Giant from the Unknown

Truth to tell, I wasn't expecting a whole lot from "Giant From the Unknown." I'd seen two of director Richard Cunha's later works, "Missile to the Moon" and "Frankenstein's Daughter," and had found them both incredibly awful, albeit entertainingly so. Indeed, the latter might just be my favorite bad movie of all time. Still, it was to my surprise that "Giant," although certainly not a good movie by any reasonable definition, turned out to be yet another entertaining diversion from director Cunha. In it, a Spanish conquistador, buried 500 years ago by Indians in what is now California, rises from the earth to cause more mayhem. As played by Buddy Baer (brother of heavyweight prizefighter Max), and featuring a makeup job by Jack "Frankenstein" Pierce, this giant does make for one imposing sight. Scientist Morris Ankrum, his daughter Sally Fraser, and an ex-student, Edward Kemmer, all happen to be in this CA mountain community when old Vargas goes on his rampage, and the three make for appealing leads. This film features a fair amount of suspense, some startling moments, not too many unintentionally funny lines, and a fairly compact story line. Granted, some of the backdrops look as phony as can be (that lake, that ersatz dam), and some details don't make much sense if one ponders them later, but darn it, this movie was kinda fun! Maybe I've been watching too many shlocky films lately, and my standards are starting to slip, but still, I did enjoy this one. The DVD looks nice and crisp, too, although the source material seems damaged in spots. All in all, I certainly do not regret having rented this one out....

RATING: *1/2 out of ****

Director Cunha's first of four drive-in "horror classics" is merely typical, and not a big deal. It's about a trio of expeditionists unearthing an infamous 6' 6" Spanish Conquistador who promptly picks up his axe and stalks around the woods for a while.

Ed Kemmer makes a likeable leading man, and Sally Fraser is the standard helpless heroine. Morris Ankrum seems hesitant to deliver his lines, and the film is sprinkled with enough silly acting to make it endurable for a single viewing.

The film falls short with the title character; a helmeted tall man with dirt and mud on his face just doesn't terrify me. It's one of the last makeups done by genius artist Jack Pierce (famous for his timeless Wolf Man and Frankenstein designs for Universal), and not one of his best efforts. The giant does little during the time he's onscreen, and is disappointing.

The best film director Cunha made in the genre - and required viewing for any fifties monster fan - is FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER.

I have just seen Giant From the Unknown for the third time and I find this movie rather enjoyable.

A professor and his daughter driving through the South West looking for the remains of a giant Spanish conquistador come across it at Devils Crag, a scenic landmark near a small town. The giant has been in suspended animation for hundreds of years and comes to life and starts murdering people for no reason. One of the locals gets the blame for these murders at first by the town's sheriff but is then let off and the two team up to kill the giant, who falls off a dam into a deep lake in a volcanic crater at the end.

The movie's cast includes an excellent performance from 50's sci fi regular Morris Ankrum (Invaders From Mars, Kronos), Sally Fraser (Earth vs the Spider, War of the Colossol Beast), Ed Kemmer (Space Patrol, Earth vs the Spider), Bob Steele as the Sheriff and the giant is played by Buddy Baer.

Depite it being a bad movie, this is certainly worth having in any sci fi/horror collection.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.

Ah! The 1950's and science fiction films. This was the decade that brought us giant ants and other mutant insects, evil aliens coming to take over our bodies, good aliens out to save mankind from destroying itself, Godzilla and all his Japanese monster buddies destroying every inch of Japan, and the films of Richard Cunha, Missile to the Moon, She Demons, Frankenstein's Daughter, and Giant From the Unknown. Cunha has a certain directorial style, that for me, is the mixing of bad film-making with an almost uncanny way of making bad seem good...or at least interesting. Giant From the Unknown is indeed a bad film. It tells the story of a professor and his daughter driving through the southwest looking for the remains of a giant Spanish conquistador known for his cruelty. While driving they just happen to come to a town where Ed Kemmer(an affable leading man if nothing else)just happened to find a lizard alive in rock that was thousands of years old. Okay, I know you know where this is going. And it does go there. The giant is alive in century old rock and begins to eat his way through everyone's livestock and likes to kill for no apparent reason. Kemmer falls in love with the daughter Sally Fraser, whilst proud pops(the great Morris Ankrum)realizes his dream come true of finding evidence that this giant once lived. Well, the story is without a doubt ridiculous. But this is a fun film. Jack Pierce did the make-up for the giant conquistador. It is not real impressive, but Buddy Baer certainly is a giant of a screen presence. The acting in general is adequate, and the direction is entertaining. The film does have some fine scenes, particularly the ending in the snowy mountains and the dam. If you just want to be entertained in that magical 50's B picture way....take a look at Giant From the Unknown.

A series of animal deaths and other disasters hits a rural town. When humans start dying, a local, bewigged, stock native known, not-so-lovingly, as "Injun Joe" speaks of omens and portents. The townsfolk are... unimpressed. The sheriff is flummoxed by it all.

When archaeologist, Dr. Frederick Cleveland (the ubiquitous Morris Ankrum) and his daughter, Janet (Sally Fraser) come to town, they draw the sheriff's suspicion. Especially, since they happen to know a loner, named Wayne Brooks (Ed Kemmer).

Cleveland just happens to be searching for evidence of an ancient, sadistic, towering conquistador known as Vargas, The Devil Giant.

Coincidence? Hmmm.

Cheeeze-tacular, pseudo-scientific claptrap sets up the idea that the old behemoth could possibly have been reanimated. While Cleveland and Brooks search for artifacts, Janet makes lunch, brews coffee, and cleans up the camp!

Aaaah, the 1950's!

After what feels like a century, Vargas finally makes his appearance, but nothing much takes place. The obligatory romance blooms between Janet and Brooks. More locals are eliminated. Will the sheriff ever believe the truth? Will Janet ever brew the perfect pot of coffee? Will "Injun Joe" ever get a better hairpiece?

Cheddar doesn't get much chunkier than GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN! Highly entertaining hooey!

P.S.- Janet also makes sandwiches...