Monsters from the Deep Terrorizing Ladies on Land

For the videonauts like ourselves, mention of the beach brings to mind images of beautiful girls in bikinis, Navy researchers, crusty fishermen, and a few monsters on the loose. The beach is a magnet for monsters, and in general is a popular location of exploitation movies. As Ken Begg once noted; the very nature of the location requires fine figures under minimal cover in a perfectly innocent and openly acceptable fashion -a real draw for the low budget producer. BEACH PARTY came along in 1963 and cemented an entire genre of films geared strictly toward this aesthetic. After a while, monsters (also hugely popular in the 60’s), began to turn up near the surf as well. 1966 seems to have been the biggest year for this combination. This wasn’t really a new innovation, however.

At first, we thought we might be able to get an article out of making a brief summation of the films which the title of this piece could describe. Once we set to it, though, we suddenly realized the genre far larger than even we had considered. We had to draw the line much finer than we’d originally planned, though the results make that assertion hard to back up! Although fairly extensive, one should not consider this list authoritative. Had we decided to chronicle the numerous copies of JAWS, for example, we’d be here for years!

Also, due to the heft of this piece, we had to be a bit less detailed than we’d intended. We sort of breeze over the subject, but we really didn’t think you’d want to spend a week reading it all!

Although the position could be open to debate, the first specifically beach-set monster movie was probably MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR, in 1954. This was one of Roger Corman’s earliest productions, released by Lippert. The lobby card presents the beast as a rather more average octopus. The American poster art above is actually a bit more true to the puppet we eventually see.

Anne Kimbell in Monster from the Ocean Floor

The plot concerned a rash of disappearances off the coast of Mexico, and the eventually revealed cause for those disappearances; a massive acidic monster akin to microscopic sea life. Not the most exciting 50’s monster picture, but the third act is pretty good. One of the earliest movies to link atomic testing to monstrous mutations. One must assume that the film came into being in the first place because producer Corman had access to the one-man submarine highlighted throughout the picture.

Of course, we must make mention of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, with the lovely Julia Adams, also released in 1954. More to the point here is that film’s direct sequel, 1955’s THE REVENGE OF THE CREATURE. In that one, the Gillman is captured and shipped to Florida to be exhibited in a marine park. Needless to say, the Gillman eventually breaks free and carries off pretty Lori Nelson. Because his prize is an air-breather, the Gillman keeps close to the beaches in this one. A third Creature film, THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US, also has some minimal beach action.

Lori Nelson in *Revenge of the Creature*

1955 also saw IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, in which a massive octopus is jarred from the sea bottom by underwater atomic tests. Being a sea monster, there’s a beach scene or two. This one might be stretching the premise of this article a bit, but the giant octopus does attack a beach early on. What most people remember, though, is the climactic attack on the city. Joshua Kennedy would pay tribute to this film in THE MENACE WITH FIVE ARMS. Before that, it was heavily featured in INVASION EARTH! THE ALIENS ARE HERE! in 1986. Another giant octopus was more directly on the beach in KING KONG VS GODZILLA.

Faith Domergue in *It Came from Beneath the Sea*

In 1956 came THE PHANTOM FROM 10,000 LEAGUES, which dealt with espionage activities near a beach patrolled by a reptilian critter. Though not a bad picture, it is pretty talky. The monster is one of those rare totally-forgotten 50’s creatures. A sort of aquatic lizard creature, it never really menaces the beach, but sticks close to a radioactive element anchored just off shore.

Cathy Downs in *The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues*

1956 also saw the arrival of THE SHE CREATURE, a story of supernatural activities which revert the spirit of pretty Marla English into the physical form of a prehistoric monster. A huge hit for AIP, the studio sought similar projects and monsters. Paul Blaisdell’s most famous design was re-purposed for multiple films, including VOODOO WOMAN, and GHOST OF DRAGSTRIP HOLLOW. The beach wasn’t really highlighted in THE SHE CREATURE, being seen mostly at night, but it was an important location (and it almost swept Blaisdell out to sea when his foam rubber suit soaked up the surrounding sea water!)

THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD is still one of the best monster movies ever made. Coming in 1958, it told of giant prehistoric snails released from underground caverns during an earthquake in the Salt Sea. Cowboy star Tim Holt is the Navy man who goes up against some incredible pneumatic monster puppets. Just a great movie all around, very much worth checking out!

Barbara Darrow in *The Monster That Challenged the World*

ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS (1957), starring Richard Garland, Pamela Duncan, and Russell Johnson, told the struggle of a handful of scientists to survive attack by intelligent giant crustaceans. The crabs can absorb the mind of any one they eat, and thus grow in intelligence with each new victim. Quite the cast in this one, including the lovely Pamela Duncan, who required a custom made swimsuit for her amazing figure.