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Information Exchange => Reader Comments => Topic started by: Squishy The Squid on March 02, 1999, 01:49:35 PM



Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Squishy The Squid on March 02, 1999, 01:49:35 PM
A review of the recent laser-disc release said: "Gene Evans and Andre Morrell are fine...but Jack MacGowran...is the worst, most contemptible casting of a scientist that I can recall."
The same car gets stomped three times during the film, re-processed so the shot looks slightly different. This budget-saving technique can be seen in lots of Willis O'Brien's animated-monster flicks, like THE BLACK SCORPION, which should also one day wind up on this site ("I'll take keer of demm!").


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: bendab@systems.gec.com on November 03, 1999, 08:23:23 AM
my favorite monster movie as a kid,bought the
video from warner studios.the movie has missing parts. the part where the behemoth sinks the
ferry is missing whats up with that. it seems that
there are two movies the UK 72 min,and the USA 80
MIN version.  I AM RETURNING the copy I bought
I hope of finding the full version of the film.
If anyone has any info  as to why please email me.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Chris K. on March 02, 2000, 11:41:54 AM
THE GIANT BEHEMOTH is a great film with passable special effects and performances. Some reviewers (I mean the ones on the IMDb) say the creatures head fell off. Yeah right, those faries lied. The best of the best, not the best of the worst. Take my word for it.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: WSC on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM
Goofy as it is, the movie still has something captivating about it.  I also believe it was the inspiration for microwave cookery. For those (like me) who have their own video version, has anyone noticed that the infamous ferry boat capsizing scene has been cut?  I would rather have the complete version, if anyone knows how to get same.

PS - Did anyone else notice that the helicopter that blows up over the Thames is actually shown as two different types (one looks like a Sikorsky, the other some British type)?


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Countess Zarina Suspiriorum on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
   I didn't discover this movie until I was a teen but I loved it right away, although I think the British title BEHEMOTH, THE SEA MONSTER is better.  I remember the video print is missing the crucial scene where the monster destroys the ferry!  Finally that scene was restored when AMC got the rights to the movie.  Of course there is a problem with that print too.  The scene where the (barely glimpsed) Behemoth destroys the farm is supposed to be a night scene but AMC's lab cleaned up the print so well it now looks like broad daylight!
   If you want to have fun watch very close during the ferry scene.  At one point the wooden base holding the plastic head of the monster comes so far out of the water you can easily spot it!  Of course I have no complaint with Willis O'Brien's stop motion effects.  He had to rush things because the movie was well underway before the producers decided they wanted a real monster.  Originally it was supposed to be an invisible mass of radiation (which explains the scene where the Behemoth does not show up on radar).
   Just ignore the shortcomings and enjoy a really effective Giant-Monster-On-The-Loose movie.  It's fun, it really is!


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Sal on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
One of my favorite movies when I was a kid. Used to be on Million Dollar Movie in NYC and was on 2 or 3 times a day. We used to "act-out" the ferry scene and jump a ledge on the side of the house. Always thought that I would run behind the thing instead of in front of it. Loved those scenes with the people running.  


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Dave Chornomaz on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
I can't believe I not only found a web site about this childhood flick...but people care enough to critique it! Hilarious....brings back great memories and I also watched it on NYC's Million Dollar Movie. A true classic.
"Oh fiddlesticks"



Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Karen on October 03, 2005, 11:52:49 PM
This was the moive that gave me the most nightmares as a little kid.  Thanks for the fun write up.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: George on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Well,what can be said is England wanted there own answers to the following creatures,Beast From 20,000 Fathmos,Godzilla & of course the Loch Ness Monster,the result?,yes The Giant Behemoth,the monster that inspired the creation of microwave ovens!,for a non-Japanese movie,this was one of the best,as was Gorgo but why didn't we see the monster sink the steam ship Valcuriea?,or could it be there's another version we've not seen?,remember the original title was Behemoth,Monster From The Sea,which makes one think,was Giant Behemoth a remake of that starring Gean Evans?.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Robert on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
The "Giant Behemoth" remains one of my favorite B-sci-fi "flicks". This mighty beast was beautifully rendered through stop-motion animation. Some of the close-up shots of the monster's head where stop-motion animation wasn't used were a bit oi a "let-down". The duplicate scenes showing the car being crushed by the Behemoth's foot and the screams coming from within are comical to an adult, but "cool" to a kid who grew up in the late fifties and early sixties. No other monster had the "classic" roar of the Giant Behemoth", and that was one feature that made this creature so unique. I think that if Ray Harryhausen had been involved with the making of this film, it no doubt would have been a huge success rivaling the "Beast from 20 Thousand Fathoms". The plot of the "Giant Behemoth" evolved around the use of atomic weapons and the long term negative effects they could "reap" on mankind. It is an intelligent film, and mixes fact with fiction. It is a "fun" movie to watch over and over again! Imagine if a top director/producer decided to re-make this movie using today's high-tech methods of film-making! I would be first on line at the theater box office to see it! Long live the "Behemoth"!!!


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Lewis on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Yes. Million Dollar Movie and also Supernatural Theatre on Sat nights in the mid-60's.  I thought this was a brilliant movie as a kid - still entertaining.  My 11 year old son thought noted that there is no eye movement on the GB.  Also, on those head shots as the GB strolls through London, one will notice that in the background is the same building - flat roof, square windows.  

best scenes:
The doll floating in the water after the ferry sinking.
The old man dying.
People running, while others just stopped to take a break and get radiated.  Everyone out for themselves.  


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Francis on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
"The Giant Behemoth" was the first prehistoric monster movie that I watched as a kid in the 1960's.  One of the reasons why I have such a fondness for it.

Why not a remake.  Maybe with Brad Pitt or Hugh Grant in the lead.  With a scene of GB smashing a picture of the Spice Girls. And a soundtrack by Paul McCartney or the Rolling Stones?


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: antaresrichard on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
There is a stop-motion shot of the title creature I found enjoyable. I hope it's not the confabulation of my poor memory. As the "behemoth" approaches from the distance the camera keeps tilting upwards to keep the beast's head in frame, giving us an discomforting sense of scale.
     Look closely at the "underwater" footage of the behemoth's brush with the minisub: there are two different monsters playing the scene! It's not the same model. Perhaps the other was the Book of Job's "Leviathan" peeved at the film's opening scripture being incorrectly attributed to the wrong animal.
     The leviathan of Job chapter 41 (see verses 19 - 21 and 31 KJV) is generally thought to refer to a crocodile, whereas the behemoth of Job 40, is loosely taken to be a hippopotamus. Now, can you imagine a rampaging, electric, radioactive-wielding, giant hippo running amok in the streets of London?! Blimey!

   


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: on September 25, 2002, 07:14:42 PM
Best crowd panic scene I have ever seen.  Whether it is the scene where the ferry boat capsizes to people in London running.  I watch this movie with my girlfriend who was born in England.  She enjoyed watching the man and woman in the ferry boat scene.  She told me that the woman in that scene puts talcum powder.  I did not know why she told me that?  Maybe because in England lots of women like her put powder like Marks and Spencer or Avon.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Someone please verify this scene.  An old woman, possibly in the kitchen, says "fiddlesticks!"   I have a bet with my brother that this was in The Giant Behemoth.  Thanks


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: John on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
This was the monster movie of all monster movies when I was growing up. The only other monster thar rivaled the Behemoth in sheer awe and coolness was the giant ameoba in "The Angry Red Planet". I agree with those who say that this was the best! But I'm shocked that none of them mention that the neatest scenes of all are the ones when the beastie releases radiation and burns people to a crisp! Especially the soldiers; remember the one who was charred so bad that his helmet and head split open! Check it out!


