Tonight on MeTV- we present a creature with its own fur coat- which may benefit it, if it lived in apart of the country that is enduring frosty temperatures right about now! Unfortunately- for the people in the area- It dwells in the hot climate of a small desert town-where a monstrous mélange of deformed mutants and mutilated cattle are the first signs of the sinister results of experimentation that has yielded one giant-sized hairy horror -beware of the "Tarantula"!
The story begins in the Arizona town of Desert Rock (no, that's not a music channel on Sirius XM) where local doctor Matt Hastings is called to the town morgue to view a dead body found out in the desert. Not that it hasn’t happened before- except for the fact that this unfortunate fellow is strangely disfigured! Dr. Matt surmises that he was suffering from acromegaly (the very real syndrome- that famed wrestler Andre the Giant and actor Rondo Hatton suffered from). The victim is identified as an assistant to esteemed local scientist Dr. Deemer- but that fact is tough to swallow, since acromegaly develops very slowly-yet this assistant was fine literally days ago! Matt heads out to Deemer’s laboratory home in the desert, in hopes of finding some answers. Deemer cordially gives him a tour of the place, explaining his current research project - a super atomic-isotope fueled nutrient that can make animals grow to a larger size, creating more food for the world's ever-increasing population. He has already treated several animals with the nutrient and they have responded as he had hoped, growing into over-sized versions of their species. Deemer assumes that his dead assistant had injected himself with the serum as a test, though it was not yet fully perfected ( a cautionary lesson for all, with what’s going on in the world). Deemer thinks the rapid advancement of the acromegaly was just a one-time freak occurrence. With that information, Matt seems satisfied for now, bids Deemer farewell, and heads back to his practice in town.
Shortly after his departure- the serum is the cause of some disastrous results at Deemer’s compound- including some destruction –and the escape of an oversized tarantula! The very next day, Matt wants to head back to the lab to ask more questions, and just happens to run into Steve-a new assistant sent for by Deemer. Steve is actually a lovely young woman- who Matt is more than happy to drive to the laboratory! She is welcomed by Deemer, and takes up residence at his place, where she can be close to her work.
Meanwhile, more mysteries surface- including the discovery of bones of formerly living cattle, some strange puddles of an odd liquid, and reports of missing ranchers- while Steve notices some odd physical changes in Deemer. And then there's this big fuzzy thing sneaking across the desert?! Before long, it's up to Matt to try to save the townspeople from an ever-growing multi-legged menace that seems unstoppable!
Jack Arnold wrote and directed this 1955 chiller, another example of the 1950s obsession with giant radiation- spawned creatures. We'll introduce you to the cast, including Leo G. Carroll, leading man John Agar, stunning 50s Playboy Playmate Mara Corday, and a few cameos, including a facially-obscured Clint Eastwood-as well as explaining certain techniques used in this film. We'll have a traditional song about the title creature, plus other Sven fun- including a much-requested super-hero-based bit with a special surprise guest!
“Tarantula” crawls onto your screen on Me-TV tonight at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 pm central, and, if you are unsure of what time or station to find us on in your area, check your local listings, or at www.metv.com. AS always, MeTV invites you to live-Tweet with the growing number of viewers during the show on Twitter- just use the hashtag #svengoolie. Chicago area viewers can experience a return trip to Florida and the amphibian anguish of “Frogs” this morning at 11 am on our main local station, CW26.
Be watching for some special seasonal merchandise coming to our store soon!
Join us tonight for the fuzzy fear of “Tarantula”!
3154 Comments
I know one fast , trophy-worthy Sven Blogger will win the great race tonight ~ who could it be now 🎶
Love Yinz ALL !
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I love a good blog Sing along, Catbat!🐸🐸🐸
Did You ever see the kitty litter commercial where the cats do the disco dance ?
Funny ! Always think of You
*commando*
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The moon is not full but sure looks like a werewolf moon , big and beautiful !
And what a frigid Svengoolie Eve for canoodling tonight ~ hope ALL are safe and cozy during the wrath of old man winter’s storms !
Brrrrr *_* Zzzzzz
Meat Loaf entertained me for many years, in occasionally unexpected ways.
Louie Anderson made me laugh my ass off so much that I am surprised I have anything left to sit on.
I hope to enjoy their work for many years, and have passed that on to my slightly twisted children.
Their work will live for generations.
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🎶
Matt's (John Agar's) joke about how giving women the right to vote paves the way for women scientists, despite its humorous intent, certainly can be read as chauvinistic. Also, Mara Corday's character, Stephanie Clayton, is given the male nickname of "Steve," suggesting that her education and scientific accomplishments have "entitled" her to such a moniker. I had posted on Saturday that that at first had struck me as a sign of acceptance and equality, but now I've been rethinking those assumptions. Why does a name or title or name have to have any gender connotations to bestow legitimacy on an individual's accomplishments? And why does it have to be a name with male identification?
Now, "Steve" does show herself to be intelligent and highly qualified to be a research assistant, and, despite some understandable screams on her part when being startled by the deformed Professor Deemer and the giant tarantula (hell, I think I might have screamed, too!), she is, on the whole, no screaming mimi nor damsel in distress, and holds her own when fending off ole Josh's, the hotel clerk's, nosiness about her business.
On the other hand, the movie bows to some sexism again when she mentions to Deemer that among her activities in town on her day off involves an appointment at the local salon: "A girl has just GOT to get her hair done," she tells him. Also, the film gives her really no opportunities to work shoulder-by-shoulder with Matt (in Scully and Mulder style, for example) in actively investigating and battling the menace posed by the giant spider.
So I leave it to my fellow Sven bloggers: On a scale of from one-ten (one being the lowest and ten being the highest), how would you rate Mara Corday's character, "Steve" Clayton, on the question of empowerment? How might you compare her with other 1950s heroines we've seen, like Barbara Rush in IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, Julie Adams in CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, Lori Adams in REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, Beverly Garland in CURUCU, BEAST OF THE AMAZON, Lola Albright in THE MONOLITH MONSTERS, or Kathleen Crowley in CURSE OF THE UNDEAD, for example? --or even other roles that Corday played, as in THE GIANT CLAW and THE BLACK SCORPION?
Love ~ Peace ~ Svengoolie
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I would also submit any attempt to remake this movie on todays terms would be a woke disaster, because the production company would be so concerned about checking boxes and supporting approved narratives that the few people that went to see it would not enjoy the experience.
You should have an honorary signed Svenette rubber chicken for Your extended dedication of bringing IT for years !
Got my vote !
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Thanks for your post about Meat Loaf. He was always an interesting and enjoyable performer.
I could never get enough of "What Meat Loaf, again?"
~R.I.P.~
Tomorrow we will buckle our seat belts for a bumpy Flying Saucer ride. Can't wait.
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We zoomed way past 3000 ~ lost track and don’t know who made the mark ~ so maybe everyone gets a participation trophy ~
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
So do You Mikeyyy , for Your investigative prowess !
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Never would have remembered ~
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Love Yinz ALL !
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