THE GIANT CLAW in '50s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

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THE GIANT CLAW

Author	Comment
Monsterpal	THE GIANT CLAW	Lead	[-]
Jul 30 06 7:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Need I say more?
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Unregistered(d)	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#1	[-]
Jul 30 06 7:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Do you think there's a possible connection between the French Canadian character considering the Claw to be a monster of legend and Algernon Blackwood's "The Wendigo" ?
Monsterpal	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#2	[-]
Jul 30 06 8:02 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Do you think there's a possible connection between the French Canadian character considering the Claw to be a monster of legend and Algernon Blackwood's "The Wendigo" ? That's a great question, Mr. Murphy. It's entirely possible, because it makes no sense in the context of the story. This turkey buzzard thing that's just come from trillions of miles away (from an anti-matter universe, no less) is the topic of an old French-Canadian legend? Maybe the writer was an admirer of Algernon Blackwood's classic and thought he'd throw in a little homage to to the master to add some atmosphere.
Monsterpal	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#3	[-]
Jul 30 06 10:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Is there no one else? For the love of God, Montresor, this is one of the most beloved films ever made. Is there no one else?
Ted Newsom	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#4	[-]
Jul 30 06 11:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Stinky stinky stinky stinky. Except for the mu-meson part. That's neat.
Bill Warren	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#5	[-]
Jul 30 06 11:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If the big bird had looked reasonably good, the movie would be an okay 1950s SF film of its budget level. The problem is not really so much that the effects are bad, but that the damned bird looks the way she does. I recall clearly seeing this at the Port theater in North Bend, Oregon, in an audience of teenagers about my own age. They were snickering during the first part of the movie, but when the Claw made her debut, the place fell apart in laughter. I have rarely seen a movie that generated such enthusiastic bad laughter. Joe Dante tells me that some years back, when he had an office on the Warners lot during the period Warners was sharing the lot with Columbia, he liked to wander around during his free time and look into prop storage areas. And one day there she was, winking at him through the cobwebs and dust--the Claw herself. The biggest effects model of the bird hung from a ceiling above him. Naturally, when Joe told me about this, I grabbed him by the lapels and shrieked AND YOU DIDN'T TAKE IT HOME WITH YOU?!?!? He said it was too big. A likely story. If that model kit of the Claw is still available (anyone know if it is?) I think it's about time I bought one.
Dr Borgo	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#6	[-]
Jul 30 06 11:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I remember watching this movie on TV late one night. Fond memories.......
Monsterpal	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#7	[-]
Jul 30 06 11:27 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The shots in which Beaky Buzzard (Thank you for that glorious analogy, Bill Warren) snaps paratroopers out of the air almost works, but that's about it. I remember watching this on TV in the early sixties. My dad walked in and watched the egg destruction scene. "They can do better than that," he said, shaking his head. It's one of those cherished family moments, father and son united in contempt for THE GIANT CLAW.
Bill Warren	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#8	[-]
Jul 30 06 11:28 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The effects were done in Mexico. I guess Katzman really enjoyed NOT spending money.
Ted Newsom	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#9	[-]
Jul 30 06 11:57 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* The effects were done in Mexico. by the crack team of Alfonso Bedoya, Pedro Gonzales Gonzales and Tin-Tan.
HalLane	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#10	[-]
Jul 31 06 7:10 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That bug-eyed bird face scared me on late night tv when I was a little kid, in much the same manner as the 'sea serpent' face in Disneyland's 20,000 Leagues... ride did at the same age. Today I see the serpent face in a more comical light, though I believe it instilled in me a fear of being underwater. So, it's possible the fear of flying I have today was caused by, dare I say it, THE GIANT CLAW.
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Monsterpal	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#11	[-]
Jul 31 06 8:44 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* So, it's possible the fear of flying I have today was caused by, dare I say it, THE GIANT CLAW. Erica Jong, take note.
Renfield	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#12	[-]
Jul 31 06 1:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* The effects were done in Mexico. I guess Katzman really enjoyed NOT spending money. He sure did, just like Roger Corman, although Katzman has avoided cult legend status. But he must have paid those effects craftsmen enough for them to emigrate to Denmark so they could lend their sfx artistry to Reptilicus. Joe "Renfield" Meadows HORROR-WOOD Webzine http://www.horror-wood.com
Monsterpal	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#13	[-]
Jul 31 06 1:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* He sure did, just like Roger Corman, although Katzman has avoided cult legend status. But he must have paid those effects craftsmen enough for them to emigrate to Denmark so they could lend their sfx artistry to Reptilicus. Bent Barfod was Mexican?
