The She-Creature ** (1956, Marla English, Chester Morris, Tom Conway, Cathy Downs, Ron Randell) – Classic Movie Review 2484

Director Edward L Cahn’s black-and-white 1956 low-budget horror monster movie The She-Creature stars Marla English and Tom Conway in the first of two films he directed with these stars, followed by Voodoo Woman in 1957.

When Andrea Talbott (English) is hypnotised by mysterious carnival hypnotist Dr Carlo Lombardi (Chester Morris), the sea monster that she was in a former life is brought back to life, rising from the water as a prehistoric humanoid form of sea life to create havoc and to murder innocent victims.

The hypnotist is experimenting in hypnotic regression but his motives in using the creature to commit murders are unclear. Possibly he is seeking some kind of revenge or simply just notoriety.

The evil beast has rubbery skin, stringy hair, claws on its stomach, a tail, wings and a mighty chest. It’s a man in a rubber suit! Alas, the film is less impressive. It is another American International Pictures epic that is a lot of fun because, try though it does, there is nothing it can do to defy its low budget.

Also in the cast are Ron Randell, Frieda Inescort, Cathy Downs, El Brendel, Jack Mulhall, Frank Jenks, Paul Dubov and William Hudson.

The monster reappears without its tail, fins and pincer-like claws, and in a blond wig in Voodoo Woman!

It was released as a double feature with It Conquered the World by AIP, whose executive Samuel Z Arkoff, employed his brother-in-law Lou Rusoff to write the story and screenplay.

The plot was inspired by the hypnotism-themed best-seller The Search for Bridey Murphy. Alex Gordon, who deferred his $2,500 producer’s fee until the film broke even, got his money a year and half later.

Edward Arnold agreed to play the hypnotist for $3,000 for one week’s work, but died two days before shooting, prompting Peter Lorre, who was cast in another role, to read the script and then pull out of the film. The film’s budget was $104,000 budget, considerably higher than Voodoo Woman‘s $65,000.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2484

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