Tarantula

[Marya Zaleska]

Hi!

Your hostess to the supernatural here, Marya Zaleska.

Just got up and brushed my fangs! Lol!

It's too early for claret, but coffee with a spot of brandy will do.

Well let me sit down on my comfortable sofa this morning. Dress spread out, shawl on, pipe in hand and the coffee with brandy readily available.

The story I wish to "spin" this morning is on a 1955 sci fi thriller. It is:

TARANTULA

This movie was directed by Jack Arnold and came out through Universal Studios.

The stars of the movie were John Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G, Carroll, Nestor Paiva & Ross Elliot.

The story concerns the research for a new food nutrient. It was being developed by Professor Deemer (Leo G. Carroll) and his new assistant Stepanie "Steve" Clayton (Mara Corday).

The results of the nutrient produces giantism in the animals. Among the test subjects was a tarantula. One of the former research assistants prior to the arrival of the new assistant comes back to the lab horribly disfigured and takes revenge on the professor because of what the nutrient did to him after taking an injection himself He injects the professor with the nutrient and a fire starts which destroys most of the work done so far. At this time a vary large tarantula escapes from the lab.

The tarantual eventually gets to be 50' and wreaks havoc on the countryside.

Many unexplained events are happening and it is up to Dr. Matt Hastings ( John Agar) to convince a disbelieving sheriff ( Nestor Paiva) to find out what the problem is.

When they do it takes airforce places with incendiary bombs and rockets to stop this creature.

Point of interest: The flight leader for the air force planes was an uncredited role for Clint Eastwood. One of his early pictures.

This was a top of the line film. The special effects were superior. Like the film Them, this film is not only technically great but it packs a punch with thrills and horror.

The film is fast paced, the actors are all very good and the special effects with the giant spider can be very frightening, especially in the part where the spider is looking in through a window at Steve (Mara Corday). This is an all together satisfying sci fi/ horror film.

The real star of the show is the tarantula. However, more than one were used. The studio had to import the larger, tougher ones from Central America because the studio lights were cooking the smaller American ones.

Leonard Maltin gives this a three star out of four. I would go a 3 1/2 stars out of four myself.

This film is now available on DVD in the set from Universal Pictures called The Classic Sci Fi Ultimate Collection.

Aso included in the collection is:
The Mole People
The Incredible Shrinking Man
The Monolith Monsters
Monster On The Campus.

And it is all offered at a special pirce somewhere in the mid $20 range.

This is one of my favorite movies.

Well let me have a sip of coffee and I will slip back into my ghostly haunts.

Well, so long

Your hostess in the supernatural

Marya Zaleska

[ManchestrMorgue]

Another cool movie, I like your taste.

I bought a region 2 version of this before this region 1 set was available.

Looks like I am about to have a double of Tarantula :) I really want to see The Mole People and Monster on the Campus - I have only seen stills from these films but they look cool.

[Doc Faustus]

Classic sci fi ultimate is highly recommended. I love it, and the price kicks ass. 20-30 dollars for those five movies is really good. I would say that Tarantula isn't the biggest gem in the collection though. Incredible Shrinking Man is a cut above most of the genre and might be Arnold's masterwork.