The Giant Gila Monster [DVD]

Had an actual plot, couple side storylines and a few snickers too. Good guys, bad guys, yeah - pretty much all of it, especially for a B movie of the 60s! I was actually interested enough to stay tuned all the wat through and not perform any side functions (like was expecting).Don't let the title turn you away from this little gem.

The Giant Gila Monster [DVD] 1958. This is a corny movie from the Drive-In, Sock Hop Era that I always like to watch.

I have been a MST3K fan since the very early days, but "The Giant Gila Monster" is a painful experience punctuated by zingers from Joel and the Bots. The movie is a black and white film from 1959 that revolves around teenagers, the world's most incompetent sheriff, and a Mexican Beaded Lizard standing in for the Giant Gila Monster.The bulk of the film revolves around the sheriff and his peculiar co-dependency with a teenage tow truck driver. There are subplots about an angry oil tycoon, a girl with braces on her legs (which gives rise to an absolutely syrupy and nearly unbearable ukulele-intensive musical number; if you like it, don't worry, it's reprised a second time), a dance in a barn, a giant lizard, and of course, a lot of model train scenery.Despite the MST3K treatment, I found watching this to be a chore: the dialogue is so muddy, that it's frequently impossible to understand what's being said, and the picture is grainy and even more horrible than many period films of the genre.To relieve some of the pain, there is a bit of new material from Joel, Trace, and Frank in character explaining a bit about copyright law. This was by far the best part of the DVD. There are also some interviews and still photos, which are entertaining. This film is now part of the MST3K 10.2 box set, but if you order it by itself it comes clad in a cardboard DVD sleeve.While I love MST3K, this is not one of the stronger episodes, although it's nice to see a Joel episode for a change. This one gives "Hamlet" a run for its money for the title of most boring MST3K episode. I recommend it to Misties, but for everyone else, go check out another episode (any other episode) first.

The main character does a good job. People would call it a B movie but it falls falls together for entertainment the one song in it has stayed with me over 55 years when he sings .....' laugh children laugh the lord says laugh children laugh"

A great giant critter movie, filled with everything you might want in this genre. Totally far out old cars, classic car models for the gila monster to walk past and good action scenes (for the era).This movie rates high on my list for schlock giant critter movies.

No lizards were harmed in the making of this movie....ok well no lizards were hurt to awfully bad during the making of this movie....

The sci-fi element of this movie sucks- and I am an avid bad sic-fi movie watcher- it is slow and until the end you actually have no idea how big he really is. However, the back story is great (never said those two comments in that way before - it is usually the opposite). It is heartfelt and sweet. Can't stand the guys girlfriend - until the end. All in all - it is a good clean sic-fi movie I would show to a 2year old and they won't have nightmares- the Gila Monster is actually quite cute!

well defined characters, cool cars, And lotza good jukey 50's rock-a-billy music here in a small rural Southwestern town.It's a good classic 50's B flick.you really get a feel for 1950's normal small town life. I thought that was kinda neat.oh yeah... as a backdrop theres this HUGE Gila Monster making the main road treacherous to travel.A must for your collection. not disappointing.

l Remember seeing this Scary Film at Pictures and l,ve always wanted to Own it, (Now l,ve achieved it!) I have seen this Film onceon the Telly and l really love this Film!

pas grand chose à dire, bon petit film, sobre, une jeunesse us plutot sympa, intéressant, un joli monstre, à voir et que du bon.

Perso, j'ai bien aimé ce film sans prétention mais dans la lignée des grosses bébêtes ... fourmis, araignées, mante religieuse, sauterelles, scorpions noirs et tant d'autres qui se nourrissent de nous pauvres humains ! Et, plus la bébête est grosse et moins les humains la voient ! Film en version noir et blanc ou colorisé ... Pour ceux qui se plaignent de la couleur rose et noire de la bébête ... et bien, c'est comme ça qu'on la décrit dans le film ! Bonne mention pour celui qui a construit toute les maquettes à l'échelle ... surtout les voitures !

B movie but entertaining

Other reviewers have covered why this great little movie will be of interest to any fans of classic 50's monster movies. I already own a copy as part of a sci fi box set but wanted a standalone copy with the original artwork. Well, buyer beware. First of all the entire pre-title sequence is missing which renders much of the opening scenes meaningless. The picture and sound quality is truly abysmal. The version I already own isn't great but is superior. This borders on unwatchable.So be all means search out this movie on an alternative release but please avoid this version.Hope this helps.