Beginning of the End (1957)

[Scott]

BEGINNING OF THE END (1957) - Fun Giant insect film starring Peter Graves. Giant grasshoppers mutate in Illinois and then onto Chicago. You'll like a lot of the scenes in this film with the very poor special effects that have almost ghost like grasshoppers super imposed onto the screen. Don't forget to pick up some giant fruit while watching this one.



Check out Andrews Review:

Beginning of the End

[cheecky-monkey]

Oh yeah, I love those little buggers crawling around on Chicago post-cards!

[Scott]

I actually liked BEGINNING OF THE END even though it isn't the best bug movie of the era and I also like all the other giant bug movies of the 50's.  Things I like about 50's films are:

The big automobiles of the time were the driver can get in from either side. They always get in on the wrong side then just slide over to the drivers side.

Vehicle scene filmed on a studio set. Like the they aren't moving or they are pretending to be driving with some phony background footage. What is that called I forget?

Outfits and 50's lingo.

B/W desert scenes.

The idea of radiation monsters.

Childhood memories of watching them in the 70's on the weekly horror programs.

One question about BEGINNING OF THE END. The reporter has a phone in her car. Was this possible in the 50's?



Post Edited (12-07-04 09:00)

[trekgeezer]

Yes , they had car phones in the 50s.  It was basically a radio and you got a mobile operator when you made a call. I remember watching an episode of the old 50s Superman series where Perry White had one in his car.

[Flangepart]

And of corse, there is that wonderful MST3K version with Mike and the Bots.
My fave. line....as the National Guard flees the hoppers...
Crow : "One weekend a month my ass!"

[peter johnson]

When the one grasshopper walks off the postcard & into the "sky",  . . . . That's amore!!
I own this -- watch it alot -- love the bug noises.  Love the cheepniz . . .
What can you say?  Bad bug movie = great bad movie --
peter johnson/denny crane

[Mitch McAfee]

"Vehicle scene filmed on a studio set. Like the they aren't moving or they are pretending to be driving with some phony background footage. What is that called I forget?"

Scott, the technique you're referring to is called Rear Projection.

[Scott]

Thanks McAfee. Rear Projection makes sense.