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This film historian loves GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN

posted 14 years ago by tom-kssl
6 replies | jump to latest

and folks this s only my 3rd entry and im partial towards vintage horror films but i got to say Giant From The unknown is a gem. turn off the lights put it in your dvd m get out the popcorn and enjoy. Wow I recalled it in 58 now on dvd i watch it 3 or 4 times a month. i get tired of this r other horror minor classics. Jack Pierce did a grand job on Buddy Baers makeup, the awakening scene is great, the murders with that pentrating overplayed music is perfect here, the acting isnt bad. ok we see the wiring on the guy as Buddy tosses him over the cliff and Buddys death scene is simple but i like the shadows the music the buildup of suspence. I have 4000 films on dvd and vhs im a historian my home is museum, i knew 1000 performers collecting autographs in th 60s and 70s. But giant From the unknown is a grand film great innocent fun and well worth watching. I love that ax coming down on the intro credits. Charlie Brown is a trip his sister Anne dies just fine Indian Joe is well played and Morris Ancrum looks great very fatherly like with Bob Steele oddly very convincing as a trooper. Ed Kemmerer makes a good hero. the outside on location shots really are reastically. Oliver blake what typecasting as a country dude i love em. Check it out enjoy and remenber folks look at the trash filth blood gore of todays horror films. i say no more. Giant From the Unknown is great. Ah the great 50s. til next time. TomK

[–] thegalaxybeing 14 years ago

There are about 20 Monster/outer space/horror)films I watches as a kid on "The Weirdo Late Show" "Chiller" (not the more famous one) and "The Early Show" (and believe it or not, the host of The Early Show's name was JOHN STEWART). All of this in Saratoga Springs NY on broadcasts from Albany & Schenectady between 1962 & 1965.

Anyway, one of the ones I remembered most was Giant from the Unknown Which I watched one Thursday night on a "Weirdo Late show" in 1962. I was about 7 and the waking scene did have quite an impact.

I found a DVD copy several years ago and was totally impressed by the stunning transfer, considering the fact that it is not that well known in this day and age (although a lot of us from the 50's and 60's probably seen it more then once on the local late shows) It's also one that I remembered the title of years later. Some others I remembered and hunted down:

The Monolith Monsters
The Giant Claw
Monster of Piedras Blancas
The Thing that Couldn't Die
The Lost Missile
The Magnetic Monster
The Invisible Boy
Gigantis, the Fire Monster
The Beast of Hollow Mountain
This is Not a Test
The Hypnotic Eye
The Incredible Petrified World
Earth vs the Spider
War of the Colossal Beast
X-The Unknown
Tobor the Great
Attack of the Crab Monsters
I was a Teenage Werewolf
Fiend Without a Face
The Flesh Eaters

I'm only including the more "Cult" films here. I do like a lot of the more mainstream films too but they are quite easy to obtain. These are my more guilty pleasures!

[–] tom-kssl 14 years ago

thanks my friend i too love GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN and as film tv historian who cherishes old horror films i know every title you gave me. i love these classic low buidget gems. Giant is still creepy holds it own has a moody atmosphere fine acting great music and superb makeup for Buddy Baer. glsad you liked my review. i will add more entiries commentimng on more films of a bygone era. I salute this film. Jack Pierce and Buddy Baer did just fine here. tomk

[–] escalera-2 12 years ago

This title was on HKJ Channel 9's Million Dollar Movie in Los Angeles. Million Dollar Movie broadcast the same movie every night during the week and twice on Saturday, once on Sunday. It was there that I first caught Giant from the Unknown and I thought it was terrific.

Now, that was in the early 60's and I have not seen it since, how it holds up today for me I have yet to find out. But I was very fond of it back then and would create crude drawings on paper of the titular Conquistador, arms and legs spread eagle, cut it out and let if flutter to the floor. As a youngster I thought the effect looked a little phony and I'd try to understand how it was done. Hence, my little experiment with the paper cut-out.

Phony looking or not, I still watched Giant from the Unknown whenever it was on TV.

Not many fans here, it seems. tom-kssl, you call it a "classic low budget gem" and I'm sure it is, despite any phony looking effects. I'm sure I'll find faults in it I did not notice when I was 10 or eleven years old, but that's OK.

A few years ago I caught another childhood favorite on TV, The Atomic Submarine (1959). Holy cow! It's cheapjack effects I bought into as a lad were always there but was not able to see back then, only with mature audience "sophistication" did they become apparent. Still, I enjoyed watching it again and would still say it is a favorite.

I suspect Giant from the Unknown will still bring me enjoyment.

"Please use elevator, stairs stuck between floors."

[–] tomk-437-445764 12 years ago

Many thanks i cherish this film GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN too bad people take potshots cheap shots at films like this Bad or good spevial effects, the fact remains its held up against passage of time Its come into its own Its cheaply made , who cares the acting mood the music is awesome I know my classic grade a-z horror sci fi films I have 7000 films in my Hollywood museum here A film Historian since 1964 I specialize in classic horror films 1930s-60s Thanks Youll love GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN in 2012 Paper mache rocks Hmmmm who cares Its well played out I love it BUDDY BAER Awesome

[–] escalera-2 12 years ago

What other movies do you enjoy?

"Please use elevator, stairs stuck between floors."

[–] escalera-2 12 years ago

I watched most of Giant from the Unknown on-line and though I experienced a problem with sound synchronization and other common irregularities, I saw most of it. Alas! -- about 12 minutes from the end and the stream stopped and the screen announced that there was an "error" and I'd have to "try again later". So I did not see the movie under the best conditions and missed out on seeing the climax of the story.

Still, the movie certainly did have a nice look to it and the story moved along quite well, the music was very good and the acting was OK. A good adventure yarn.

It would make a good double-bill with The Werewolf (1956) since both were shot up in Big Bear, California and involve local lawmen blaming the wrong guy.

"Please use elevator, stairs stuck between floors."