Starring
Richard Denning, Mara Corday (mee-ow!), Carlos Rivas, Mario Navarro,
Carlos Muzquiz, Pascual Garcia Pena, Pedro Galvan. Directed by Edward
Ludwig. (1957/88 min).
There's
an early scene in The Black Scorpion when our heroes
search a mysteriously abandoned house after hearing
suspicious noises. Guns drawn, they get to the last room and discover
it's just a baby cooing in his cradle. Relieved, Dr. Hank Scott
(Richard Denning) smiles, chuckles to his partner and repeatedly points at the little bambino...with his pistol. This doesn't have
anything to do with the plot, but remind me never to hire Dr. Scott
as a babysitter.
Elsewhere,
The Black Scorpion sees an angry nest of enormous arachnids unleashed in
Mexico after a massive earthquake creates a new volcano. Dr. Scott is
an American geologist sent down to study the eruption, but spends
more time flirting with cattle rancher Teresa Alvarez
(played by beautiful B queen Mara Corday, so who can blame
him?). When these supersized scorpions begin attacking a nearby village, Scott and colleague Arturo Ramos (Carlos Rivas) put
their research on hold to become epic exterminators.
 |
| Best. Halftime show. Ever. |
The
scorpions only come out at night, so after blowing up the cave where
they hang-out during daylight, Scott & friends think they're in
the clear. They're gravely mistaken, of course, because what's the
point of a giant bug movie if the title creature isn't allowed to attack a major city?
In this case, its Mexico City, and the last remaining scorpion is the
biggest mother of them all.
For
the most part, The Black Scorpion is your garden variety low
budget, big-bug flick, complete with recycled action footage and
actors accustomed to dealing with nature run-amok. However, the film
is noteworthy for featuring some of the last stop-motion creature
work by Willis O'Brien, who once brought Kong to life and taught Ray
Harryhausen everything he knows. Despite working with obviously
limited resources, his monsters are creepy creations, though the
misguided decision to give the title creatures human-like faces
makes them all look like Edward G. Robinson.
 |
| "Listen, you crummy, flat-footed copper!" |
Additionally,
the movie is a lot of fun. It's got a decent story that moves along
nicely and the special effects are pretty neat (though repeated...a
lot). Considering its budget, a sequence where the title
creatures attack a passenger train (train wreck...YEAH!!!)
is particularly impressive. The plot even includes the obligatory, cute child character who only exists to put himself in peril by being
stupid. Though not among the best of its genre, The Black Scorpion
is a nifty little nugget from the golden age of monster movies.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
"STOP-MOTION
MASTERS" - Special effects legend Ray Harryhausen talks about
learning from and working with his mentor, Willis O'Brien.
FOOTAGE
FROM "LAS VEGAS MONSTERS" and "BEETLEMEN" - FX
test footage from two unproduced films O'Brien worked on.
DINOSAUR
SEQUENCE FROM THE ANIMAL WORLD - This was an Irwin Allen
'documentary' Harryhausen worked on.
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS
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