The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms

Starring: Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, et al.

Near the Arctic Circle, an atomic bomb is detonated. This fearsome experiment disturbs the sleep of a giant rhedosaurus encased in ice over 100-million years and sends it southward on a destructive, deadly rampage! The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a film of firsts. It spawned a new era of atomic-age creature features. It was the first screen adaptation of a work by fantasy fiction titan Ray Bradbury. And it marked the first time Ray Harryhausen had total control over special effects. He came up with a fantastic creature (constructed at full scale, all 50 tons of it) that swims down from the north to run amok through New York City before being conquered in a spectacular Coney Island roller-coaster finale. Take a classic ride. Unleash The Beast.

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 085392753420
• Release Date: October 2003
• Rating: Unrated (Not Rated)
• Publisher: Warner Home Video
• Director: Eugene Lourie
• Starring: Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Donald Woods, Jack Pennick, Lee Van Cleef, Steve Brodie, Ross Elliott, Ray Hyke
• Runtime: 1 hour, 20 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: bw
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

A very well-known Sci-Fi personality.

This film has all the 50’s Sci-Fi standards except the flamethrower. We start with a narrative that shows an atomic test taking place in the frozen north. Two people go out to take readings after the test. One does not come back, and the other is delusional, talking of a monster. Naturally, he needs curing and is almost well. A female paleontologist, who starts to believe him, offers to let him eat her sandwiches and look at mug shots of monsters from the past. Can the authorities be convinced before it is too late? I know most people watched this movie because it has Lee Van Cleef playing a pivotal role. Yet we should not forget the many other familiar character actors that make this a true 50’s monster picture. First, there is that cute little monster himself, courtesy of Ray Harryhausen; when he pushes over a lighthouse, I can only think of one of my cats. He had the same mischievous look. Then there is Paula Raymond, who has been in every TV play from “77 Sunset Strip” (1958) to several “Perry Mason” (1957). Not to mention Cecil Kellaway, Dr. Chumley in “Harvey” (1950). Kenneth Tobey as Captain Patrick Hendry in “The Thing from Another World” (1951). There are way too many to mention here, so you will just have to watch for yourself. Kibitzing is allowed.