Main Cast: Tim Holt, Audrey Dalton, Hans Conried, Harlan Warde, Casey Adams
Release Year: 1957
Country: US
Run Time: 83 minutes
Plot
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.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
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. ~ Paul Gaita, All Movie Guide
Mimi Gibson - Sandy MacKenzie; Gordon Jones - Josh Peters; Marjorie Stapp - Connie Blake; Dennis McCarthy - George Blake; Barbara Darrow - Jody Sims; Mack Williams - Capt. Masters; Jody McCrea - Seaman Fred Johnson; William Swan - Seaman Howard Sanders; Charles Tannen - Wyatt; Byron Kane - Coroner; Gilbert Frye - Deputy Scott; Milton Parsons - Lewis Clark Dobbs; Ralph Moody - Old Gatekeeper; Michael Dugan - Clarke; Hal Taggart - Mr. Davis
Credit
James D. Vance - Art Director, Arnold Laven - Director, John D. Faure - Editor, Heinz Roemheld - Composer (Music Score), Heinz Roemheld - Musical Direction/Supervision, Lester White - Cinematographer, Arthur Gardner - Producer, Jules Levy - Producer, Augie Lohman - Special Effects, David Duncan - Screen Story, Pat Fielder - Screenwriter
It was produced by Gramercy Pictures (not related to the former PolyGram division) and released by United Artists. The film is currently available on DVD as part of UA sister Metro-Goldwyn Mayer's Midnight Movies collection.
An earthquake has led to the hatching of eggs, belonging to that of a prehistoric mollusk. The hatchlings emerge from the Salton Sea, escape into an underground sewer, and proceed to terrorize the citizens of California's Imperial Valley. The navy is called in to battle these monsters. Navy Lieutenant Commander John Twillinger (Holt), teams up with several scientists to battle the threat.
Notes
The film was inspired by the true story of prehistoric brine shrimp eggs that were reconstituted after several million years.
The original title for the film was The Jagged Edge.
The bulk of the underwater scenes were shot off the coast of Los Angeles, at California Island; the close-ups were filmed later, in a tank filled with water and plastic seaweed.
Some of the film's music was later reused in the English version of King Kong vs Godzilla.
