By CRYSTAL GUILLORY

Hi, readers!

When I asked Renfield about the next movie I was going to be enduring...ah…reviewing, he was very coy at first. A later email mentioned that my next movie would have a huge star!

Wow! Could this mean that I finally get to review an A-list movie instead of something from the Z-list? I wonder what huge star this could be? I mean, could it be a movie with Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney or Carradine? Or could I be reviewing something with Cushing or Lee in it?

As you can imagine I was anxiously awaiting for this movie with a huge star. Then the fateful day arrived when a small package arrived at my crypt, I knew it had to be the movie in question!

Okay, those of you (yes, the both of you) who have been my regular readers can guess the punch line by now. Yes, imagine my surprise when I discovered the movie with a "huge" star was Giant From The Unknown. Gee, could this movie had been more aptly titled? After all, this movie was indeed unknown to me.

So, since I had to cover this movie I thought it was wise that I fire up the ol' computer and do some research on it. To be honest I had already heard of the director Richard Cunha before, since we have to thank him for Frankenstein's Daughter and She Demons. In fact, Mr. Cunha also did the cinematography as well as the editing (which he wasn't credited for).

Alas, Cunha is not the only (in)famous name working on this picture dear readers. Handling the intense musical score is Albert Glasser, who has handled the music for movies including Tormented, The Amazing Colossal Man, Teenage Caveman, and Indestructible Man. Arthur A. Jacobs went on to produce the stellar cult classic She Demons with Cunha.

We also have some fairly established genre actors as well. We have Morris Ankrum (Invaders From Mars, Earth Vs the Flying Saucer, and The Giant Claw) in a rare civilian role as well as Comdr. Buzz Corry of Space Patrol, Ed Kemmer. One of the movies Kemmer played in was Earth Vs. the Spider, in which he played the husband of Sally Fraser's character.

Ms. Fraser was also in the movies such as War Of The Colossal Beast and It Conquered The World. I have to admit Renfield wasn't yanking my chain when he was talking about a huge star in this movie, for Buddy Baer was it. This fellow with the 6-foot, 6 1/2-inch frame is the brother of Max Baer (the prizefighter-turned-actor of some early Fifties films). Baer also played giants in Quo Vadis and Jack And The Beanstalk, as well as the "heavy" in a few TV westerns.

However, the name that caught my attention is a name I really don't have to go on and on about and that is the name of Jack Pierce. Now, if I have to talk about his makeup work on classics such as Frankenstein, The Mummy, and The Wolf Man, then you may have to
stop reading my article and do some research on your own!

Okay, now to supply some interesting facts that you can dazzle people with at the next dinner party or coffee klatch you go to. The movie was shot in two months for a paltry amount of $54,000 in the area of Big Bear California. The town of Fawnskin (a ski resort in the off season) was used for the town of Pine Ridge. The lodge there provided the dining room for the dinner scene and a spare cabin became the lab for one of the characters.

However, it’s a freak weather condition that is one of the more bizarre anecdotes about the making of this movie. One day, as they planned on filming some key scenes around this mill (which was built for the movie Trail Of The Lonesome Pine) a snowstorm struck! Thus the optical effect of snow was added to the scene as well as some script revision. On top of that disaster a lengthy fight between Baer and Kemmer was for naught since the camera broke. In a bind for time a much shorter fight scene was filmed, probably to the relief of the actors.

Right now, there are some of you wondering if I am ever going to make fun of...ah…review the movie. As the movie starts and I begin to think that someone must have axed for it for there is an axe! Yes readers, the jokes (and this movie) all go downhill from here. The credits roll by and we see some of the names I have mentioned previously but we are warned that it's a disaster from Astor.

Well, the movie opens and  we are see that we are in beautiful downtown Pine Ridge and it is a bustling metropolis indeed. Right now the citizens are having a serious discussion about the disturbing events that has happened recently such as the livestock mutilations and a recent murder. (Gee, they didn't call Scully and Mulder to investigate the mutilations?) The murder victim was Ol' Mr. Banks, who was named in the script to honor of Harold Banks who designed the Conquistador armor. I have to admit that's an odd way of showing gratitude for work done in a movie!

Anyway, the citizens are chatting about that horrific murder and how all the odd "supernatural" happenings are taking place near Devil's Crag. Ann Brown, the sister of Charlie (where was Sally?) scoffs at such an idea but she is quickly rebuked by the elders. Then the talk turns to an "Indian" curse, which causes Indian Joe to laugh maniacally. Well, I can see the business in the cave with Tom, Huck and Becky has really ruined that fellow!

At that moment, Sheriff Parker decides to question Injun...ah…Indian Joe to see if he knows anything about the killings. Joe tells Parker that it’s the spirits of his ancestors coming back for revenge, so Parker nips that talk in the bud. After that confrontation this crafty lawman decides to put the whole town under suspicion for the death of Banks. However, in the sheriff's mind the number one suspect is his arch nemesis and all around wise guy Wayne Brooks. How convenient that Brooks had a falling out with Banks the other day which gives Parker the excuse to have a discussion with Banks on the matter.