Unregistered(d)	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#14	[-]
Jul 31 06 9:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't know that Barfod even worked on REPTILICUS. His company only did the titles for JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET, if memory serves.
Monsterpal	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#15	[-]
Jul 31 06 11:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I don't know that Barfod even worked on REPTILICUS. His company only did the titles for JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET, if memory serves So he's not Mexican?
Bill Warren	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#16	[-]
Jul 31 06 11:58 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	As for Katzman, on the Tonight show, Huntz Hall told about how, during a Bowery Boys movie, he was supposed to fall down a flight of stairs. He refused, demanding a stunt double. Katzman was outraged, ordering Hall to fall down the damned stairs. By this time, Hall had learned always to keep his contract happy, and he whipped it out, pointing to the clause that said talent could demand a stunt double. He so demanded. Katzman, thwarted, sent Hall home. The next day when he arrived at the studio, Hall was met by a very amused Leo Gorcey, who asked if he was going to the dailies of the material shot the day before. No, said Hall. Why the heck would he go to the dailies? You gotta see this, Gorcey said. Hall watched the footage. There was a shot of him running down a hallway. Then someone in his costume took the fall down the stairs, someone much shorter and fatter than Hall. Gorcey pointed out, "That's Katzman." Sam refused to pay for a stunt man. Whether this story is true or not, I don't know, but it seems entirely plausible.
Renfield	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#17	[-]
Aug 1 06 12:14 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That was a joke about The Giant Claw effects crew working on Reptilicus, although cinema string-puppet monster expertise was probably pretty scarce, come to think of it. Heh. Looks like another Katzman-Corman parallel--getting folks hurt to save a few bucks on stuntmen. Thanks. Bill. Joe "Renfield" Meadows HORROR-WOOD Webzine http://www.horror-wood.com
Butcher Benton	Katzman	#18	[-]
Aug 1 06 1:53 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tom Weaver's interview with the late character actor and dialogue coach, Michael Fox included some funny Katzman anecdotes. Aside from making the sweat pop out on Lincoln's forehead on every penny he owned, Katzman apparently 'hired' relatives to work at the studio and appear in his films that rivaled the blatant nepotism of Carl Laemmle at Universal during the 1930's. I also read ( I can't remember where right now) that Evelyn Ankers had a meltdown with Katzman where he sat around a broiling location shoot eating ice-cream with his family and not offering any of it to the crew and actors who were there working. One of Fox's funny yarns was when he was sitting with Johnny Weissmuller who was watching Katzman interactwith the chimp, 'Peggy' on a set of a Jungle Jim picture. Weissmuller turned to Fox and said, "Look, they're having a conversation"!
Unregistered(d)	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#19	[-]
Aug 1 06 4:12 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Though I generally like all the 50's giant monster movies, and this one, "The Giant Claw" is not a favorite. Thumbs up: 1. Jeff Morrow, trading sarcasm with General Buskirk. 2. The "cawing" of the giant bird 3. Morris Ankrum, who played "General Considine"- quotes like "For God's sake hurry man!" and "I've just invested a dime of my own!"-I always thought they were kind of funny Thumbs down: 1. the rendering of the giant extraterrestrial buzzard requires considerable suspension of belief 2. the miniatures in the film-not the worst I've ever seen, but still left a lot to be desired I still like to pull it off the shelf and watch about once a year. I hope it gets an official DVD release. Monsterland Forums-http://s15.invisionfree.com/Monsterland_Forum/index.php
TomWeaver999	Re: THE GIANT CLAW	#20	[-]
Aug 1 06 6:46 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	<< I also read ( I can't remember where right now) that Evelyn Ankers had a meltdown with Katzman where he sat around a broiling location shoot eating ice-cream with his family and not offering any of it to the crew and actors who were there working. << That was in my Richard Denning interview. Evie had quite a temper, he stressed -- and Alex Gordon told me that about her too.
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