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Information Exchange => Reader Comments => Topic started by: BoyScoutKevin on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM



Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: BoyScoutKevin on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Let me see. Two guys. A gal. The Professor. And Mary Ann. I mean the military. Strange sounds in the night. Mysterious deaths. Escapees from the country fleeing to a major city and menacing it. Hmmm?! Does that remind anyone of an film Warner Brothers made three years earlier? Specifically, "Them." I guess there were only so many film ideas available at Warner Brothers. Enjoyed, the video of the train wreck though. Enjoy


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Squishy on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Pancho (The Dog) dies (offscreen*); Juanito lives**. See, there is no Dog.

*Well, he runs off in the direction of the attacking monsters, then the Li'l Bastard gets a look on his face to compete with that of the Li'l Bastard from "The Beast From Hollow Mountain" when he first sees the title critter. There's no dog-scream, but you get the idea if you aren't sound asleep at this point. Wow, traumatized Li'l Bastards were all the rage back then, weren't they?

(**Well, maybe. I'm assuming the scene where Juanito is picked up and hurled back down into the cavern before it is sealed up was edited out. Too bad. It would have been the movie's shining moment.)

Check it out: Juanito actually HELPS the tick-critter get out of its trapdoor-lair to attack him. He sees this rock moving (in a scary cavern full of flesh-eating monsters from Hell), walks up, and helps the monster underneath lift it up. Without Juanito's aid, it would have starved to death in its own nest! Juanito: dumber than a rock.

The tiny scorpion sealed in "amber" (snicker) squeaks like a wounded rodent when it is released. The giant scorpions roar. I'm trying to picture what a giant mouse would sound like.

The slobbering scorpion-head prop is actually effective when the Big Daddy Scorp is fried: the prop's eyes are bugged-out and boiled white. Yikes. Too bad they couldn't show the same thing when General Stupido picks up the "live" projectile. (Look how emotional the guy manning the switch is when he realizes his screw-up cooked his CO. Maybe they should've used a prop-head for him, too.)

Rich with the bouquet of rotting beef carcasses.  



Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: David Fullam on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Black Scorpion may not be the best bug film, but it's lots of fun. Willis O'Brien's effects are quite good. I hear they were done in a rush, so that will explain the re use of scenes and the visible wires on some of the scorpion models. Even so, the scorpions kick some major booty and are fine additions to O'Brien's body of work. Give the producers credit for using stop motion instead of live scorpions. I'll never forget the shock I got when I saw the film for the first time. I'm talking about the scene where the Mexican picked up the live electrode and got killed. Totally unexpected and a wild twist to the climax.

All in all, a great popcorn film.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Black Scorpion on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Trivia question from the origanal script. What was the name of the cowboy who fell into the cave? Is it:
A) "Splat"
B) "Ahhhh Splat"
C) "Ohhh Shiii... Splat"
D) "Wheeeeeeee Splat"


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
What would the cowboy in the cave's conqueror name be (For instance Attila The Hun)
A) "Eaten by Scorpions"
B) "Cave Pizza"
C) "Look Out Below"


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Dr. Maniac on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
   If you feel a touch of deja vu while wacthing THE BLACK SCORPION it's because the actors playing little Juanito and the scientist who orders a testtube of tequilla were both in THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN.
   Willis O' Brien and Pete Petersen's special FX are very good, I doubt that giant mockup of the scorpions head was their idea.  The whole underground sequence and the attack on the train probably induced nightmares in many youngsters who saw this when it was brand new.  The empty travelling matte as the last scorpion wanders through the streets of Mexico City making smorgasbord out of the populace is now legendary but Obie and Pete really did the best they could ith the limited time and money they had (and they had less of both the next year when they did THE GIANT BEHEMOTH!).  Besides there are enough standout effects scenes to more than make up for the shortcomings.  
     Okay so the similarities to THEM are unmistakable but heck both films came from Warner Brothers so what did you expect?  The next time this movie is on do yourself a favour and watch it . . .aw heck, tape it while you're at it.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Green Hornet on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Three things: first, didn't they keep calling the kid "Juanita"? That's a GIRL's name! Second: the scientist was given a Mendosa light machinegun, but he used it like a SINGLE SHOT rifle. Or maybe they didn't trust him with the REAL thing? And third, the TV series by the same name follows in the movie's tradition of goofy badness.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: VdanteV on November 25, 2006, 04:09:03 PM
I am proud owner of this movie !! Some bad, so improbable, so much fun to watch.

 Random note: The tick thing was actually a saved creation  from the original King Kong, from the infamous deleted (or never filmed, depending on your sources) scene where an explorer gets eaten by a giant spider.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: AlphaWoolf on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
A great film.  While "Them" still holds the title for best giant bug flick of the 50's, "Black Scorpion" gives it a good run for the money.  The big downfall here is the plot and characters; when the scorpions are on-screen these concerns can be brushed aside.  The stop-motion effects are great, and the scorpion face closeups work too, IMO.  After all these years, the scene with the guy on the telephone pole still gives me the chills.  Good stuff!