Just then we see these two visitors drive into town, Prof. Cleveland and his lovely (is there ANY other kind in these movies?) daughter Janet. Oh, what a coincidence that Wayne knows Prof. Cleveland and has attended a few of his lectures! Meanwhile, Parker welcomes the visitors by harassing him about the tent poles in the back of his jeep and subtly warning them about Brooks. 

Brooks then finds out that they are going on an expedition in the mountains, so he offers to show them around. In a further show of hospitality Brooks offers to treat them to a steak dinner at the lodge's dining room, and Janet agrees to it. So then we move on to the climatic and thrilling dining room scene where the two men talk shop while waiting for Janet to arrive.

Judging by Cleveland's cigarette they must be sitting in the smoking section. Oh wait! This is the Fifties when every section was the smoking section!  Now, wouldn't talk of the latest gruesome events in town make terrific dinnertime conversation? Apparently Brooks thinks so! Anyway, it is during this romantic dinner that Cleveland reveals his most innermost desire to Brooks...that he's searching for a giant! Of course its a dead giant he's looking for, but a giant nevertheless.

The giant in question, is Vargas aka "The Diablo giant" who, with his band of renegade conquistadors (aka the Diablo brigade), went to look for Indian gold many years ago. Just then Janet arrives cooing on and on about her lack of scientific knowledge. Oh yes, this is from the Fifties. So after dinner Janet and Cleveland go to Brook's lab to see what's on the slab…ah…to see the rocks he's found. The two men are geeking out over the artifacts until they hear a gasp from Janet accompanied by dramatic music.

We then find out that she was spooked by the sight of the lizard in a box (shouldn't that be in a cage, Brooks?). Brooks then tells jumpy Janet and her father that he found the fellow in a rock, where it was in a state of suspended animation for so many centuries. Well, after that bit of excitement, Brooks takes Janet out for a science-fiction double feature, leaving Cleveland with the artifacts.

Brooks comes back after the date with Janet and the almost kiss is interrupted by Cleveland paging them. We discover that the rocks form a cross, which prove that his theory is true. The next morning the three set up camp in lovely "devil's crag". Sheriff Parker briefly interrupts them but they continue on with the expedition. Why they all have important work to do, especially Janet who has to cook the meals and make the coffee! Oh yes readers, this was made in another time!

The men go on their quest armed with metal detectors as Janet took care of the camp. The two search for hours and hours but are having no luck at all. Later on, Janet brings the coffee and she has a heart-to-heart talk with her dad about giving up on finding Vargas. I think Cleveland's a little easy to persuade for soon he is thinking of giving up the quest, but not before Janet decides to give the metal detector a try.

Soon we see Janet walk a bit with the detector but that work is just so hard on a girl. Why, this must be ruining her makeup so she sits on a log and pulls out her compact. Brooks finds her and informs her that they will be leaving soon, but that plan is changed when they discover the metal detector is going crazy!

Soon the dig was on and they find such things such as weapons and armor of the Conquistador era. Hmmm, I didn't know fiberglass was invented then! Janet then
let's out a scream when they discover... a skull. Am I the only one who thinks that gal is a tad jumpy? Dammit Janet, you need to start drinking decaf!

Later on, Janet and her father have a heart-to-heart talk about the research and his obsession with finding the giant. She then decides to find Brooks who is doing field work on his own and they walk over to meet
him. Imagine their shock if they saw him tugging on a rod like that! Oh get your minds out of the gutters people, it was an iron rod sticking out of the ground.

You see he was checking out that formation because lightning had struck it and it looked like the rock that encased that lizard. In any case with a storm approaching he suddenly realized it wasn't a smart idea to tug at that rod any longer so he left it alone. After all, such acts can make one blind you know.  Brooks leaves and we hear the dramatic music and we knows that means one thing.. Vargas is back from the dead and ready to party! I have to say hear the Pierce makeup job on Vargas is simple but creepily effective.

The next morning, Brooks is a little perplexed that the rod is missing for he held it last night. (Oh the jokes I can make, readers.) The three look around and they do find objects such as armor and weaponry, which must have belonged to Vargas. The only problem is,
there is no Vargas so he obviously must be alive! Sometime later, Brooks takes Janet out in the woods to look at a waterfall. Janet is so overcome with the beauty of the lake that she kisses Brooks. Some time later he walks her back to her tent, where she thinks about her wonderful walk.

However, as she is getting dressed for bed, Vargas is getting an eyeful of the silhouette she is throwing. (Ah, no wardrobe malfunction here readers, she was wearing pasties.) Unfortunately Vargas is as clumsy as he is deranged for he knocks over a bucket, which
startles Janet so much she shoots her cot! To the trio's terror they discover that the recently retrieved armor is now missing! Gee, could it be that someone is trying to scare them? (Why maybe its creepy Parker who wants to buy up the town so he can set up an amusement park and...oh right that's too crazy.)

Meanwhile, Charlie Brown worries about leaving his sister, Ann, because he has to work at the lodge that evening. After all, he traded a shift with Peppermint Patty so he had to be there. He really didn't want to and was beginning to feel wishy-washy about it ‘til his sister ordered him to go. After all, with her father's rifle and the guard dog Snoopy to protect her what could go wrong?

