The Monster That Challenged the World

Director: Arnold Laven Arnold Laven

Overview

The Monster That Challenged the World is the misleadingly title for one of the more well-regarded second-echelon horror films of the 1950s. An underwater earthquake in the Sargasso sea yields up the eggs of a long-extinct sea monster. Once hatched, the monster's offspring (which resemble huge snails) sustain themselves by sucking the life forces of various unlucky human land dwellers. Even worse, these horrendous creatures procreate at an incredible rate, laying 3000 eggs per sitting. Eventually, the monsters are neutralized by Modern Science, save for one stray snail that very nearly lunches on a little girl..

Product Details

Release Date:	01/20/2015
UPC:	0883904304364
Original Release:	1957
Rating:	NR
Source:	Mgm Mod
Language:	English
Time:	1:23:00
Sales rank:	3,033

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tim Holt	Lt. Cmdr. John Twillinger
Hans Conried	Dr. Jess Rogers
Audrey Dalton	Gail MacKenzie
Harlan Warde	Lt. Bob Clemens
Max Showalter	Tad Johns
Mimi Gibson	Sandy MacKenzie
Gordon Jones	Josh Peters
Marjorie Stapp	Connie Blake
Dennis McCarthy	George Blake
Barbara Darrow	Jody Sims
Bob Beneveds	Mort Beatty
Michael Dugan	Clarke
Mack Williams	Capt. Masters
Eileen Harley	Sally
Jody McCrea	Seaman Fred Johnson
William Swan	Seaman Howard Sanders
Charles Tannen	Wyatt
Byron Kane	Coroner
Hal Taggart	Mr. Davis
Gilbert Frye	Deputy Scott
Dan Gachman	Deputy Brewer
Milton Parsons	Lewis Clark Dobbs
Ralph Moody	Old Gatekeeper
Heinz Roemheld	Composer

Technical Credits

Pat Fielder

Arthur Gardner	Producer
Arnold Laven	Director
Jules V. Levy	Producer
Pat Fielder	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

An underwater earthquake in the Salton Sea uncovers a nest of giant prehistoric sea snails that hatch after exposure to radiation. The ravenous, blank-eyed mollusks drain the blood from several swimmers and sailors until hard-bitten Navy man Tim Holt steps in to combat the menace. One of the more suspenseful entries in the "big bug" subgenre of '50s science fiction, The Monster That Challenged the World benefits from the capable hand of mainstream director Arnold Laven, who brings a degree of gravity and logic to the proceedings that's usually missing from most B monster movies. The film is also aided by a solid cast, especially Holt (a long way from Treasure of the Sierra Madre, but still game) and character actor Hans Conried in an atypically serious role, as well as special effects man Augie Lohman's unnerving, 11-foot-tall mechanical creature. MGM's full-frame DVD presentation, part of their "Midnite Movies" series, is regrettably bereft of any extras.

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