THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE (1959)
This one starts out with a woman recounting a story about
her and her husband traveling on a train for their honeymoon. They talk about
how she can hardly believe the man she loves was in a horrific plane accident
because he looks totally normal now. Her husband Paul decides to just get off the train and it leaves without him.
In search of her husband, Joyce ends up at a house in the swamp area of Louisiana. She stays the night
but is told she can’t leave her room.
First off, I am pretty sure this is where the SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERY INC episode “The Creeping Creatures” got its idea from.
Acting-wise this one has some great talents. The main actress is Beverly Garland who was also in the sci-fi epic IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, plays Joyce Webster and is very solid in this. It also features the legendary Lon Cheney Jr, but admittedly his role is far from his best. Lon Cheney is best known for his role as THE WOLFMAN. George Macready is good as Dr. Mark Sinclair and Richard Crane gives a decent performance as Paul Webster. Crane is probably best known for 1951's MYSTERIOUS ISLAND.
The effects in this are pretty decent for the time but FOX did not have a huge budget to do this one. I mean half of the alligator people suit looks very plain, but I'm pretty easy to please with this stuff. The plot does drag at times. A few of the scenes even have those kick-butt amphibious cars (swamp buggies) that you also see in INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL.
First off, I am pretty sure this is where the SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERY INC episode “The Creeping Creatures” got its idea from.
Acting-wise this one has some great talents. The main actress is Beverly Garland who was also in the sci-fi epic IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, plays Joyce Webster and is very solid in this. It also features the legendary Lon Cheney Jr, but admittedly his role is far from his best. Lon Cheney is best known for his role as THE WOLFMAN. George Macready is good as Dr. Mark Sinclair and Richard Crane gives a decent performance as Paul Webster. Crane is probably best known for 1951's MYSTERIOUS ISLAND.
The effects in this are pretty decent for the time but FOX did not have a huge budget to do this one. I mean half of the alligator people suit looks very plain, but I'm pretty easy to please with this stuff. The plot does drag at times. A few of the scenes even have those kick-butt amphibious cars (swamp buggies) that you also see in INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL.
Overall I dig this thing, the movie s title is a little
misleading, but the creepy factor is ramped up for this type of film. If you
are doing a throwback horror movie marathon, the clever plot twists are
definitely worthy of your time.
I give it a solid 5 out of 7, but I understand why some people thought this was a step down for some iconic actors.
I give it a solid 5 out of 7, but I understand why some people thought this was a step down for some iconic actors.
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