So Ann's out by the well and is unarmed. Ah readers, do I really need to tell you what happens next? Do I need to tell you how Vargas appears and attacks the screaming girl?

Later on, Brooks and Prof. Cleveland are having a heart-to-heart talk about all the weirdness going on. The professor has come up with the proper explanation…tannic acid. Apparently the tannic acid sustained the life of the lizard and maybe Vargas himself. Now I am beginning to wonder if Cleveland is one of those crazy archaeologists after all! Sheriff Parker who has come to arrest Brooks interrupts the fascinating scientific discussion! Yes, even though Janet and her father can vouch for him, Brooks is being charged with the murder of Ann Brown. If I were Brooks I would so consider suing Parker for false arrest.

It is that moment when Cleveland decides there is only one thing he could do right now, that is make a plaster cast of that footprint! Through some fast talking Brooks talks Parker into driving by Indian Joe's place to look for clues. The only thing they found was Indian Joe who was hanging around the cabin. Oh well, so much for that brilliant plan.

Meanwhile, Vargas attacks Cleveland and is coming after Janet. Janet, being the resourceful girl she is, jumps in the jeep but it isn't running so she does what any damsel in distress does…she faints. Cleveland comes to, discovers Janet's been kidnapped, and runs to town to find Brooks. Hmmm, isn't it convenient that the car started for him? Parker arrives in town but discovers an angry mob forming in the street. Torn between throwing Brooks in jail or restoring order, he chooses the latter and leaves Brooks in the car.

Just then Cleveland arrives in town and tells Brooks that Vargas is alive and has stolen his girl. Gee, the nerve of some reanimated guys!  Okay, so now Brooks has the choice of alerting Parker and crowd or stealing the police car and going back to the camp. What do you think he did, readers? Yep, as soon as Brooks sped off in the police car Parker was in hot pursuit of him! Brooks can drive fairly well considering he has handcuffs on. The handcuffs are cut off at the camp (thanks to a handy axe) and our hero is on a quest to kick some Diablo! The hero and giant scuffle but Vargas is stopped by the Sheriff's bullets.

Now if writers had any mercy on us viewers Vargas would have been killed now as the female lead is rescued. Ah readers, I wish we were that lucky! The Sheriff now sees that Brooks is innocent and the crazy story about a revived Diablo Giant is true. Brooks and Parker now bury the hatchet and make plans to battle Vargas.

So now camp is being set up and young Charlie Brown is told to guard it even though he wants to be in on the hunt. Gee, I imagine the last time he felt this low was when that cranky Lucy Van Pelt yanked the football away! So in an impressive looking scene we now see the posse hunting after Vargas after dark while carrying flares. Soon they meet up with the giant who starts throwing rocks at them. Some of the men are getting good shots at him but it is not having that much of an effect on him.

Soon Brooks throws a flare near Vargas and begins to shoot him, which is beginning to have an effect. A member of the posse (played by production manager Ralph Brooke) decides to try to finish him off with a blunt blow to the head but this is less than effective. Yep, the big dummy was thrown to his death because of this mistake. Soon it was time to bring the posse back to first aid where Janet was waiting for them. Gee, I wonder what she’ll be doing?

Charlie Brown once again states his case on why he should join the hunt for the giant but Brooks shoots him down. To be honest I really don't think Brooks should ever consider taking up grief counseling for he doesn't have that gift. Right about now I imagine Charlie Brown is thinking "Why is everybody always picking on me?" 

Charlie then sees an unattended rifle and gets an idea. Of course only a complete blockhead would not know what he is going to do next. Some time later it is discovered that Charlie is missing so Brooks and Cleveland go looking for him. They do find Charlie but he is badly hurt, inwardly regretting that he won't have a chance with that little red-haired girl now. Charlie then tells Brooks to go after the giant who is on this way to the old mill. So Brooks goes on a giant hunt once again when the most curious thing happens…it’s snowing!

Soon he arrives at the mill and breaks down the door where he finds the giant looking for a fight.  The two fight furiously until they get over the dam. Well, the giant fell against the railing and went over the matted (but impressively so) waterfall. Wow, it’s amazing how transparent the giant looks as he's falling over. Meanwhile, Cleveland wants to get the body so that his crazy story could be proven. Ah, no such luck for that river empties out into a volcanic crater lake and that body wouldn't be found. The professor then comes to realize that he will be forever thought of one of those crazy archaeologists while he sees Brooks and his daughter in a passionate embrace. I have to say though it was nice of Brooks to fix that railing before engaging in such an embrace, though.

Thus ends this movie but not without leaving me some questions. First, are we really sure Vargas is vanquished? I mean, if being in stone for 500 years, and lightning and loads of bullets couldn't kill him, what makes us think that a little trip over a waterfalls can? What about the Indian curse? Will those evil spirits come after the townspeople now? Is this really the end of the Brooks/Parker feud or was it a truce?

Well, readers, thanks for sitting through this all-too- appropriate movie for August with me. Why is that, you ask? August brings on the dog days of summer so what better movie to see now than a d-o-g of a movie? I wonder what the fall will bring…