1954
DIRECTOR: Jack Arnold
Creature From The Black Lagoon is one of the more famous and many would argue, notable entries into the 50′s Universal Horror library, but I would disagree with the ‘notable’. On a technical front, this major release in the 1950′s 3D revival era, is clearly worthy technically, as its 3D cinematography, though seen here in 2D, is clearly good, with arms and spears popping out of the screen and a well defined depth of field.
This was originally released in Polarised 3D, not too dis-similar to the methods employed today, but as this format was expensive and difficult to project, it was rarely seen like this much after its initial release. Later it would be re-released in the 70′s in anaglyph 3D, but this film’s life has been seen 2D in most respects.
Anaglyph 3D image from the 1970's Re-Issue
Does it work though? Well, if you like a straight forwards 50′s monsters flicks then yes, absolutely. It ticks all the boxes and delivers everything it promises, with macho men saving the girl and the day, second fiddle players dying steadily throughout and the leading lady stripping down to a swimming costume at every opportunity and taking a swim in the eponymous lagoon.
But I’m not a fan of this type of Horror Sci-Fi from this era, so its charms don’t really work on me. I found it to be dull, plodding and all too predictable but that is not a problem if you like the genre, its just that I don’t, really. But it was watchable and its lean running time of 79 minutes meant that it didn’t really out stay its welcome.
Though, being a fan of cinema’s technical processes and 3D being one of the most fascinating, I would like to see this in 3D at some point, just to see if the effect holds water as much as seems too in 2D.
[...] THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, 4/10 [...]
[...] Is this strictly piracy? I don’t think so, no, and the bootleg producers would no doubt argue than they have the rights anyway. But either way, the products are NOT available in any real sense so there is no conflict, no-one is being robbed of any revenue as second-hand copies are the only ones available and the copyright owner would not benefit in any way from these sales. But this is the only way to preserve these anaglyph versions of films such as Jaws 3-D and The Creature From The Black Lagoon 3D. [...]
Interesting review. I do have a soft spot for 1950s science fiction, so I can look past the film’s narrative shortcomings and enjoy it as a product of its era. On the subject of whether the film is “notable” or not, however, I think that’s beyond dispute. A major commercial success in its day, “Creature” spawned two sequels, countless imitations (for DECADES, mind you), plus rock songs, stage musicals, toys, t-shirts, even a pinball game. You don’t have to actually like something to concede that it’s notable. I’m not a Justin Bieber fan, for instance, but his career is definitely notable. The very fact that you’re reviewing “Creature” over 50 years after its initial release is a testament to the film’s notability.
[...] after almost three years of Blu-ray 3D, the first wave of older 3D classics, such as Jaws 3-D, Creature From The Black Lagoon and the all but unseen in 3D, Dial M For Murder are due for release throughout the latter part of [...]