True, newspapers birthing films based on articles is nothing new. Though not one of his greatest works, it is his masterpiece in the original sense of the word; the film proved he was no longer merely the apprentice and protégé of Willis 'Obie' O'Brien, but a master filmmaker in his own right. Originally a story about an amorphous blob of radiation, the script was changed at the distributor’s insistence to a pastiche of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, though elements of original concepts remains in the early parts of the film and the titular monster’s nuclear breathing power. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms isn’t a particularly good film but it does have one claim to significance as the first movie to employ Ray Harryhausen as sole visual effects artist. The Rhedosaurus is the main antagonist of the 1953 black-and-white science fiction monster filmThe Beast from 20,000 Fathoms. A rogue independent feature brought in-house at Warner Bros., it introduced plot elements that would be repeated dozens of times. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms is perhaps film animator Ray Harryhausen's most influential film. After reading the script, he remarked about a scene in the story (which featured the monster destroying a lighthouse) that seemed very similar to a short story that he had published in "The Saturday Evening Post" several years earlier called "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms". The movie was inspired by the release of "King Kong" and was the first movie to feature a giant monster awakened by an atomic bomb. Beginning of dialog window. Of course, Harryhausen’s immense talents were obvious even before The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, but this was the first time he was handed the reins on a production. Directed by: Eugène Lourié. Bradbury's story was about a dinosaur that destroys a lighthouse. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms is an endearingly simpleminded but visually impressive monster movie, the first of the 50s science fiction pictures to feature a giant, city-attacking prehistoric creature. A few days ago I was able to see it on a theater screen for the first time and, if anything, I may love it even more now. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms is generally considered to be the initiator of the 1950s trend for creatures-awakened-by-an-atomic-explosion. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms was also the first film featuring a giant creature that exists as the result of an atomic explosion. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a 1953 American black-and-white, science fiction, grindhouse, monster film from Warner Bros., produced by Jack Dietz and Hal E. Chester, directed by Eugène Lourié, that stars Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, and Kenneth Tobey. The beast was created by the master of stop motion, Ray Harryhausen. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms features the special effects of the master Ray Harryhausen. ' Beast From 20,000 Fathoms' Invades City. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a 1953 American black-and-white science fiction monster film from Warner Bros., produced by Jack Dietz and Hal E. Chester, directed by Eugène Lourié, that stars Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, and Kenneth Tobey. Reviewed by Glenn Erickson. In Japan, producer Tomoyuki Tanaka of Toho Studios read a synopsis of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms in a trade magazine, and it inspired him to create a homegrown monster-on-the-loose. Reading the script, then titled Monster from the Sea, he suggested that some scenes were very reminiscent of a story he'd written a few years earlier for the Saturday Evening Post called The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, such as the memorable one where the dinosaur climbs out of the sea to destroy a lighthouse on the coast of Maine. We have a prehistoric beast rampaging ships, a lighthouse, a diving bell, and the city of New York. In this case, it was … Continued Put Eugène Lourié in the director’s chair, John L. Russell behind the camera, and enlist a supporting cast of topnotch character actors and you have a recipe for success. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms is perhaps film animator Ray Harryhausen's most influential film. I've always loved BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS from my first (of many) TV viewings just before Christmas, 1966. Take a look through the credits of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and you come across the rather splendid ‘Suggested by the sensational Saturday Evening Post’. The movies themselves are classic SciFi of the best variety. Originally a story about an amorphous blob of radiation, the script was changed at the distributor's insistence to a pastiche of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), though elements of the original concept remain in the early parts of the film and in … It was based on the story "The Fog Horn" by Ray Bradbury. "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" was released in 1953 and was directed by Eugene Lourie. The film's stop-motion animation special effects are by Ray Harryhausen. Reputed to have cost $200,000 and to have generated $5million in revenues, it was undoubtedly one of the most successful science fiction films of its time. The Rhedosaurus makes a cameo appearance in the 1978 film "Planet of Dinosaurs". THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS helped launch a whole slew of atomic age monster flicks that featured some sort of enraged or mutated beastie, each usually the size of a building. