JoanWaterfield

With some justification Nature is getting back at Man and the horror movie makers were having a heyday. In most cases it might be suggested that the first victims of flora and fauna on the rampage should be quickie movie-makers of the genre whose gruesome excesses are an insult to the senses. Not so, however, in the case of Frogs, a very tasty shocker that is far superior to the usual suspense-filler. Most of the credit must go to director George McCowan, tautly effective in mounting horror as an ever-diminishing group is attacked by reptilian hordes yet neatly controlled in holding the seat-edge suspense. There's only one star name Ray Milland in a brief appearance, but the cast is uniformly good. Real stars, of course, are the assorted lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and for good measure quicksand, and the photography by Mario Tosi (at Eden state park in Florida) is magnificent. Yet another plus is the mood-enhancing score of Les Baxter.

Arthur Haley should have written this one and called it 'Ship'. The stock characters, artfully designated in the opening frames are no longer drawn from the ethnic range, but there's just as much bilge, just as little ballast in the Poseiden selection. Thus Gene Hackman, activist preacher, all thumbs and mouth; Ernst Borgnine, red neck detective(she was the only thing I ever loved); Steila Stevens, gritty hooker (get outta her you s.o.b.); Carol Lynely, whining rock singer (I can't I can't), Red Buttons, haberdasher with heart (you can you can); and Shelly Winters heavy Jewish grandmother (That's what life is all about). For preg kid of the year, Eric Shea who masterminds the escape, but with respect, sir, the most exciting sea drama ever filmed - ain't.