Behemoth the Sea Monster [DVD] [1959]

I must immediately say that I can recommend this picture for any number of reasons, which I will catalogue below. But there is a bit of a mystery about one aspect of this film.

That mystery is the directorial credit. English prints of this film credit two directors, Eugene Lourie and Douglas Hickox, while the American release version credits Lourie only, and therein lies some confusion. As Mr Hickox at that point in his career was only a second assistant director (he would not direct a picture solely until about eight years later) it does seem strange that he would receive such a credit. It has been speculated, and I think convincingly, that because the film was jointly financed by British and American backers it was part of a "quid pro quo" arrangement to include the name of a British director on the English release prints, and since Mr Hickox's name appears ONLY on UK prints and nowhere else in the world, that would seem very plausible. It was then a common practice for international films to give "courtesy credits" here and there when there was a joint financing arrangement.

Eugene Lourie, of course, who began his career as a distinguished production designer for such men as Jean Renoir and Sacha Guitry, had an opportunity to direct a low-budget film in 1953 that became a phenomenal success, THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS. It was the huge success of that film which prompted US producer David Diamond to want to duplicate the success with his own dinosaur-on-the-loose adventure at which time he contacted Lourie to prepare a basic screenplay draft incorporating certain basic elements that were found in THE BEAST. To Lourie's dismay his rough draft became, on the producer's orders, the final screenplay, leaving Lourie little room to go beyond the often-seen plot points of earlier films. Nevertheless, Lourie, who was a thoughtful and creative director with a great visual sense, managed to come up with an extremely good film in BEHEMOTH THE SEA MONSTER (aka THE GIANT BEHEMOTH). And it is his unmistakable European style here which makes it pretty convincing, at least to this reviewer, that Lourie was the sole director of this film.

The acting cannot be praised highly enough. The English cast headed by the distinguished Andre Morell brought humanity and believability to their roles, and it must be said that the American lead,Gene Evans, brought a sincerity to his role that was quite pleasing. Evans had been stuck playing western heavies for much of his career but he showed here that given a chance and a decent script he could acquit himself very well.

Photographically, Ken Hodges excelled himself. This was one of his first jobs as lighting cameraman and his work cannot be faulted. Nor can the music score written by Edwin (Ted) Astley. There were, for budget reasons, two special effects teams assigned to the picture. The first team, headed by Jack Rabin, produced only the Thames river sequence and their work is not impressive. The miniature work could have been done much better and these scenes, though dramatically exciting, tend to work against the picture. The second team was by far the superior one. It was headed by veteran effects master Willis O'Brien (creator of KING KONG) and he supervised the excellent stop-motion animation of Peter Peterson. The animation of the beast as it terrorizes London (especially the night scenes) is superbly done.

The film is moody, atmospheric and within its tiny budget, extremely well done. It is when one is saddled with small budgets that one has to use his ingenuity. Small budgets illustrate well who has the talent and who does not. BEHEMOTH THE SEA MONSTER, despite its apparently misleading directorial credit, is well worth a look.

I agree with reviewer D.Guenzel in many ways. It would be wrong and too easy to dismiss this as another silly badly done Monster film. Of course it's not great, but there is a certain something that keeps you watching. The location work becomes quite sinister, and the script and direction keeps it moving in it's tight 70' duration. Still not quite sure who Leigh Madison is or why she got such a billing (she looked good tho), and I'm afraid the monster is bad, but we don't have it rammed down our throats. Gene Evans..weird casting? Maybe, but he gives it a surprising gravitas, and Andre Morrell is his usual good self if a bit superior. All in all I think it only deserves 3 stars, but don't let that put you off-it's worth a view and it's great for nostalia buffs like me. Good print and sound.

Over the years we have been treated to giant monsters from the deep,such classics as,It came from beneath the sea,hand animated by the great Ray Harryhausen,had learnt the skill of stop motion from none other than the father of "King Kong"Willis,o brian.
it was good to see this ,british entry it may not have the polish of Rays work but still has that British charm about it,and there is no opt out of a person in a rubber suit,Sorry Japanease monster fans.