Initially released in 1954, The Creature from the Black Lagoon has had a lasting impact on the film industry that continues to this day. Widely considered one of the most iconic monsters depicted during the "Golden Age" of monster movies, the film is an undeniable classic. The memorable monster even made a cameo in the wildly popular Abbot and Costello Show.
Considering the movie is over 60 years old, it's understandable that fans have uncovered many obscure aspects of the film, further adding to its enduring legacy. It's always fascinating to look back on "effects movies" that were made at a time when computers and digital trickery couldn't be relied on to create movie magic.
10 Two Separate Creature Suits
Something that audiences may have missed is that two different stuntmen played the titular Creature in the film. Ben Chapman wore a different costume for the "land" scenes designed to be more rigid and inflexible, capturing his looming movements. Additionally, Chapman's suit had a darker color allowing it to film better out of the water.
The second stuntman, Ricou Browning, portrayed the Creature in the underwater scenes. He also had a different costume, designed to be more flexible for underwater movement. His version of the suit was lighter in color, allowing it to be more visible for underwater scenes. A third costume was also created for promo shots that featured more saturated colors not seen in the film.
9 Filmed in Polarized 3D
Those familiar with the classic may be unaware that it was filmed in dual-strip 35mm polarized 3D, which is impressive for a film made in the 1950s. As the technology was limited at the time, Universal Studios designed a special housing unit for the 3D cameras, allowing them to be used for the underwater scenes.
Interestingly, Universal created a complete line of promotional posters advertising the 3D aspect of the film; however, these were soon discarded in place of standard movie posters. Though the 3D version received mixed reviews, its popularity led to Creature from the Black Lagoon being one of the only stereoscopic feature films to have a 3D sequel, Revenge of the Creature.
8 Actors Couldn't See Through the Mask
Fans of the film are undoubtedly familiar with the Creature's unique and recognizable eyes. What they may not know, however, was that Ben Chapman was unable to see through the mask, making navigating the land scenes near-impossible. He even accidentally bumped Julia Adam's (Kay) head during one take.
Though the design was different for the underwater scenes, Ricou Browning had his own vision problems with the costume. Due to the mask's limitations, he opted not to wear goggles underwater, making swimming and acting simultaneously particularly challenging.
7 Filmed Partly in Florida
The Creature from the Black Lagoon is set deep in the Amazon forest, where a team of geologists uncovers a fossil from the Devonian period. In reality, many of the film's segments were shot in Wakulla Springs, Florida, including the "on-water" and underwater scenes with Ricou Browning.
The crew's decision to film in Wakulla Springs was no coincidence, however. Back in the 1850s, many prehistoric fossils were discovered in the lush swampland, including a complete set of Mastadon remains. Hollywood often used the location for their other films, such as 1932's Tarzan.
6 Creature's Iconic Musical Theme
The Creature's iconic theme music is still recognizable to this day. The film had three composers— Henry Mancini, Hans J. Salter, and Herman Stein— who were tasked with creating a memorable, "aggressive" theme for the Creature.
Executives were so pleased with the effect created by the Creature's theme music that they requested it to be played every time the Creature is on screen. As a result, it is estimated that the theme is played over 130 times throughout the film.
5 The Creature was Designed by Milicent Patrick
Milicent Patrick, affectionately referred to as "The Beauty Who Created the Beast," is widely considered the iconic Creature's creator. However, what audiences may not know is that her work went largely uncredited at the time due to jealousy and sexism in the industry.
After returning from a press tour promoting Creature from the Black Lagoon, Patrick was fired from Universal Studios. Bud Westmore, the head of Universal's make-up department, was jealous of Patrick's credit she received for her work on the Creature. As a result, he fired her from the project and significantly minimized her credit for the film.
4 Telephone Pole in the Amazon
Fans of Creature from the Black Lagoon who have only seen the film in a 1.37:1 ratio screen most likely missed this minor oversight. As the team of explorers first travel deep into the Amazon, supposedly removed from civilization, audiences with a sharp eye can spot a telephone pole sticking out from behind some trees in the swampland.
When viewed in widescreen format, some details— like the telephone pole— are more noticeable, as the ratio provides a wider viewing area.
3 Creature Design was Based on 17th Century Woodcuts
The Creature's design was inspired by an unlikely source, unbeknownst to many fans of the film. Universal Studios make-up artists drew heavy inspiration from 17th-century woodcuts of a "Sea Bishop" and a "Sea Monk."
The wood carvings were not only a visual guide but an inspiration for the lore behind the Creature from the Black Lagoon as well. Similar to Universal's Creature, these woodcarvings were inspired by mysterious sea creatures, which legends say were discovered in Sweden and Poland between the 16th and 17th centuries.
2 Gilligan's Island Was Shot on the Same Lot
Fans of classic TV shows may have recognized the familiar setting where some scenes from Creature from the Black Lagoon were shot. Many of the establishing shots in the "Amazon" were actually filmed in Universal Studio's Park Lake lot.
In the 1960s, Gilligan's Island was also filmed in the memorable lagoon and was even featured as part of Universal's backlot tour at one point. The Park Lake lot became a favorite for directors, as many other films were partially shot there, like Psycho II, The Mississippi Gambler, Dawn of the Dead, and more.
1 No Visible Air Bubbles
Another frequently missed aspect of the Creature is the fact that the diver doesn't emit bubbles underwater, as one would expect from an actor in a suit. Director Jack Arnold was adamant about the fact that the Creature breathed through gills rather than lungs, which meant that no air bubbles would be present.
This meticulous aspect of the Creature meant that Ricou Browning had to hold his breath for up to 4 minutes at a time to avoid creating any air bubbles.