Giant from the Unknown
| Giant from the Unknown | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Richard E. Cunha |
| Produced by |
Marc Frederic Arthur A. Jacobs |
| Written by |
Ralph Brooke Frank Hart Taussig |
| Starring |
Ed Kemmer Sally Fraser Buddy Baer |
| Music by | Albert Glasser |
| Cinematography | Richard E. Cunha |
| Distributed by | Astor Pictures |
Release dates | March 1958 |
Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $55,000[1] |
Giant from the Unknown is a 1958 horror film released by Astor Pictures. The film stars Ed Kemmer, Sally Fraser, and Buddy Baer. Baer, who played Vargas, the Giant in this film, also played a giant in Jack and the Beanstalk (1952), starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The film was featured in the 1996 show Nightmare Theater's late night Chill-O-Rama Horror Show.The film was shot in San Bernardino National Forest. Richard E. Cunha directed 7 feature films and Giant from the unknown was one of the four six day double feature special that he is remembered for.[2] The double features were for his company Screencraft, with double features such as Frankenstein's Daughter, Missile to the moon and She demons, all released on he same year. The film was released on DVD on October 24, 2000. The make-up effects were done by Jack Pierce, known for the classic visages of Boris Karloff's Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932) and Lon Chaney Jr.'s The Wolf Man (1941).
Plot
Two lovers, Wayne Brooks and Janet Cleveland, with the help of scientist Dr. Frederick Cleveland reveal and prove the theory of suspended animation when they find a frozen lizard in a mountain rock. But Dr. Cleveland has another passion: writing a book about Spanish Conquistadors who came to the region. The book targets the history of a legendary giant Conquistador named Vargas whose remains Cleveland and the two lovers search for in an archeological dig containing ancient armor and weapons. Later that night, a lightning strike revives the body of the 500-year-old Vargas, who stalks the three searchers and eventually kills a young woman. Sheriff Parker, the town Sheriff accuses and arrests Wayne for the murder of the young woman because a medallion from the search was found in the girl's hand. But later, it is revealed that Vargas is roaming around the forest causing another brutal death. The local town men, with the help of the three searchers and the sheriff go out to find and kill the giant, which causes more damage and deaths. Wayne finally kills the giant by causing him to fall off a bridge and into a waterfall.
Cast
- Ed Kemmer as Wayne Brooks
- Sally Fraser as Janet Cleveland
- Buddy Baer as Vargas the Giant
- Bob Steele as Sheriff Parker
- Morris Ankrum as Dr. Frederick Cleveland
- Oliver Blake as Cafe Proprietor
- Jolene Brand as Anne Brown
- Billy Dix as Indian Joe
- Gary Crutcher as Charlie Brown
- Ned Davenport as Townsman
- Ewing Miles Brown as Townsman
Production
The film has no studio background, but real locations filmed at Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Dam and the town of Fawnskin, California, located 100 miles from Los Angeles. Shot in 6 days; And the remaining 4 days were used for the interiors back in Hollywood. According to Crutcher, he was not there for the final fight of the movie with Kemmer and Baer but it was shot anyway without realizing that the camera shutter wasn't on so the whole shot was lost. The crew had no time to film it again so the sequence seen in the film was done very quickly. Richard E. Cunha made a deal with the Lodge's operators to have their sign posted on the car door featured prominently, in exchange, the cast stayed for free. Also, at the beginning of the movie crew members featured as extras.[3]
Reception
Giant from the Unknown holds a low 29% on Rotten Tomatoes[4] and a score of 5/10 on the Internet Movie Database[5] (IMDB). American film director, producer, actor and editor Joe Dante described this film, on his YouTube channel Trailers from Hell, as: The ads for Giant quote "It came from another world" and today it really does, the vanished world of black-and-white dull features that I for one really miss.[6]