Frogs ** (1972, Ray Milland, Sam Elliott, Joan Van Ark, Adam Roarke, Judy Pace) – Classic Movie Review 9565

Well we’ve had birds (The Birds), alligators (Alligator), spiders (Tarantula). sharks (Jaws), rats (Willard), snakes (Venom), rabbits (Night of the Lepus), bears (Prophecy) and bees (The Swarm). But this time, in director George McCowan’s 1972 horror movie Frogs, it’s killer frogs (as well as a few snakes, turtles and lizards thrown in for good measure!) that are rampaging on a remote island in the American Deep South.

It’s all old Southern plantation boss Jason Crockett (Ray Milland)’s fault for destroying the bayou with poison and pollution. It’s Crockett’s birthday and he’s holding a party on his island estate and the family are invited. Sam Elliott, also stars as freelance photographer Pickett Smith working for an ecology magazine.

Frogs is banal and unpleasant, but done with some brio, and the actors know the piece’s real worth. It slots nicely into the nature strikes back, low-budget quasi-exploitation quickie category. It may be a small cult film, but it doesn’t have much love.

Also in the cast are Joan Van Ark, Adam Roarke, Judy Pace, Lynn Borden, Mae Mercer, David Gilliam, Nicholas Cortland, George Skaff, Lance Taylor Sr, Hollis Irving, Dale Willingham and Hal Hodges.

The screenplay by Robert Hutchison and Robert Blees is based on the story by Robert Hutchison.

It was shot in Florida, where the Holiday Inn used by the crew unsurprisingly would not allow the film’s poisonous snakes, spiders, or black scorpions. The swamp area scenes are shot at Eden Gardens State Park – County Road 395, Point Washington, Florida, and the mansion is Historical Museum, Florida.

Frogs is directed by George McCowan, runs 91 minutes, is made by Peter Thomas Productions and American International Pictures,  is released by American International Pictures (AIP) (1972) (US) and Anglo-EMI Film Distributors (1972) (UK), Robert Hutchison and Robert Blees, is shot by Mario Tosi, is produced by George Edwards and Peter Thomas, and is scored by Les Baxter.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9565

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