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: johnny g on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
My favorite Monster Movie, I saw this on million dollar movie in 1962 Channel 9  New York, I was very disturbed by the raditation burns the behemouth inflicted on people especially the little boy that was fried on the bale of hay.Today I have a VHS version that I play in late  October. When Steve says "turn off all the lights" That is what we do.... Still waiting for the sequel and the DVD


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: night heron on June 09, 2004, 11:48:54 AM
I saw this one and can remember that anything or anyone that got with in a certain distance from this beastie disintagrated and when it pick up the car and threw in into a pile of rubble and it invaded london


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: night heron on June 21, 2004, 12:34:25 PM
I confused THE GIANT BEHEAMOUTH with THE BEAST FROM 20:000 FATHOMS i guess becuase their both big dinosuars stomping thorugh a major city


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: firebird on July 18, 2004, 08:34:40 PM
The most i can recall about this movie is that anyone or anything that gets with in a certain distance of the monster would disitagrate and i can also recall the part in which i grabs up a car with a driver and after shaking it around dropped it into the ruble of a building


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Tom on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I loved this flick in my younger days--Million Dollar Movie--and I'd love to get my hands on a clear copy, VHS or DVD; but it must be complete with ferry scene, etc. If anyone out there has an inside track to this flick, please email me!!!


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: George on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
As of this time The Giant Behemoth isn't on DVD,considered to be one of thoes late 1950s sci-fi films it could of been better,with more buildings comming down,like in Gorgo,and shooting out a radioactive ray from his mouth,could of been a good opponent for Gamera.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: George on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
As I said before he would of been a great opponet for Gamera,never the less of the 3 films Beast,Behemoth,Gorgo,Gorgo was the best,Behemoth was second,the problom with the Beast was,the monster wasn't in it enough in fact the producers thought there was to much monster in the script,gees it was called Beast From 20,000 Fathoms,what did they expect?,what did they want?,you the films original title was to be Godzilla,boy it's a good thing they decided not,it was only a 3year difference,besides that was a better name to give the monster from Japan anyway,and just think Raymond Burr might not of been Perry Mason if not for Godzilla,the point is Behemoth,Monster From the Sea could of been better,but it was good,and for that we are greatful.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Lynette on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
As a child, back in the mid-60's, I saw a movie on TV which frightened the living daylights out of me.  It was of a monster which killed people by radiation, attacked London and was finally destroyed by a submarine. I had nightmares that night that the monster was coming to get me, the only time in my life I have had nightmares.  

For years I've tried to track it down. I couldn't remember the name of the movie, and I have finally had a brainwave and searched for it on the internet (I'm a bit slow on the uptake sometimes, I've had access to the internet for years!!) and this has to be it.  Finally I have found out what it is called.

Now to see if I can find it in Australia somewhere.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: mike52t on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
One of my favorites. The Giant Behemoth wouldn't have hung around London if he knew about the food. Hey, its not just any behemoth, its the GIANT behemoth.
Brought to you by the Comittee on Redundancy comittee


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Beth on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I saw this movie when I was 6 and had just moved to NYC.  Imaginative, as I was, I kept seeing the Giant Behemoth appearing in my kitchen window and I couldn't stay alone in the breakfast nook for years.  Not until Jaws in college did I experience a scarier sensation from a film.  Ironically, I majored in film and for 8 years edited movies about military war planes, misiles, and bombs.  Talk about scary! Thank you, Giant Behemoth, for preparing me for my career later in life!!