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a enjoyable enough B-film with some really engaging effects, and while any larger commentary is probably slim to non-existent, it is there, and could be argued to a certain extent. A. W. June 25, 1953; ... say, as a "rhedosaurus. This entry was posted on July 6, 2011 at 11:00 am and is filed under Film, Science Fiction with tags 000 fathoms, creature feature, eugene lourie, film, movie, paul christian, paula raymond, ray bradbury, ray harryhausen, science fiction, stop motion, the beast from 20, the foghorn. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a 1953 film about a ferocious dinosaur awakened by an Arctic atomic test that terrorizes the North Atlantic and then New York City. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) - IMDb As a result of an arctic nuclear test, a carnivorous dinosaur thaws out and starts making its way down the east coast of North America. Spaghetti Western actor Lee Van Cleef , in one of his first acting roles, plays the soldier who shoots the fatal isotope into the beast in … "The script, on the other hand, is about as close to reality as "King Kong." It certainly wouldn't be the last. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms A nuclear test in the arctic awakens and frees a prehistoric and carnivorous dinosaur that makes its way down the east coast of North America, wreaking havoc on ships, lighthouses, and ultimately the streets of lower Manhattan. Kenneth Tobey's Colonel Jack Evans is the military commander of the test and along with Professor Nesbitt is Dr. Ingersoll portrayed by actor King Donovan. Not since King Kong had there been anything like it. Paul Christian is the handsome hero-scientist, and Paula Raymond is the classy and attractive heroine-scientist. A rogue independent feature brought in-house at Warner Bros., it Produced on a miniscule budget of some two hundred thousand dollars, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms features high quality all across the board: an intelligent script, some pretty good acting, and wonderful direction (by first-time director Eugene Lourie) - the film even showcases a rare example of beneficial stock footage. Written by Fred Freiberger. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a 1953 American black-and-white science fiction monster film from Warner Bros., produced by Jack Dietz and Hal E. Chester, directed by Eugène Lourié, that stars Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, and Kenneth Tobey. Directed by Eugène Lourié. It certainly wouldn't be the last. It's a 100 million-year-old, 200-foot long, 500-ton giant man-eating monster and one of the last surviving members of its species, awakened during hibernation by a nuclear test in the Arctic. Escape will cancel and close the window. Svengoolie.com is the official website of MeTV's Svengoolie. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms is an endearingly simpleminded but visually impressive monster movie, the first of the 50s science fiction pictures to feature a giant, city-attacking prehistoric creature. The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms. These are 2 of my FAVOURITE 50s sci-fi classics. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a 1953 science fiction film produced by Warner Bros. Entertainment. Called The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (later retitled The Foghorn), it was published in The Saturday Evening Post on June 23, 1951. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms – Lou Morheim: Rate it: The Beast Must Die – Michael Winder: Rate it: The Beast with a Million Eyes – Tom Filer: Rate it: The Beast with Five Fingers – Curt Siodmak: Rate it: The Beast Within – Tom Holland: Rate it: The Beastmaster – Don Coscarelli ... Add a Script. Though not one of his greatest works, it is his masterpiece in the original sense of the word; the film that proved he was no longer merely the apprentice and protégé of Willis 'Obie' O'Brien, but a master filmmaker in his own right. "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" is good fun. The first script for what would become Gojira (1954) even included an attack on a lighthouse. Beast from 20,000 Fathoms amazed America with scenes of a giant rampaging monster in the midst of a big city. Heck, The New York Times drops a sprog every couple of weeks it seems. For the most part, though, this is a movie that exists to be enjoyed, to be entertained by, and it's as entertaining as they come. Starring: Kenneth Tobey, Paula Raymond, Paul Hubschmid, Jack Pennick, Cecil Kellaway. 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