The Black Scorpion (film)
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| The Black Scorpion | |
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| Directed by | Edward Ludwig |
| Produced by | Jack Dietz Frank Melford |
| Written by | Robert Blees David Duncan |
| Starring | Richard Denning Mara Corday Carlos Rivas Mario Navarro |
| Distributed by | Warner Brothers |
| Release date(s) | 1957 |
| Running time | 88 m |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Black Scorpion is a 1957 horror film released by Warner Brothers, with stop-motion special effects done by Willis O'Brien.
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[edit] Story
An earthquake hits Mexico, resulting in the overnight birth of a new volcano. Sent to study this phenomenon are geologists Dr. Hank Scott and his partner Dr. Arturo Ramos. En route to the village of San Lorenzo, the two men happen upon a destroyed house and an equally totalled police car. Shortly afterward, they find the dead policeman nearby, as well as an abandoned infant.
They take the baby to San Lorenzo and give it to some friends of its (now missing) parents, and are welcomed by the village's priest, Father Delgado. In addition to the disappearances of locals and the destruction of their homes, there have been wholesale slaughters of livestock and strange roars in the night. The villagers believe the culprit to be a demon bull, and have been pestering Delgado for divine assistance. Undaunted, Hank and Arturo begin their geological survey as members of the Mexican army, led by Major Cosio, arrive in San Lorenzo to begin disaster relief efforts. Hank meets and falls in love with local rancher Teresa Alvarez and makes friends with a young boy named Juanito.
The volcano erupts again and the true culprits behind the disappearances and deaths are revealed as giant prehistoric scorpions. After attacking a trio of telephone repairmen, the scorpions turn their attention to San Lorenzo itself, with the guns of Major Cosio's troops unable to faze them. Come morning, the scorpions have returned to their underground lair (which, in addition to the scorpions, is home to giant worms and spiders), leaving the authorities to seek the help of renowned entomologist Dr. Velasco. It's up to him, Hank, and Arturo to figure out a way to either destroy the scorpions or seal off the entrance to their cavern home, before more innocent lives are lost.
[edit] Cast
| Actor/Actress | Role |
| Richard Denning | Dr. Hank Scott |
| Mara Corday | Teresa Alvarez |
| Carlos Rivas | Dr. Arturo Ramos |
| Mario Navarro | Juanito |
| Carlos Múzquiz | Dr. Velasco |
| Pascual García Peña | Dr. Delacruz |
| Pedro Galván | Father Delgado |
| Arturo Martínez | Major Cosio |
| Fanny Schiller | Florentina |
[edit] Trivia
- The models used for the trapdoor spider and the giant worm with tentacles are the same ones that were used in the famous "Lost Spider Pit Sequence" from the original King Kong.
