War of the Colossal Beast ** (1958, Duncan Dean Parkin, Sally Fraser, Roger Pace, Russ Bender, Rico Alaniz) – Classic Movie Review 2760

In 1958 director Bert I Gordon delivers a quite lively black-and-white science fiction sequel to his The Amazing Colossal Man (1957). It continues that movie’s storyline, but it was not marketed as a sequel and features a different cast.

Gordon also provides the original story that George Worthing Yates turns into the screenplay. It is produced by Carmel Productions and distributed by American International Pictures.

Taking over from Glenn Langan in the original, Duncan Dean Parkin from director Gordon’s movie The Cyclops (1957) stars as Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Manning, aka the amazing 60ft Colossal Beast. These are unfortunately his only two films as an actor.

This time the amazing Colossal Beast breaks free and heads for Mexico, where he grabs hold of food trucks for his lunch. He has gone mad! The US army seizes and drugs him and takes him back to LA. After his confrontation with the Army, part of his face is left disfigured, turning him into a zombie-like creature. But he breaks free again and terrorises the uncomprehending locals.

Sally Fraser also stars as Joyce Manning, who becomes convinced that her brother Glenn survived his fall from the Boulder Dam at the climax of The Amazing Colossal Man. So she goes to Mexico to look for him, along with US Army officer Major Mark Baird (Roger Pace) and scientist Dr Carmichael (Russ Bender).

Not much worse than The Amazing Colossal Man, it is another low-budget, sometimes daft but very amusing and appealing Fifties horror outing. Its cheap, wobbly special effects and equally wobbly performances simply add to its low-rent attraction. It’s fun that you can always see that the 60ft Colossal Beast was filmed separately and mixed in with other shots.

Also in the cast are Rico Alaniz as Sergeant Luis Murillo, Robert Hernandez, Charles Stewart, George Becwar, Roy Gordon, June Jocelyn, John McNamara and Loretta Nicholson.

The ending is shot in colour and doctored black-and-white. Heavy make-up was applied to Dean Parkin to try to disguise a different actor is playing Manning (Glenn Langan is seen in flashback).

War of the Colossal Beast was originally released in a double bill with Attack of the Puppet People.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2760

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