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Kooshmeister on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Next to "Them!," "The Deadly Mantis," and "Tarantula" this is my favorite giant-bugs-on-the-loose movie from days gone past. I got it for Christmas a couple years back, and for a movie made so long ago, alot of scenes give me the chills, including the scene of Dayazano's (sp?) friend getting pulled from the telephone pole in the scorpion's claws, then stung to death, the discovery of the dead Sergeant Vega with a look of terror on his face, and just about the entire sequence in the scorpions' underground lair.

The fight between a scorpion and the giant worm-centipede thing is brief but well done, and I'm also unusually partial to all the scenes in which the scorpions must interact with vehicles (Dayazano's truck, the train, and the tanks and helicopters in the climax). Usually, the vehicles look too obviously like models, but here they manage to actually look pretty good, especially the train.

And, yes, the trapdoor spider was a leftover from "King Kong," from the cut scene in which, after being shaken from the log bridge by Kong and falling into the canyon, the unfortunate crewmen who managed to survive the fall are attacked and eaten by giant spiders. The scene *was* filmed, but cut because 1930's audiences thought it was too horrific.

All in all, "The Black Scorpion" is not the greatest movie ever made, but is still among my all-time favorites.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Nathan on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
 Yeah, The Black Scorpion is such a great movie. As other reviewers said, the scene where the telephone repairmen are attacked and killed by the scorpions is spine-chilling stuff. But here are some howlers about the scorpion behavior. First is that kinda gross heavy drooling. Sorry, but although it's impressive, would it make any sense for animals that live IN THE DESERT to constantly be losing precious water like that? No. And although I love the idea of scorpions acting as pack hunters more or less, here's how their society really works. I'll make it simple. Scorpions have no society. If a male and female meet, they mate, and the female stores the sperm until later. If they're of the same gender, they always fight. If they're evenly matched, they generally fight to a draw and then just keep away from each other. But if one individual is stronger or larger, it will quite gladly kill and eat its opponent. Also, scorpions actually prefer not to use their venom if they can. Instead, they just crush prey with pincers, only stinging if it's too big or too powerful for that. The giant scorpions would have been able to kill people in their lobster claws easily, without zapping them.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Shaft on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
Great scene with the train crashing into the scorpion... let's talk special effects here.  Look closely and the words "Lionel Lines" appear on the tender behind the locomotive.  Any hope of this scene looking remotely realistic just got blown away by that oversight, heh heh.  Not to mention the tender is facing the wrong way, but I digress.  Has anybody ever seen Godzilla smashing tanks that have the word "Mattel" on their sides?  Hmm...


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: pred19 on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
This is a great B-Movie. If you like claymation monsters and giant bugs and black and white, you'll get a kick out of it. Willis O'Brien ('King Kong') did the special effects, and for giant scorpions, worms, and ticks, they aren't all that bad. My favorite scene was when the group ventured underground and saw all the giant creatures. It had the same feel as Skull Island.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Juanito on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
I lived; my little puppy died. It has been years and I amm still traumatized. i don'; appreciate this negativismos.
We movie kids have feelings too. Well, keep the welcome travelling matte out for me. Adios!


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: tyler on May 30, 2004, 01:00:01 PM
Great Ray Harryhausen film.andrew, have you ever heard of the beast from 20,000 fathoms?The valley of gwangi?Jason and the argonouts?Clash of the titans?Watch them. All good harryhausen movies.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: night heron on July 06, 2004, 09:26:13 PM
I never saw BLACK SCORPION but i did see TARANTULA in fact i have tarantula on video cassette and we all know from science class that spiders and scorpoins are related


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Kooshmeister on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Noticed an error in your review. In the characters, you say Major Cosio dies as a result of his own stupidity. If you're talking about the guy who grabs the electrified harpoon with his bare hands, that's Major Ortega. Major Cosio is never killed. I'm not demanding that you correct this, just giving a friendly FYI.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: oxode on November 25, 2006, 04:10:12 PM
I think no one mentioned, till now , that the scorpion is making the ant-sound from "THEM". So I do now. Maybe it was a bargain.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: IT on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
One of my favorite giant bug films.The scene where a scorpion attacts a line repair man was scary as hell and the best scene in the movie.The thing not only crushes the guy in its claws but it stings the poor guy just for the hell of it.I wish there was more scenes like that in this movie.Not as good as THEM or TARANTULA but better then BEGINNING OF THE END and the DEADLY MANTIS.They could'nt kill the scorpions with bullets but could'nt they have took a tip from the ANGRY RED PLANET and shot them in the eyes there was a few scenes in this movie where that idea would of been useful.One of WILLIS O'BRIENS best films.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Bob the mutant chicken on February 19, 2006, 12:22:54 PM
Was it just me or did anyone else notice that the scopions face close ups did not match the faces on the models take a good look.Other then that a great B MOVIE.