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Mark Radburn on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
The Giant Behemoth is the best old dinosaur film ever and it's awesome as The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms I would love to get my hands on a dvd version of The Giant Behemoth the special effects is better than the 1957's giant insect film The Black Scorpion. The Giant Behemoth is a masterpiece 50's dinosaur film and it's a must-see of all time.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: KW on September 18, 2005, 06:13:20 PM
The Giant Behemoth rocks!  I am almost 50 years old and I remember watching this movie over and over when I was about 10.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Richard on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
The Giant Behemoth was one of my most favorite monster films besides night of the living dead.  You can purchase a DVD version from Ebay but watch the minutes go for anything greater then 72 minutes otherwise you'll get the ripoff missing ferry which is criminal.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: George on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
So you can't find Giant Behemoth on DVD,someone wants to know if granny says "Oh Fiddilesticks!" well go to Monsterland Toys.com,they've got the Giant Behemoth,of course I did,but alas the sound isn't right,they say they'll try to correct this,but like X-From Outer Space they haven't gotten back in touch with me on that yet,I wish they would of by now,but anyway it's nothing that serious,just alittle annoying,anyway if want The Giant Behemoth go to Monsterland Toys.com he's there!.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Deacon on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
One of my favorite "giant monster" flicks as a child.

It's a shame great old movies like this are so rarely aired anymore.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: George on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
 Well I've got new DVDs from Monsterland of both Behemoth and X-From Outer Space and the sound problems are gone!,it was just one of thoes things,like in every case where you buy or order a DVD,so Monsterland Toys is certainly the place to go to get The Giant Behemoth and X-From Outer Space!.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Carmela on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
My father took me to see this movie when I was very little. It scared the pants off me and I swore that I would NEVER go to England. I avoided Million Dollar Movie when they showed this movie! I saw it a couple of years ago and laughed out loud. It was corny, funny and still a bit scary. I can't wait til AMC puts it on again.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Kevin on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I notice the sci fi film reviews always denigrate this movie as a cheap rip off of The Beast, and I am happy to have found this page which is a virtual fan club for the Giant Behemoth. This is a very special monster film, and this page shows that it has bonded a generation in a way few films have. We all know the minor low budget faults of the film that resulted mostly from the tragic personal decline of effects legend Willis O'Brien (King Kong) and also Pete Peterson his physically handicapped assistant that did uncanny expressive animations sequences such as the Mighty Joe young piano lifting facial shots. But I would just like to point out a few of the neglected high points of this true classic.  
1. the music score: spine chilling distinctive and strong
in a word  wow
2. the night silhouette of the behemoth and high voltage towers: a tour de force of animation and atmosphere.
3. the Sherlock Holmes type scientific opening with a searing ocean chase in a tiny vessel: never could be done better.
4. the environmental message: amazingly effective without preaching,
5 finally the sound effects like the radiation and the fantastic roar of the monster: super
Sure the point can be made the director Lourie never topped the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms polish and perfection as a film. Critics point out that the fiery amusement part ending   of the Beast was way more spectacular than Behemoth and it was. But the Behemoths demise by a torpedo in the mouth played pretty well with the hard critics of Brooklyn. The difference is subjective in a way. When kids watch the Beast they say  'how neat'  when they watched the Giant Behemoth's paralyzing stare, they want to run.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Michael on July 24, 2006, 02:10:32 PM
This is my favorite movie of all time.  I too watched it all the time on channel 9 in New York.  Yea, the missing ferry scene takes away from the movie.  


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Andrew Berk on December 12, 2008, 10:21:20 PM
 :cheers:I just stumbled upon this site when for some strange reason I decided to do a search on the Rhedosaurus. Of course you all know what that's from but it made me think about this movie. I remember watching over and over on (Now we'll see how old everyone here is) on "Million Dollar Movie." I watched it as a little kid with I guess you would call her my new little girlfriend, which she became because what other little girls was I going to meet who was carrying a gun (Toy, of course) which I was as well when we met that afternoon. Million dollar movie played the same film on Saturday's over and over again and they played this movie. Of all the stations I have had now for years and still get a kick out of watching these old B movies, I have never seen it again anywhere.

