Violence/Gore: Nothing overt, although some people do die at the hands (and mouth) of the rhedosaur, including a valiant New York cop who gets chewed and gulped in one memorable scene - but it’s all very tasteful, honest.

Sex/Nudity: Are you kidding? It’s 1953! All right, there’s a mildly flirtatious scene between our hero and the attractive assistant to the old scientist, but that’s as far as it goes.

Best Line: “But the most astonishing thing about it is that…” (Prof. Elson’s last words before the rhedosaur swallows his diving bell)

Score:

This is one of five or six movies I’ve watched a millions times over and over again throughout my life, and I’m sure I’ll still be watching it when I’m old and grey. It’s quite simply one of the best ’50s sci-fi films ever made, a landmark achievement in the “monster on a rampage” subgenre, and filled with enough genuine character and breath-taking special effects (yes, even fifty years later) to keep even the most jaded viewer enthralled. And there are fleeting appearances by Lee Van Cleef and Dukes of Hazzard’s James “Rosco” Best, so how can you go wrong?

After a laughably stilted opening narration (that never comes back for the rest of the film), we’re introduced to a project that apparently involves setting off atomic explosions in the Arctic. And wouldn’t you know it, they awaken a prehistoric beast (from 20,000 fathoms, presumably) with one of their blasts, sending him off pretty pissed and eager to show it to whatever humans get in his way. Our hero, the interestingly accented Tom Nesbitt, struggles to convince the authorities that he’s seen this big dinosaur walking around. He allies himself with a pretty scientist’s assistant, Lee Hunter, and her mentor, the genial Professor Elton. Elton isn’t quick to believe Nesbitt, but he’s willing to listen. Soon, however, the creature has come ashore and taken a stroll through Manhattan, and the whole thing is rendered academic. Add to this a bit of martial law and an inventive subplot in which the beast’s blood is giving off toxic levels of radioactivity, and you just know we’re set for a fun climax at an amusement park. And just look at Lee’s lapels! She could put an eye out with those!

This movie also adheres to long-standing movie conventions like “spot the character who will die before movie’s end because he mentions retirement.” Cecil Kellaway’s delightful Prof. Elton comments that he’s about to take his first vacation in years, so we pretty much know the clock is ticking on the poor fellow. And when he finally does meet his maker below the depths in the mouth of the monster, he’s cut off just before making one last scientific observation. So what was the “most astonishing thing” he sees about the rhedosaur? His bicuspids? I guess we’ll never know.

The monster sports a few distinctive Harryhausen personality touches, like its cute way of lightly brushing a car out of the way after crushing it underfoot, or the way it tilts its head back to knock the screaming, struggling cop in its teeth right back down its gullet. Sure, he’s a man-eating, car-mangling creature from the depths, but he’s just so cute! He’s undeniably one of Harryhausen’s most memorable designs.

And let’s not forget, this is the movie that served as the direct template for the otherwise pathetic big-budget would-be blockbuster, 1998’s Americanized Godzilla. An odd project, that, in that apart from the title, virtually everything in that film, from the design of the creature to the shot-for-shot re-creation of the arrival in New York, was clearly patterned after Beast and not Godzilla. Actually, if watched as a Beast remake, that movie is almost endurable…almost. But enough about that.

What else can I say? I never tire of watching this movie - from the rhedosaur romps to the quieter character moments with Tom, Lee and Prof. Elson, everything about this film screams sincerity. Not as overtly preachy as some of the other atomic monster mashes of the decade, BEAST succeeds by telling a tidy action tale and backing it up with actors who aren’t afraid to put their all into it. You might even find yourself shedding a tear for the poor old rhedosaur in the end (another Harryhausen trademark, playing the sympathy card for the monster).

Oh yes, and don’t miss genre stalwart Kenneth Tobey as yet another in a series of military officials.

DVD Extras: There are a few Harryhausen-themed trailers, but the real gems are two featurettes that offer at least a bit of an insight into one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. The first is an interview with Harryhausen and a few gushing fanboy ILM techies about the making of the movie and its impact on modern-day fantasy film-making. But the real joy is an on-stage reunion/interview taped in 2003 featuring the two Rays - Harryhausen and Bradbury - gleefully reminiscing about their youth and long-time friendship. Bradbury has been through some tough medical challenges lately, and appears sitting in a wheelchair, but while his body may be failing him, his mind and recall are as sharp as ever.

ATB