Gorgo – 1961 | 76 mins | Sci-Fi | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Eight years after directing The Beast from 20,000 (1953), much-travelled director Eugene Lourie dusted down the plastic models and gave us the King Bros highly derivative yet sympathetic sci-fi fantasy Gorgo, a monster farrago almost as boring as his incredibly dull Behemoth the Sea Monster (1959). It only runs for seventy-eight minutes, but this seems to be forever. The only interest is the fine special effects of Tom Howard, as a number of model-work London monuments like Piccadilly Circus and Big Ben are stomped on by Mrs Gorgo. Lourie never directed again, claiming that producers wanted more of the same comic-strip monsters and that he was tired of the formula.

Wild sea storms are decimating Irish fishing fleets and salvage men Joe Ryan (Bill Travers) and Sam Slade (William Sylvester) nearly lose their vessel whilst investigating. When they return to shore to repair their ship they meet supposed marine archaeologist McCartin (Christopher Rhodes), who has a house full of prehistoric fossils found off the coast of Ireland. The reason for all the losses at sea soon reveals itself, a 60ft high aquatic dinosaur released from a sub-oceanic cavern by a volcanic eruption.

Joe and Sam decide to capture the creature, but instead of allowing the University of Dublin to study, the greedy duo set course for London and sell the creature to unscrupulous circus entrepreneur Dorkin. The only voices of sanity it young Sean, who unsuccessfully attempts to free the beast. The creature is named Gorgo, first paraded through the West End,then put on display as a fairground attraction at Battersea Pleasure Gardens, in the heart of London. Meanwhile, Joe and Sam are informed that Gorgo is only an infant, and days later its 250ft tall mother is charging up the Thames to rescue her offspring.