The Giant Gila Monster

[Jenn]

I too saw this on MST3K...  even with the jokes, this movie was pretty bad... I'd hate to watch it without!

[Georgiann]

This is pretty bad, effects-wise and acting-wise.  And my idea of hell would be to be tied up and forced to listen to that incredibly smarmy song "Laugh Children Laugh" for all eternity.  

[nole92@prodigy.net]

I too saw this movie on MST3K, and I thought it was hilarious.  It was bad as only a 50's B horror movie can be.

[kbegg@park-ridge.lib.il.us]

One of the most heartrending images I've ever seen in a film is when the 'giant' gila monster (surely the cutest monster yet to appear on screen) has it's head shoved through a balsa wood 'wall' to simulate its attack on the Barn Blow-Out Rock 'n' Roll Revue.  It's almost impossible not to visulize the gila rangler grabbing the poor beastie by the torso and ramming it through the miniature set.  And yes, both the Mushroom Song and Laugh, Children, Laugh (I think those are two separate songs, aren't they?) are some of the best bad tunes since Arch Hall, Jr.'s work in Eeagh!

[Carl]

"Laugh Children Laugh" is the hit of the sock hop. Those poor kids. Those *poor* kids --

[paul westbrook]

I had seen this film at a late night matinee when I was about twelve. It did not scare me then, and it does not now. Whose idea was it to use an ordinary lizard in this movie anyway? The most nauseating part, is the idiot with the banjo. It made me root for the creature to just put him, and us out of our misery. Still, it is an okay movie to see when there is nothing else to look at.

[JDD]

This is one of the Best of the worst movies ever made in the
50`s! I loved it as a kid, I bought two... one for my cousin so we could each have a copy to embarass our kids with. They think we`re bonkers, anyway.

[Chris K.]

Special effects are good, clear cinematography, nice acting, and atmosperic settings. THE GIANT GILA MONSTER is a good monster-on-the-loose film from good ole' 1959. Shot back-to-back with THE KILLER SHREWS, THE GIANT GILA MONSTER is better than THE KILLER SHREWS.

[hank]

[Link Digger]

This is a true cult classic!  The scary music alone is a hoot.  Plug your ears with the ukelele (sp?) song though!  What a cute lizard!

[Ron]

I have the GIANT GILA MONSTER on video tape and have watched it many times.   It is most entertaining and humerous.  Don Sullivan, who played Chance, had a much better role in THE MONSTER OF PIEDRAS BLANCAS.  

[Joe]

I had to watch this movie for my college history class ... let me tell you this has to be the worst film showed to students EVER!  Whats with those songs?  Oh, and how cool was it to drink and drive in the 50's?  oh well ... I guess I could make up stuff for my paper about "what does this film tell us about the 50's?"

[chadzilla]

This drive-in bottom feeder from the 50's is actually endearing in its own cheesy way.  The pace could be a bit quicker, but I still find it a pleasent Saturday afternoon time waster, which is where I saw it a lot as a kid.

[Cham]

One of the worst movies of the 50s. Some fun scenes but not worth a second viewing. The lizard is obviously a regular-sized one made to look large with some "excellent" effects. I give it a 2/5

[Matt]

I saw this on the afternoon creature feature when I was about 9...I loved it then (except for that "Laugh" song...ugggggh). Didn't catch the MST3K version.THey must have had real fun with it.