The theory of evolution has created many monsters for the movies. A missing link always seems to turn up in some distant part of the world and then go on a rampage.
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) was directed by Jack Arnold (It Came from Outer Space). It was originally shot and released in 3-D, the kind of 3-D where you had to wear polarized glasses, similar to the 3-D movies that are released today. It was later re-released in theatres in the ’70s using the crappy red/blue anaglyph 3-D that everybody remembers.
The story starts with an expedition to South America where a strange fossil is discovered. It’s only part of larger fossil but it could create a link between fish and man and a new expedition is formed to go look for the rest of fossil. After traveling down the Amazon, the group discovers that the original expedition group has been murdered, possible by a “jaguar” someone suggests. They travel further down the river to a lagoon where they encounter a living example of the fossil they were looking for.
The creature is a fish-man hybrid and while murdering several members of the expedition it becomes infatuated with the only female member of the group, Julie Adams. This of course proves to be the monster’s downfall.
The creature has become an iconic monster and the only monster for Universal Studios that came from the 1950’s (all of their big guns come from the 1930’s and 40’s.) Fortunately attempts by Universal to remake the film have failed so far.
