Even Science was stunned!

Tarantula

1955 | B&W | 1 Hr 20 Min | Sci Fi | PG | Universal

Director:
Jack Arnold

Writers:
Robert M. Fresco

Stars:
John Agar
Mara Corday
Leo G. Carroll





In the Arizona desert, Professor Gerald Deemer is experimenting with growth hormones in the hopes of finding a way to increase the world's food supply. His partner in the project was recently found dead in the desert, suffering from a disease that normally takes years to advance but in this case seems to have afflicted him in only a few days. The local doctor, Matt Hastings, is puzzled by the strange case and with Deemer's recently arrived - and very pretty - assistant Stephanie Clayton tries to figure out what is going on. When cattle remains are found in the countryside, the evidence points to a giant tarantula as the culprit.

For the tarantula, an actual live spider was used. Blast's from air jets were used to make it move in the desired way over a miniature landscape. In the movie, Prof Deemer predicts that by the year 2000 the human population will be 3.6 billion, in fact, it was almost double that. And of course, keep your eyes posted for the young Clint Eastwood making his film debut.

“Tarantula” crawls onto your screen on Me-TV tonight at 8 pm eastern and Pacific, 7 pm central, and, if you are unsure of what time in your area, please check your local listings. For those of us in the Chicago viewing area, we can get an encore look The Ghost And Mr. Chicken WCIU, the U, at 11 am this morning.