Cinema Narcs Live: “It Came From Beneath The Sea” (1955)
Posted by Ron on June 23, 2011MOVIE – “It Came From Beneath The Sea”
DIRECTOR - Robert Gordon
WRITERS – George Worthing Yates, Hal Smith
SIX DEGREES OF CAST & CREW
- Faith Domergue, who stars here as Professor Lesley Joyce, previously played a woman of science in the Universal classic, “This Island Earth,” which is today best known as the movie selected to be featured in “Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie.” Ms. Domergue played the immortal Ruth, AKA “Ruuuuuuth!” and was a co-star to Orangey the Cat from “Village of the Giants.”
- Director Robert Gordon was known to be quite the item with a certain Ms. Allison Hayes, AKA the 50 Foot Woman from “Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.” Can’t say I blame him, really; she apparently wanted to marry him, despite being several inches taller than he was, but he was reluctant to leave his wife.
- You name it, lead actor Kenneth Tobey played a police officer or military man on it. Everything from “Billy Jack” (Deputy Mike) to “The Thing From Another World” (Cpt. Patrick Hendry). ”The Thing From Another World” would later be remade by John Carpenter as “The Thing.”
- As for the screenwriters, when he wasn’t making schlocky sci-fi, Robert Gordon was writing “The Defiant Ones” and “Inherit The Wind.” Meanwhile, George Worthing Yates was churning out MST3K classics like “Tormented,” “Earth Vs. The Spider,” “The Amazing Colossal Man,” and follow-up “War of the Colossal Beast.” He and Bert I. Gordon were close pals.
LIVEBLOG
Ron-20.01
I have to admit, I’m very excited for the first movie tonight, if only because I’m a huge fan of the original “Clash of the Titans” and I love Ray Harryhausen’s work. Sure, he’s only working with a sextopus tonight, rather than an octopus, but it’s STILL going to be awesome. I’m pretty confident of that.
Ron-20.03
Also, I’m digging the little introductory things TCM is having their host do. It’s like Six Degrees of Cast and Crew, but you get to hear it in an awesome-sounding voice, rather than just reading it.
Andrew-20.11
The “atom-powered” submarine shown cruising on the surface is actually the diesel-electric submarine USS Cubera (SS-347).
Ron-20.11
Interesting fact: This is the first movie we’ve liveblogged that’s been released on Blu Ray, all thanks to the magic of Harryhausen turning a bathtub into the Pacific Ocean.
Andrew-20.12
“Sir can we use this equipment to communicate with the dead? I’ve got a bet with Aldo Farnese.”
Ron-20.14
“Well, with radiation leaking everywhere like it is, don’t count on fathering any children any time soon. Well, at least any children who have all their limbs.”
Andrew-20.15
“Sir, evidence shows that thing on the scope was a school of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Shall we load Torpedo Bay 3?”
Andrew-20.17
Our friendly Narrator here was William Woodson, narrator for the old Dick Tracy TV series of 1950-51.
Ron-20.17
This crazy voice-over man makes me think of Dragnet for some reason. ”Meanwhile, Sgt. Joe Friday sits in a desk at the Los Angeles Police Department, ready to bash in the head of the closest hippie at a moment’s notice!”
Andrew-20.18
“Speaking off the record, Captain, I don’t see how these beekeeper suits are even remotely waterproof.”
Ron-20.22
“And D. I’m on a diet so BACK OFF BEFORE I TEAR YOUR HEAD OFF AND EAT THE NOUGAT FROM BETWEEN YOUR EARS!”
Andrew-20.23
Our narrator never strayed far from aquatic scenery – he narrated 1953′s “The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms”, and later voiced Captain Nemo for the old Superfriends cartoon, and Namor the Submariner for “Spiderman And His Amazing Friends”. His last official work was on 1995′s “Duckman” series!
Andrew-20.24
Good lord, why can’t mackin’ the ladies be this easy for ME??! Or do I simply have to be a Naval Commander?
Ron-20.25
I think you don’t have enough congealed pig lard in your hair. Women love a greasy, pork-scented man in uniform.
Ron-20.31
Now that’s an awesome shot! The giant tentacle rising from the water to attack the fishing boat? Yeah, that looks great even today. Ray Harryhausen is a genius.
Andrew-20.36
This is the most awkward Conference on Urban Drug Activity I’ve ever bore witness to. And I do mean “bore”…
Ron-20.46
“From the best we can tell, Dr. Joyce, your giant octopus is located somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.”
Ron-20.47
She says she’ll be ready in 10 minutes, but in girl time that means 30 minutes, amIright, 1950′s male patriarchy?
Ron-20.49
Note to self: Giant octopus sucker marks look like a garbage can lid with a frisbee inside.