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: AUgusto on November 25, 2006, 04:09:49 PM
Yeah, in the part of the train, you see a scorpion face, but the robos close up isn't that face U_U


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Bill Hiers on December 01, 2006, 10:12:04 PM
Was it just me or did anyone else notice that the scopions face close ups did not match the faces on the models take a good look.Other then that a great B MOVIE.

They do sometimes. It just depends on the model.


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: peter johnson on December 14, 2006, 11:10:44 PM
Squishy!!
What the hell are you doing here as a "guest"??
Get back on the Board, man!!
peter johnson/lower case


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Andrew on January 01, 2007, 12:32:38 PM
Noticed an error in your review. In the characters, you say Major Cosio dies as a result of his own stupidity. If you're talking about the guy who grabs the electrified harpoon with his bare hands, that's Major Ortega. Major Cosio is never killed. I'm not demanding that you correct this, just giving a friendly FYI.

I went back and watched that section again and you were dead on with it being Major Ortega.  Thank you for the correction.  I have amended the review.


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: oxode on June 20, 2007, 05:48:15 AM
Black Scorpion may not be the best bug film, but it's lots of fun. Willis O'Brien's effects are quite good. I hear they were done in a rush, so that will explain the re use of scenes and the visible wires on some of the scorpion models. Even so, the scorpions kick some major booty and are fine additions to O'Brien's body of work. Give the producers credit for using stop motion instead of live scorpions. I'll never forget the shock I got when I saw the film for the first time. I'm talking about the scene where the Mexican picked up the live electrode and got killed. Totally unexpected and a wild twist to the climax.

All in all, a great popcorn film.

Just to get the records strait. Willis O'Brien is innocent in this case. The FX crew just picked up some left overs from him from the cuttingroom floor and prompted it in. In plain words, they just used, what he tossed in the garbage.


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Flangepart on June 20, 2007, 11:45:22 AM
Squishy!!
What the hell are you doing here as a "guest"??
Get back on the Board, man!!
peter johnson/lower case
Squishy! Dude! How was rehab?
No, seriously. Been a long time, oh clever and crabby one.Hows it hangin'?

 :cheers:I love this flick, particulary because its the FIRST MST3K i ever watched! Laughed my galaxy spanning a$$ off!
"Hey, look, its the Kalua factory.."
"Look at me, i'm messin' up time tables!"
"The milling around festival breaks up..."

Oh, yes, how i wished for "Kennycide".
Great flick, and a remake might no be too bad. Maybe....maybe...


Title: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Xenorama on October 04, 2007, 01:40:55 PM
Great Ray Harryhausen film.andrew, have you ever heard of the beast from 20,000 fathoms?The valley of gwangi?Jason and the argonouts?Clash of the titans?Watch them. All good harryhausen movies.

except this isn't a Harryhausen film.  it's a good film, with some great animation in it, but another re-write of the script could have helped.  they got a lot of monsters in that movie for little money, though.

David


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: ELW on December 31, 2008, 12:46:36 PM
One of my favorite bad movies; it seems that everyone in Mexico speaks
perfectly fluent english.  My favorite scene is the WWF style wrestling match
between the scorpion and the giant worm thing with the pinchers.


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: akiratubo on December 31, 2008, 01:50:10 PM
You know, it's weird.  Watching Spider Man 2, I got extremely p**sed off during the scene in which Spidey stops the train.  "Spider Man isn't that strong!  WTF???"

Yet watching The Black Scorpion, my eyes bug out in alarm when the big scorpion derails the train.  "Holy crap, it derailed a train!  It must be really f***ing strong!"

I'm willing to suspend disbelief for an old monster movie that has little going for it besides neat model scorpions, but not for a critically acclaimed blockbuster that 99% of the people in the world seem to love.


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: Mr Reptilian! on August 29, 2009, 09:08:30 AM
The worst part of this movie was when the Spider failed to eat the irritating little hard headed obnoxious brat! How the little punk was able to out run a 8 legged giant spider is beyond me,and whats worst is it took 3 bullets to finish the Spider,I guess Giant Spiders are not as tough as Giant Scorpions.But anyway I enjoyed this movie the scene of the Scorpion stinging the line repair man really scared the hell out of me as a kid! :hot:


Title: Re: The Black Scorpion
Post by: alandhopewell on November 30, 2011, 03:02:40 PM
      Although this is one of my favorite 50's sci-fi flicks, you gutted it with wit and glee, and I thank you.

     One thing that always bothered me....Denning and company examine the trooper's firearm, stating, "Every shot's been fired." Dunno about you, but if I shoot at something, and it's still comin' after I crank off the second round, I'm LEAVIN'!

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VrtMJXTDRuk/TfYTdTf8ZXI/AAAAAAAAAE0/urht7yN0SzQ/s1600/bs.jpg)