My question to you is why was this one movie never played by any of the zillion cable stations My comment is after looking briefly at the readers comments is why did no one mention that the Behemoth steps on the same car 2 or 3 times as it walks down the streets of London? Last just to add I have never seen a copy of it on DVD anywhere. I haven't tried the internet yet because this memory is fairly recent. By the way the DVD I bought that started this was a 2 sided disc with "THEM" and The Beast from 20000 fathoms.


Title: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Xenorama on December 13, 2008, 10:17:15 PM
this is a fun and underrated movie.  it's out on DVD, good looking print, but with the worst commentary ever, from people who should know better.

David


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: George on March 31, 2009, 02:41:45 PM
Finally The Giant Behemoth is out there on DVD!.

Although that's the wonderful news,one has to be thinking of our two commentators,I once asked the question,did the people at MST3K really like or enjoy the Gamera movies they showed?,in some ways to me it didn't seem like it,and that's why I still have mixed feelings about there airing,even though they were of the Sandy Frank variety.

The same can be said for the commentators on Giant Behemoth,they seem to be making fun of the movie more than giving us interresting details on how long it took to make or the production costs,or even the creation of the monster.

As a reviewer said,maybe it never occurred to them that  people who bought The Giant Behemoth might actually like it?.

At least this great 50s classic is out there on dvd.


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: FLU-BIRD on April 25, 2009, 12:26:08 AM
I saw this movie as a kid i can clearly remeber the dinasour stomping around and cuasing anything that got with in a certian distence to disintigrate and destroying it with the radioactive isitope shot from a rifle


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Kooshmeister on June 18, 2009, 06:40:09 PM
My favorite character was Dr. Sampson, the childlike paleontologist who believed dinosaurs were still alive since he was a little boy. He's only in a couple of scenes but his heartfelt speech about his childhood dreams makes him the movie's most interesting character. It's a shame the screenwriters decided to just blow him up in a helicopter. What a waste of a character (not to mention a bit too similar to Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, wherein paleontologist Dr. Thurgood Elson also gets killed by the very creature he's seeking.)

Sampson: You know, all my life I hoped this would happen. Ever since childhood I expected it. I knew these creatures were alive somewhere, but I had no proof, scientific proof, and I had to keep it to myself, or my colleagues would have all laughed at me. See, no form of life ceases abruptly, and all those reports of sea serpents - well, what can they be?... The tall, graceful neck of paleosaurus. He can stay underneath the surface for an age, and now he comes to the top.


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: dancer5612004 on September 25, 2010, 01:35:03 AM
Sometimes bad is good, besides, the recent dvd release includes the capsized boat scene which was excluded in previous release, and this is the version which is what I saw when it first came out on sci-fi TV back in the early 70s. Great to have again in my collection.


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: rmaset on November 03, 2015, 04:38:37 PM
NYC Million Dollar Movie here too. So scarey it hurt, for me as a kid of about 7, and a core memory (a la Inside Out) for me now. "PB7 PB7 report to me PB7.")

I saw it again as an adult, and was surprised to find that it was actually pretty good.


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: alandhopewell on March 18, 2016, 03:35:31 PM
     I'm not sure how many times Ghoulardi showed this movie, but I watched it every time; it was cool, and scary, particularly if you're seven or eight when you see it. The crispy-crittering of the people and the doll floating on the water after the ferry attack
really got to me. I still love this film, not just for nostalgia's sake, but on its own merits, same for THE BLACK SCORPION.

! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyoXFkGXeRc#)


Title: Re: The Giant Behemoth
Post by: Barracuda54 on May 09, 2016, 09:20:06 AM
Hey guys, believe it or not, this was one of my favorite movies as a kid and I still watch it today as an adult....[/b]BUT:
One important point was left out of:
[/b]THINGS I LEARNED FROM THIS MOVIE:
You can't handle radioactive fish with your bare hands, as Gene Evans did in the lab and:
You need to use soap when you wash your hands when you're done with said radioactive fish.

I think that's the only thing he missed....other than that, it's really not that bad of a movie.