CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA
* * (1961, 74 minutes, Unrated)
Where's Scooby-Doo when the Cubans need him?
This actually came from a bargain bin. The DVD write-up describes the movie as an "outrageous
comedy-horror parody from Roger Corman" that features "secret agents, Cuban loyalists and
American gangsters." You can see why I couldn't leave this in the store.
Okay, the story: Once upon a time, there was a revolution in Cuba. With Castro busy settling into
power, the old regime was busy smuggling things out of the country... like the entire Cuban
Treasury. After the opening credits (entirely made with construction paper), the Cubans make a
deal with a gangster...
Ugh, this is going to take too long. Just check out the trailer.
* * (1961, 74 minutes, Unrated)
Where's Scooby-Doo when the Cubans need him?
This actually came from a bargain bin. The DVD write-up describes the movie as an "outrageous
comedy-horror parody from Roger Corman" that features "secret agents, Cuban loyalists and
American gangsters." You can see why I couldn't leave this in the store.
Okay, the story: Once upon a time, there was a revolution in Cuba. With Castro busy settling into
power, the old regime was busy smuggling things out of the country... like the entire Cuban
Treasury. After the opening credits (entirely made with construction paper), the Cubans make a
deal with a gangster...
Ugh, this is going to take too long. Just check out the trailer.
Four gangsters, a half-dozen Cubans and a secret agent are on a boat with the entirety of Cuba's
treasury... The secret agent is undercover with the gangsters, posing as a "notorious gum
machine thief from Chicago." He runs down all the main characters for us in the kind of dead-pan
style Jack Webb would approve of. There is the Boss, his moll, her brother and "Happy Jack," who
apparently got his name because he "developed a muscle spasm in his cheeks from watching too
many Humphrey Bogart pictures."
I think these are the jokes, people.
Oh, and Happy Jack is a master of animal calls -- actually, the actor just pantomimes doing the
calls while the sound editor dubs in the real animal noise. Happy Jack does this A LOT. Boy, that
doesn't get annoying.
The gangsters are hired to hang onto the Cuban Treasury until such time as the old regime can
overthrow Castro (that might take a while). Naturally, the gangsters would just assume keep the
loot for themselves, but they need a way to get rid of all the Cuban soldiers on board without
raising suspicion. The mob boss comes up with a scheme that would make any Scooby-Doo
villain proud: Impersonate a sea monster.
Wanna guess the chances of a real sea monster showing up?
As you might guess, there are some fine moments in this movie. Like when the Cuban Coast
Guard approaches, the mob boss wants everyone to "act casual" by having his moll sing for
everyone -- a lounge tune, complete with accompanying piano music. Very natural!
Or when our secret agent tries to knock someone out with a fish.
Or pretty much any time we get narration from our secret agent. You can't beat hard-boiled lines
like this: "It was dusk. I could tell because the sun was going down."
And we haven't even talked about the monster yet.
treasury... The secret agent is undercover with the gangsters, posing as a "notorious gum
machine thief from Chicago." He runs down all the main characters for us in the kind of dead-pan
style Jack Webb would approve of. There is the Boss, his moll, her brother and "Happy Jack," who
apparently got his name because he "developed a muscle spasm in his cheeks from watching too
many Humphrey Bogart pictures."
I think these are the jokes, people.
Oh, and Happy Jack is a master of animal calls -- actually, the actor just pantomimes doing the
calls while the sound editor dubs in the real animal noise. Happy Jack does this A LOT. Boy, that
doesn't get annoying.
The gangsters are hired to hang onto the Cuban Treasury until such time as the old regime can
overthrow Castro (that might take a while). Naturally, the gangsters would just assume keep the
loot for themselves, but they need a way to get rid of all the Cuban soldiers on board without
raising suspicion. The mob boss comes up with a scheme that would make any Scooby-Doo
villain proud: Impersonate a sea monster.
Wanna guess the chances of a real sea monster showing up?
As you might guess, there are some fine moments in this movie. Like when the Cuban Coast
Guard approaches, the mob boss wants everyone to "act casual" by having his moll sing for
everyone -- a lounge tune, complete with accompanying piano music. Very natural!
Or when our secret agent tries to knock someone out with a fish.
Or pretty much any time we get narration from our secret agent. You can't beat hard-boiled lines
like this: "It was dusk. I could tell because the sun was going down."
And we haven't even talked about the monster yet.
How awesome is that thing? I only wish the creature had more screen time.
Seriously, this monster was made with moss and Brillo pads and tennis balls for eyes. There are
even a few shots in the movie where you can see the actor underneath the costume. Apparently,
the biggest challenge the actors had during the shooting of this movie was not laughing at the
creature whenever it appeared.
And who would have guessed this creature would have such a major impact on today's pop
culture?
Seriously, this monster was made with moss and Brillo pads and tennis balls for eyes. There are
even a few shots in the movie where you can see the actor underneath the costume. Apparently,
the biggest challenge the actors had during the shooting of this movie was not laughing at the
creature whenever it appeared.
And who would have guessed this creature would have such a major impact on today's pop
culture?
Coincidence? I think not.
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