The Cyclops *** (1957, James Craig, Gloria Talbott, Lon Chaney Jr, Tom Drake, Duncan Dean Parkin) – Classic Movie Review 2761

Director Bert I Gordon’s 1957 sci-fi monster movie stars Lon Chaney Jnr as boozy, cantankerous, wealthy old Martin ‘Marty’ Melville, who nervously accompanies eager Susan Winter (Gloria Talbott) on an expedition out to a remote area of Mexico. She hopes to find her test pilot fiancé Bruce Barton, whose plane crashed there some time ago.

Susan is also accompanied in Marty’s small-engine craft by guide Russ Bradford (James Craig) and pilot Lee Brand (Tom Drake). But they crash-land miles from nowhere in an isolated valley and find that radiation there has turned poor old Bruce into a one-eyed giant, The Cyclops, a mutated 25-foot man with a deformed face. They find the area is highly radioactive, accounting for it being inhabited by mutated life forms like giant insects and lizards. And they have to battle the monsters.

This creaky, but hugely amusing schlock creature feature still entertains very nicely for fans of Fifties cheapo chillers. It’s fast paced and short running at only 66 minutes, so it stays fun and keeps entertaining. The Cyclops is played by Duncan Dean Parkin, who returned in 1958 for his only other movie, director Gordon’s War of the Colossal Beast. A whole career basically playing the same disfigured giant in just two films!

Also in the cast are Marlene Kloss, Manuel Lopez and Vincente Padula. Paul Frees does the vocal effects for The Cyclops.

The rudimentary production values take in back-screen projection, basic matte work and incorporating large images into the scenes. At one point The Cyclops grabs Susan but also the backdrop, revealing the black colour behind it!  When Bruce Barton’s plane is discovered, mismatched aircraft parts are scattered randomly! Happy days!!

The original US release date was 28 July 1957 in a double bill with The Daughter of Dr Jekyll (also with ‘scream queen’ Gloria Talbott).

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2761

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‘Scream queen’ Gloria Talbott (February 7 1931 – September 19 2000)