The Giant Behemoth (1959) - full transcript
The dumping of radioactive waste in the ocean disturbs a prehistoric monster than can project electric shocks and radioactive beams. After terrorizing the English coast, it is discovered that if the creature is destroyed with conventional weaponry it would spread a dangerous amount radioactive contamination over the entire country, with this fact preventing the military from attacking the monster as it nears London.
[wind howling]
[thunder rumbling]
(male narrator) And the Lord said,
"Behold now the behemoth "
[intense music]
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[music continues]
[explosion]
(Karnes) And afterwards,
these mysterious figures
faces masked with lead.
These are ourselves.
Men, the kings of the Earth
trying to measure the extent
of the destruction
they themselves have created.
Since the beginning
of the Atomic Age
we've had 143 explosions
such as these you've just
seen here on the screen.
Now, one millionth part
of a gram of radium
is the safety limit.
The amount one human
can tolerate.
And yet, with each
of these explosions
we are hurling
into our atmosphere
hundreds of tons
of radioactive materials.
Who is it?
(Karnes) But it isn't only with
dramatic explosions such as these
that we're poisoning
this planet.
What about the dumping in our
oceans of our atomic wastes?
Granted, we are sealing them
in lead containers
but lead disintegrates
and corrodes
at the bottom of the sea.
Gentlemen, I was attached
to Operation Crossroads
as a marine biologist.
As you all no doubt know
that was Bikini.
And if there's one thing
we found out
it was that
there's no such thing
as an even
statistical dispersion
of radioactive materials.
Now, we checked samples
of the sea water in this area
and the radiation
was insignificant.
But in the tiny plankton
living in this water
it was 2000 times greater.
And in the fish that ate this
plankton, 40,000 times greater.
And in the seabirds
that fed upon these fish
the radioactivity
was 500,000 times greater.
Gentlemen, we are witnessing
a biological chain reaction.
A geometrical progression
of deadly menace.
I am in no position to question
your findings, Mr. Karnes
but may I point out
that these things occurred
in the most desolate,
uninhabited spot of the globe?
But I refuse to be panicked.
I do not believe that
Mr. Karnes wishes to panic us
as you put it.
But if you remember, in Japan
boatloads of fish
had to be destroyed
many thousands of miles away
from the test area.
That's exactly what I mean.
We cannot fence off the ocean.
These radioactive particles
are absorbed by the plankton
and then in a kind
of biological progression
from fish to bigger fish
or by the strange attraction
of protoplasmic masses
they form radioactive
conglomerates
unbelievably deadly.
The ocean is my province,
gentlemen,
but how little we know about it.
We only touch the surface
with our lines and our dragnets
our diving suits
and bathyscopes.
For all we know
what we have started
may have already matured.
And who can tell when this,
this, whatever it is...
...will rise to the surface
and strike back at us?
Make for the rock.
Now, my fine friends,
out with you.
Now...
Oh, this little beauty's for us.
Run it up to the house
and put it on the fire
while I haul the rest
up to the village.
And past the pub
to brag to your cronies?
I cannot imagine
what you're referring to.
What's that for?
For the best fisherman
in all Cornwall.
Oh, get away.
[instrumental music]
Dad, don't be late!
Be off with you!
[beeping]
[intense music]
[screaming]
[wind whooshing]
Father?
Is that you, dad?
He'll be as drunk as a lord.
[indistinct chatter]
[chuckles]
That makes it your round then,
Charlie.
- Hello, John.
- Hello, Jean.
Have you seen dad?
Not since this morning.
- He hasn't been by at all?
- No.
That's strange.
I thought he'd come by
to show off his whitefish.
So the old devil did it again,
did he?
Well, you see,
we beached in the cove
then I went on up to the house
to start the dinner,
and he was going to the village.
Well, he couldn't
have come through town
not with a whitefish,
otherwise the whole world
would've known of it.
I'll tell you what? Let's go
and look for him, shall we?
[instrumental music]
Dad!
Dad!
Tom!
Dad!
Tom! Tom!
Dad! Dad!
- John!
- Wait here. I'll look around.
[dramatic music]
- Get back, Jean! Don't look!
- Let me go!
Dad.
What happened, man?
Can-can you talk to us?
Can you hear us, Tom?
Dad. Dad.
From the sea, burning like fire.
What was it?
Behemoth.
[dramatic music]
[crying]
(male #1)
"Man that is born of woman
"is of few days
and full of trouble.
"He cometh forth like a flower
and is cut down."
Job, chapter 14,
the first verse.
And if any man could know
the sufferings of Job,
it was Thomas Trevethan.
Job and his suffering
turned to God for an answer.
Then answered the Lord
unto Job and said
"Behold now the behemoth
which I made with thee.
"He moveth his tail
like a cedar,
"out of his mouth
go burning lamps.
"And sparks of fire leap
out from the behemoth.
