It's a native Venusian creature that, on its own planet, doesn't get much bigger than a human. In Earth's atmosphere however it grows larger and larger at an incredible rate. Ray Harryhausen imbues the Ymir with incredible personality and life. There's an extremely interesting backstory about the mission to Venus that is only hinted at in the movie.
Highlights of the film include the Ymir's hatching sequence, the dog attack in the barn (all done brilliantly in shadow), the battle with an elephant, and the attack on Rome.
#3
THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS
Directed by Eugene Lourie
Special Effects by Ray Harryhausen
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms was the beginning of a new era in monster movies, the Atomic Age. An atomic bomb test in the Antarctic awakens and releases a giant prehistoric dinosaur from the ice. The monster, dubbed the Rhedosaurus, takes to the ocean, sinking ships and destroying lighthouses. Eventually the monster makes landfall in a major city and begins wreaking havoc. Later scientists discover that where the beast has walked leaves heavy traces of radiation, killing those who come into contact with it.
Sound familiar? Beast became a template for countless monster movie concepts afterwards including the great GODZILLA and GAMERA. The whole first act of the original Gamera film parallels Beast fairly closely, including a recreation of the iconic Lighthouse Destruction sequence. The major highlights of the film are certainly the Lighthouse scene, the attack on the city in broad daylight, and the final sequence at the roller-coaster park where a young LEE VAN CLEEF fires the shot that saves the day. The simple yet frightening design of the Rhedosaurus is one of the enduring aspects of the film too.
This movie was Ray Harryhausen's first feature film on his own and written by the legendary Ray Bradbury. It was directed by Eugene Lourie, a man who contributed four legendary sci-fi films in his short directing career, three of which are on this list, Beast completing the Eugene Lourie trifecta! Beast is without a doubt his greatest achievement, also his first film.
#2
THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD
Directed by Nathan Juran
Special Effects by Ray Harryhausen
Easily my favorite of all of Ray Harryhausen's films and one of the best fantasy films ever made. This movie was my first exposure to Harryhausen and I instantly fell in love with the creatures and world he had created. Not only are we treated to one giant monster, like many of the films above, but a whole host fantastic creatures. Based on the legendary tales of the Arabian Knights, this movie features a mysterious island, a magic djinn, a re-animated skeleton, giant cyclops, giant two-headed birds called Rok, and an even bigger fire-breathing dragon.
Highlights of the film include an energetic score by Bernard Herrmann, a fast paced plot loaded with fight scenes and physical action, and an epic opening sequence featuring the dreaded Cyclops. The island of Colossa, the mysterious location where the bulk of the story takes place, is as wonderful and exciting as Skull Island in King Kong.
The scope and grandeur of Harryhausen doesn't get much bigger than this. Of course you'll have noticed that JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS and CLASH OF THE TITANS, probably Harryhausen's best known films, are not on this list. First off, Jason doesn't really have any giant monsters in it other than Talos. Second, Clash, while it has the awesome Kraken, never really struck a deep cord with me. It's not that I don't like either of those movies, I do very much, but I merely prefer others.
#1
KING KONG
Release Date: 1933
Directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and Merian C. Cooper
Special Effects by Willis O'Brien
The original King Kong is my all time favorite movie of any genre. When it came out there were no other movies like it. Incredible larger than life action and adventure. Not only does this movie have Kong, but also numerous dinosaurs and strange prehistoric beasts. As far as giant monsters are concerned this movie has around a half dozen. This movie has more giant monsters than most, giving us more monsters for our buck.
Kong was brought to life through "Stop Motion" Animation, a technique pioneered by Willis O'Brien, the mentor and inspiration of Ray Harryhausen. Willis O'Brien's first full length feature film was the 1925 silent film THE LOST WORLD. Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic story, this movie featured Stop Motion dinosaurs in full glory, including a Brontosaurus rampaging through downtown London. The foundation for what would eventually lead to King Kong was laid here.
I never get tired of watching King Kong. It's a prime example of judicious film making. There isn't a single superfluous shot in the film. Highlights of King Kong are the entire Skull Island sequence and Kong's rampage through New York City.
And there you have it!
Did I miss any of your favorites? List your favorite giant monster movies in the comments below!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the list!
And go out and support KONG: SKULL ISLAND's box office. It's a good movie and well worth the money.
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