The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

1953
Approved
1h 20m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

9.1K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:34

1 Video

99+ Photos

Kaiju Monster Horror Supernatural Horror Horror Sci-Fi

A ferocious dinosaur awakened by an Arctic atomic test terrorizes the North Atlantic and, ultimately, New York City.A ferocious dinosaur awakened by an Arctic atomic test terrorizes the North Atlantic and, ultimately, New York City.A ferocious dinosaur awakened by an Arctic atomic test terrorizes the North Atlantic and, ultimately, New York City.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

9.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations total

Trivia
This was said to have been one of the inspirations for Tomoyuki Tanaka to go ahead and film Godzilla (1954).

Goofs
Nesbitt, trying to persuade Prof. Elson to consider his story, says that Galileo claimed the world is round. That was accepted in Galileo's time. His claim was that the earth moves around the sun.

Quotes
Prof. Thurgood Elson: [in the diving bell, to view the monster] This is such a strange feeling, I feel as though I'm leaving a world of untold tomorrows for a world of countless yesterdays.

Alternate versions
The original 1953 version cuts the shot where the cop is swallowed whole. This shot is restored in the video version of the film.

Connections
Edited from Samarang (1933)

Soundtracks
Don't Take Your Love From Me
(uncredited)
Written by Henry Nemo

User reviews134

Review

Featured review

8/10

This Was First

Influential in many ways. Seminal to say the least. This is the first Monster to be unleashed by the awakening awesomeness of the Atomic Bomb. This is Ray Harryhausen's first solo outing (he was Willis O'Brien's (King Kong) assistant on Mighty Joe Young (1949).

It has a crisp Black and White look and is a sharply defined matte of Monster and surroundings. From the early sets on the frozen tundra, to the depths of the Ocean, to the New York City Streets, to the Amusement Park finale, this is a beautiful low-budget Film.

There are some stiff Performances and some that are lively. It pulls few punches in its depressing display of Radioactive Paranoia. Some unforgettable Highlights include the eerie Lighthouse encounter, the viciously impressive looking Dinosaur wreaking havoc between Skyscrapers, and the Roller Coaster imprisonment and execution.

Note: Will all Godzilla and Toho fans please nod, bow, and applaud.