O Gigante do Outro Mundo

I have always more or less considered Ruchard Cunha's films as lousy horror films; well, maybe I was a bit tough with him. Now I watch this film again, of course that's not Jack Arnold nor Nathan Juran at their peak in that sci-fi domain, but it remains worth watching. It is fun and totally in the fifties fashion concerning the science fiction genre. It evokes here the Indians and their legends and of course the damages that the White civilization made to the Natives culture. I am surprised that there were not more movies about this scheme. There were actually, and better than this one. MANITOU for instance.

Giant from the Unknown (1958) is rather a cheap and pedestrian sci fi film with an absurd premise, lots of "stuff" happening, rather unconvincing acting, somewhat dull dialogue and a largely unimpressive "monster' character. Still, it must be said that it's perfect viewing fare for a rainy afternoon!

As far as film monsters go, Vargas seems to be pretty lame. One could say that he is a monster in a moral rather than in a scary physical sense. He is described as being depraved and brutal and has remained so even after three and a half centuries of suspended animation.

The film does suffer from continuity and subplot development problems. For instance, we are never quite sure why Parker and Wayne don't like each other. What is the history behind their animosity? They just seem to detest the sight of each other.

Giant from the Unknown does contain moments of good pacing, and combines some effective creation of eerie atmosphere, and black and white cinematography. In addition, the 77 minute running time doesn't allow the film to drag too much and Albert Glasser's orchestral score is quite solid and powerful.

I have just seen Giant From the Unknown for the third time and I find this movie rather enjoyable.

A professor and his daughter driving through the South West looking for the remains of a giant Spanish conquistador come across it at Devils Crag, a scenic landmark near a small town. The giant has been in suspended animation for hundreds of years and comes to life and starts murdering people for no reason. One of the locals gets the blame for these murders at first by the town's sheriff but is then let off and the two team up to kill the giant, who falls off a dam into a deep lake in a volcanic crater at the end.

The movie's cast includes an excellent performance from 50's sci fi regular Morris Ankrum (Invaders From Mars, Kronos), Sally Fraser (Earth vs the Spider, War of the Colossol Beast), Ed Kemmer (Space Patrol, Earth vs the Spider), Bob Steele as the Sheriff and the giant is played by Buddy Baer.

Depite it being a bad movie, this is certainly worth having in any sci fi/horror collection.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

I can't think of any movie that has Morris Ankrum that I didn't really like...and yes, I have seen The Giant Claw (three times, in fact).

That fact notwithstanding, Giant From The Unknown is a pretty good movie. The basic story has a Spanish Conquistador (who happens to be a giant and who happens to have travelled up into northern California after breaking with Cortez) waking up after five hundred years of suspended animation and going on a rampage of death and cattle mutilation.

Don't let the plot turn you off. The script manages to make it all seem pretty believeable, and the acting is pretty good as well. Morris Ankrum is great. Ed Kemmer (Commander Buzz Corey on Space Patrol) is the hero. Cowboy and serial legend Bob Steele is the sheriff, and the lovely Janet Fraser is the love interest.

The monster himself looks pretty good as well...for an unburied conquistador, that is. The finale at the sawmill is an excellent sequence...though don't try to adjust your VCR. That fuzziness is optically-printed snow on the sequence (it took me a couple of minutes to realize that...I thought the print had deteriorated).

Giant From the Unknown is a good all-around example of fifties science fiction that is worth a look by fans of the genre.

A series of animal deaths and other disasters hits a rural town. When humans start dying, a local, bewigged, stock native known, not-so-lovingly, as "Injun Joe" speaks of omens and portents. The townsfolk are... unimpressed. The sheriff is flummoxed by it all.

When archaeologist, Dr. Frederick Cleveland (the ubiquitous Morris Ankrum) and his daughter, Janet (Sally Fraser) come to town, they draw the sheriff's suspicion. Especially, since they happen to know a loner, named Wayne Brooks (Ed Kemmer).

Cleveland just happens to be searching for evidence of an ancient, sadistic, towering conquistador known as Vargas, The Devil Giant.

Coincidence? Hmmm.

Cheeeze-tacular, pseudo-scientific claptrap sets up the idea that the old behemoth could possibly have been reanimated. While Cleveland and Brooks search for artifacts, Janet makes lunch, brews coffee, and cleans up the camp!

Aaaah, the 1950's!

After what feels like a century, Vargas finally makes his appearance, but nothing much takes place. The obligatory romance blooms between Janet and Brooks. More locals are eliminated. Will the sheriff ever believe the truth? Will Janet ever brew the perfect pot of coffee? Will "Injun Joe" ever get a better hairpiece?

Cheddar doesn't get much chunkier than GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN! Highly entertaining hooey!

P.S.- Janet also makes sandwiches...