Creature from the Black Lagoon

Glenn Strange was initially approached to play the Gill-man.

Initially, Glenn Strange was considered for the role of the Gill-man. With his vast experience in portraying monstrous characters and undergoing elaborate makeup transformations, Strange was a fitting choice. From 1944 to 1948, he took on the iconic role of Frankenstein’s monster following Boris Karloff’s departure from the franchise. Strange’s portrayal extended to films including Universal’s “House of Frankenstein,” “House of Dracula” and “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” Strange ended up turning down the role because he wasn’t a good swimmer.

The movie’s concept was created at a “Citizen Kane” dinner party

During the production of “Citizen Kane,” Orson Welles invited William Alland to a dinner party, one with the actors in the film, along with cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa. It was on this particular evening that Figueroa remembered a captivating story he had come across during his travels, which was an account of amphibious creatures, possessing both human and reptilian traits, lurking in the depths of the Amazon River. This anecdote left a lasting impression on Alland, who, more than 10 years later, transformed his fascination into the cinematic creation, “Creature From the Black Lagoon.”

The Creature was modeled after the Academy Award

Universal successfully secured the talents of an emerging filmmaker with an impressive background to do the project. In 1951, Jack Arnold, renowned for his documentary “With These Hands,” earned an Academy Award nomination. Although he didn’t claim the Oscar, Arnold cherished the souvenir certificate that the Academy sent to nominees. Unexpectedly, this memento would ignite an intriguing creative spark during the making of “Creature From the Black Lagoon.”

Recalling the episode to Cinefantastique magazine in 1975, Arnold explained, “The certificate had a picture of the Oscar statuette on it. I thought, ‘If we add a gilled head, fins, and scales to it, that would closely resemble the type of creature we’re pursuing.’ They created a rubber mold, and gradually the costume took form.” Initially, the creature possessed a sleek, eel-like physique, as described by leading lady Julie Adams (credited as Julia Adams).

Restricted eyesight became a big challenge for the Creature performers

Browning reflected on the challenges he faced while portraying Gill-man, stating, “Vision was the hardest part. I didn’t wear any goggles or [a] facemask and the eye of the suit sat about an inch from my eye … it’s kind of like looking through a keyhole with blurred vision, so it was difficult seeing.” Ben Chapman also encountered problems with the eyeholes. In the final scenes, the creature carries an unconscious Kay Lawrence (played by Adams) through the cave. Due to Chapman’s limited peripheral vision, he accidentally slammed Adams’ head into an artificial rock.

Adams recalled the incident, saying, “I was, of course, being carried with my eyes closed and, all of a sudden, I had a bump on my head.” Thankfully, she remained unharmed, and shooting resumed a few hours later.

1. The film was originally presented in 3D

The “Golden Era” of 3D, spanning from 1952 to 1954, witnessed a surge in popularity of the technology. However, “Creature From the Black Lagoon” emerged during a period when the enthusiasm for 3D movies was waning, though it was still promoted with the gimmick. Numerous advertisements for the movie boasted about its 3D terror and highlighted its distinction as the first underwater 3D film. As the trend was losing steam by then, many theaters opted to screen the film in the 2D format. Nonetheless, the movie resurfaced in 1975, being re-released in 3D, and was made available in Beta and VHS formats.

2. The Gill-man once appeared on “The Munsters”

In 1964, Universal introduced a television series named “The Munsters,” featuring their beloved classic monster characters. This show faced formidable competition from “The Addams Family,” yet it managed to resonate more with viewers due to its characters’ familial resemblances. One memorable episode titled “Love Comes to Mockingbird Lane” revolves around the arrival of Uncle Gilbert, a relative of Herman Munster, who comes to claim $120,000 he had previously sent to the Munster family. Notably, in The Munsters, the Gill-man possesses the ability to speak and has a background as a former politician. His fortune, however, stems from his underwater expeditions in which he discovered lost treasures.

3. Julie Adams was injured on set

Julie Adams, renowned for her portrayal of Kay Lawrence in “Creature From the Black Lagoon,” experienced an injury on set. With an impressive filmography of nearly 150 credits, Adams is best remembered for her role as the woman taken and loved by the creature. In a pivotal scene, the creature carries an unconscious Kay through a cave. During the filming, the set’s freezing conditions compelled Adams to remain still while being carried by Ben Chapman, who played the creature. However, owing to the limited visibility inside the Gill-man suit, Chapman accidentally scraped Adams’ head against the set. Thankfully, her injury was not serious, allowing shooting to resume shortly after the incident occurred.

4. The Gill-man wasn’t really a monster

Although “Creature From the Black Lagoon” may initially appear to be a typical Universal Monsters movie, it contains underlying environmental themes as well. An impactful moment occurs when Kay discards her cigarette into the lagoon and the camera follows it underwater, revealing Gill-man observing her from below. Subsequently, a scene unfolds where the water’s surface is littered with dead fish, indicating the detrimental effects of chemicals poured into the water. Furthermore, David’s desire to photograph the creature instead of capturing it and bringing it back to the city reflects a progressive mindset. This suggests a shift toward a more enlightened perspective. Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that the creature is not truly a monster but rather a being striving to defend its habitat. Upon subsequent viewings, “Creature From the Black Lagoon” remains a film with themes that remain pertinent in contemporary times, making it undeniably relevant even today.