HAPPY 70TH, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

On February 12, 1954, one of the all-time greats graced the silver screen and in trendy 3D, no less: Creature from the Black Lagoon.

This monumental, monster classic was directed by Jack Arnold, who helmed It Came From Outer Space and would go on to magnify The Incredible Shrinking Man, with a crackerjack script by Harry Essex and Arthur A. Ross. Ben Chapman and Ricou Browning play the emoting Gill-man, the former on land, the latter in water. And the Gill-man sports iconic detail, thanks to his designer, Millicent Patrick and costume-makers, Chris Muller and Jack Kevan; and as for that in-depth photography which coddled his hijinks, beyond exquisite: in fact, some of the best 3D ever to kiss celluloid. 

In addition to Browning and Chapman, Creature's cast presents an indelible ensemble: Richard Carlson, Richard Denning, Whit Bissell, Nester Pavia, Antonio Moreno, leggy Julia Adams and her equally leggy understudy, Ginger Stanley. The characters prove edgy and nuanced, and the Gill-man wouldn't be as frightful or forlorn if not for their presence. 

What more can I say that hasn't already been said about this box-office sensation? Creature from the Black Lagoon was and remains a Universal Studios' dream come true, a bridge between the old, monster regime and what then became the long-running new. It's a cherished production that's held up well, and if you've any doubt, give it a whirl, or a re-whirl, as it were. There's no way to come away unsatisfied, even seventy years after the trailblazing fact.

GOODBYE, JULIE ADAMS...

Whether by your long-term, first name, Julie, or the short-term Julia and Betty, you were prolific on levels that most performers could only dream, starring in every genre imaginable, whether on the big or small screen. 

Some of your most memorable roles were in "Bend of the River"; "The Dalton Gang"; "The Man from the Alamo"; "The Gunfight at Dodge City"; "The Private War of Major Benson"; "Slaughter on 10th Avenue"; "Psychic Killer"; "The Killer Inside Me"; "Tickle Me"; "Underwater City"; "The Texan"; "The Big Valley"; "The Rifleman"; "Bonanza"; "Twelve O'Clock High"; "One Step Beyond"; "Climax!"; "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E."; "The Incredible Hulk"; "Search"; "Lost"; "Ironside"; "Capitol"; and "Murder, She Wrote".

However, your stand-out role was as Kay Lawrence in Jack Arnold's 3D classic, "Creature from the Black Lagoon", where  you not only enchanted the Gill-man, but many a bug-eyed boy. 

Thanks for all the sweet memories, Ms. Adams. Your adoring fans will miss you more than mere words can ever convey. 

TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE(S): NAMOR VS THE GILL-MAN

...A fantastic fabrication, of course, but damn dynamic all the same--and Namor somehow becomes part of the DC Universe, no less--wow!!! (Wonder what Arthur Curry would say about that...)

Below is another nifty what-if : a clever alteration of Reynold Brown's "Revenge of the Creature" poster to signify the wishful Namor/Gill-man teaming. Cool!!! 

BTW: Though "Revenge" co-star John Bromfield is referenced on the existing credits (and in this parallel-reality instance, one can presume in the role of Namor), Richard Egan was, in fact, considered for the aquatic antihero in a proposed '50s television series, inspired by the success of George Reeves' "Adventures of  Superman". Anyway, below is a fan-modified, Egan still: Note the ears and trunks. 

As an extra treat, I've included a couple panels from Sub-Mariner Comics Vol 1, #35, published in 1954, the same year "Creature from the Black Lagoon" premiered. (From what I can discern, the comic appeared before the movie's release, but advance buzz had already commenced on Universal's new monster.) At any rate, the comic creature isn't officially the Creature, but hey, for all intents and purposes...

I saw 60 Years of the Gill-man...

Documentaries (as with any film category) vary in quality when it comes to various subjects, whether it be historical overviews, biographies or propaganda. I'm pleased to report that the latest on the Creature from the Black Lagoon (from Shadow Play Enterprises) is one of the best to emerge, paying comprehensive homage to the Gill-man and his creators. 

However, much of its historical content has been covered before in articles, books and Universal disc supplements. What distinguishes director Matt Crick's "Creature Feature: 60 Years of the Gill-man" is the fan appreciation. "Creature Feature" is to "Creature from the Black Lagoon" what "Trekkies" is to "Star Trek": a celebration of a phenomenon that refuses to die and only gets bigger with the passing of time. 

As scripted by Sam Borowski and narrated by Keith ("The Thing"/"They Live") David, the celebration initially recounts how Jack Arnold became assigned to direct due to his success on "It Came From Outer Space"; how Arthur Ross made the Gill-man sympathetic and less bestial; how such prestigious stars as Richard Carlson, Richard Denning, Julie Adams, Whit Bissell and Antonio Moreno became part of the tapestry. It also grants proper credit to Millicent Patrick for designing the Creature and Chris Mueller for sculpting the costume; and we shouldn't forget those courageous men who articulated our star: Ben Chapman and Ricou Browning in the original; Tom Hennesy in "Revenge of the Creature"; and Don ("Tales of Frankenstein") Megowan in "Creature Walks Among Us."

To the filmmakers' credit, the late Chapman covers a large sum of the documentary, culminating in a convention re-teaming with Browning. The cheerful Julie Adams is also present throughout the proceedings. Each appears sincerely appreciative of being part of the franchise and the admiration awarded them.

The featured fans are quite diverse. Some are celebrities, like Benicio ("The Wolfman") Del Toro and character actor, Daniel Roebuck. Some are Gill-man historians, like David Schow and Bob Burns. Others are exclusive Creature collectors, like Johnny "Arizona Gill-man" Gilbert and Scott "Gill-Boy" Erhard.

The stories shared add to the sentiment, from Gilbert reminiscing on his yearning for a bendable Gill-man from the Easter Bunny to Chapman's encounter with Marilyn Monroe and the sly way his movie persona was revealed to her through Peter Lawford. 

The documentary also highlights the Gill-man conventions. One scene, featuring Ed Bowkley (the Creature from the Black Lagoon Yahoo Group President) and his tribute tattoos, is worth the price of admission alone, as is acclaimed makeup artist, John Goodwill, transforming an audience member into a Gill-woman. As a special treat, the Wakulla Springs, Florida convention, which caps the film's later half, offers a boat tour where the first two chapters were filmed, its lush scenery seemingly unchanged since the mid-fifties. 

On the whole, "Creature Feature" is a tender-loving essay on how we attach the best moments of our lives with those things--or more precisely, those creatures--that impact us when we're young. Those impressions, like the Gill-man, are part of who we become, defining our sense of wonder and appreciation for the unique and wonderful. "Creature Feature" captures that fondness with care and grace: a sentimental journey designed to supplement one's most cherished, monster memories. 

Michael F. Housel's BOG DEMON TRIUMPHANT to appear in DEVOLUTION Z MAGAZINE!!!

Hello, folks--Just a heads-up to inform you that my short story, "The Bog Demon Triumphant" (originally titled "Man in the Rubber Monster Suit") will appear in the August issue of Devolution Z Magazine, available through Amazon.com. 

The story was inspired by such "Creature from the Black Lagoon" knock-offs as "Monster from Piedras Blancas" and "Curse of the Swamp Creature". 

Though Devolution Z caters to the flesh-eating zombie scene, the publisher was gracious enough to accept my offbeat story. It's about a fellow who wishes to sequelize a '58 monster flick, and in donning the original costume, begins to react in a most peculiar way. 

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on the official release date. Sure hope you'll seek out the issue...