{"id":45883,"date":"2019-11-17T13:46:51","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T20:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=45883"},"modified":"2021-01-23T21:48:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-24T04:48:53","slug":"tarantula-1955","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=45883","title":{"rendered":"Tarantula (1955)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t expect to see a biologist that looked like you!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Poster-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-45884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Poster-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Poster-86x128.jpg 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Poster.jpg 670w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter a mysteriously deformed corpse is found in the desert, a local doctor (John Agar) investigates a laboratory where a scientist (Leo G. Carroll) is experimenting with a serum designed to make creatures grow huge &#8212; thus hypothetically providing humanity&#8217;s exponentially expanding population with enough food. Soon he meets Carroll&#8217;s new lab assistant, &#8220;Steve&#8221; (Mara Corday), and the two help local law enforcement officials in confronting a massive tarantula which has escaped from the lab.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jack Arnold Films<\/li>\n<li>John Agar Films<\/li>\n<li>Mad Doctors and Scientists<\/li>\n<li>Mutant Monsters<\/li>\n<li>Science Fiction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJack Arnold &#8212; best known for directing <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41628\"><em>It Came From Outer Space<\/em> (1953)<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=16897\"><em>Creature From the Black Lagoon<\/em> (1954)<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=16204\"><em>The Incredible Shrinking Man<\/em> (1957)<\/a> &#8212; helmed this effective &#8220;mutant monster&#8221; flick, guaranteed to scare the pants off of anyone remotely afraid of spiders. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4807tara.html\">mega-geek-fans<\/a> may quibble over minor details related to matting, shadows, and other special effects inconsistencies, the general film fanatic will simply be creeped out while watching enormous hairy spider legs crawling over the desert landscape. There&#8217;s much to be amused by here as well, from the overly lengthy initial sequence showing us in excruciating detail exactly what Carroll is up to dosage-wise in his lab, to Corday&#8217;s perfectly made-up appearance and masculine nickname (&#8216;Steve&#8217;, rather than, say, &#8216;Steph&#8217;), to the fact that townsfolk can&#8217;t see something looming so gigantically in their landscape. But the point here &#8212; such as it is &#8212; is to show how even the most well-meaning scientists risk terrible havoc when daring to mess around with biology, and <\/p>\n<p>SPOILER <\/p>\n<p>the need for all-hands-on-deck when faced with a menace that can&#8217;t be blown away by mere assault rifles. (Clint Eastwood&#8217;s face can be seen as one of the fighter pilots who eventually bomb the spider to its fiery death with napalm.)  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Leo G. Carroll as Dr. Deemer<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Carroll.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Carroll-1024x751.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-45887\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Carroll-1024x751.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Carroll-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Carroll-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Carroll-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Carroll.png 1472w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Appropriately creepy and convincing special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects-1024x751.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-45889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects-1024x751.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects.png 1472w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects2-1024x751.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-45886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects2-1024x751.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects2-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects2-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects2-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Special-Effects2.png 1472w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography (especially the new Blu-Ray upgrade)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Cinematography-1024x751.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"469\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-45888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Cinematography-1024x751.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Cinematography-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Cinematography-128x94.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Cinematography-768x563.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Tarantula-Cinematography.png 1472w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a well-made B-level &#8220;giant creature&#8221; flick. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0048696\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/sciencefiction\/tarantula-1955.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.badmovies.org\/movies\/tarantula\/\">Bad Movies Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4807tara.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=3986&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t expect to see a biologist that looked like you!&#8221; Synopsis: After a mysteriously deformed corpse is found in the desert, a local doctor (John Agar) investigates a laboratory where a scientist (Leo G. Carroll) is experimenting with a serum designed to make creatures grow huge &#8212; thus hypothetically providing humanity&#8217;s exponentially expanding population with enough food. Soon he meets Carroll&#8217;s new lab assistant, &#8220;Steve&#8221; (Mara Corday), and the two help local law enforcement officials in confronting a massive&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=45883\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45883"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65470,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45883\/revisions\/65470"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}