"He maketh the oceans
to boil like a pot.
"His breath kindleth coals
"and a flame goeth
out of his mouth."
But in the words of the Lord,
"There is comfort for those
Thomas Trevethan left behind."
For the Lord said to Job,
"Gird up thy loins like a man.
"Cast abroad the rage
of thy wrath.
"Then I will confess to thee
"thine own right hand
can save thee."
[dramatic music]
Shall we be going now?
Not home.
I wouldn't want
to go there yet.
Let's go for a walk then.
[instrumental music]
Look!
[intense music]
Thousands of them.
Thousands upon thousands.
Let's come away, John.
No. Wait a minute.
What's this stuff?
[screams]
John! Your hand!
[dramatic music]
Any luck with my tickets?
Well, I'm still working on your
plane reservation, Mr. Karnes.
- Pretty crowded, are they?
- Jammed.
We'd hoped you'd be
with us longer, sir.
Wish, I could be.
Would you care to watch
the television?
I'll have you paged
the moment I know anything.
Alright. Thank you.
(man on TV) And therefore, all
the news from the Middle East
is at the moment
most inconclusive.
And now our closing piece
for the afternoon
is an item of news
from Cornwall.
It appears that
the fishing industry there
has come to
a complete standstill.
All the beaches
are clogged up with dead fish,
and nobody can tell
why these fish are dead.
However, it has its more
amusing side to it.
For from Looe comes a report
that a sea monster
has been sighted.
Uh, no doubt one
of the Loch Ness variety
with fire-breathing
and all that,
but it does prove one point,
ladies and gentlemen.
It proves
that all the Scotch whiskey
has not been exported
to America.
Well, I'll say farewell now...
[dramatic music]
Oh, Mr. Karnes, I think
I have your reservation.
What?
Oh, I'm sorry. Cancel it.
Cancel it?
I'm sorry. The reservation
has just been canceled.
Is Professor Bickford
still in the lab?
Good.
May I speak to him, please?
Yes, very urgent.
[knocking on door]
Yes. Come in.
Oh, Mr. Karnes.
Ah, sit down.
You were halfway across London
a minute ago.
- Subway.
- Subway?
Oh, I see.
The underground.
You've mastered the intricacies
of that system, have you?
- Have a cup of tea?
- No, thanks.
I came to talk to you
about that Cornwall report.
Yes. Yes. There's rather more
in it than the press reports.
- A man is dead.
- Dead?
Yes. A fisherman from Looe,
died of burns.
It's very peculiar. The report's
a little vague unfortunately.
You know how these
village doctors are?
But there were burns,
spotting of the skin
and perforating ulcers.
Hmm. Same symptoms
as Hiroshima.
No, no, no, no.
Don't let's jump to conclusions.
Certain acids can cause
similar reaction.
A passing ship could
have dropped something.
That would account for the death
of all those fish.
I'm going down there,
Professor Bickford.
Maybe you're right
about this acid.
I only hope to God you are.
But supposing you aren't.
Now, how do you get there?
Now, look here,
you're young, aggressive.
A chap can cause
a great deal of trouble
by charging into
a situation like this.
Oh, we can't just sit here
on our tails and do nothing.
In a thing like this,
every hour counts.
Look here, Steve, I'm chairman
of a Royal Commission
on this precise subject.
You don't really imagine
that we sit around on our tails
drinking tea, do you?
No, sir. I'm sorry.
I didn't mean it to sound
as bad as it did.
Well, now, to answer your
question, Looe is in Cornwall
you change trains at Plymouth
and arrive at 11 o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Would you care to come along?
[chuckles] You chaps are great ones
for shaking hands, aren't you?
[train horn blaring]
[seagulls squawking]
Morning.
Can anyone tell me where
I can find Dr. Morris, please?
That's his house up there.
But it's too early for him yet.
Why aren't the boats out?
You from the newspapers?
No. We're from
the Atomic Energy Commission.
We've come here
to do some tests.
It's time somebody
did something.
Aye, and it better be something
more than tests.
(Bickford)
Hmm. Things bad about here?
You should have seen
the beach last week.
Aye, and outside too.
Everywhere a man looked,
fish floating, belly up.
How are these men
going to feed their families?
Will you answer me that?
This is the season we make our
living for the whole year, man.
How long has it been
since they've been out?
It's five days now.
Well, hasn't anybody even tried?
After what happened
to Trevethan?
Here, mister, you try.
Go on. I'll loan you my boat.
Take her out.
Is there any way we can see
any of these fish
that were washed up?
Well, Most of them washed out
yesterday on the tide.
The rest, we burned.
What did they look like?
They looked like dead fish.
Anybody see anything
that might have killed them?
No one saw anything
unusual at all?
I saw lights.
[dramatic music]
Lights?
What kind of lights?
Oh, like a giant cloud,
you might say.
Down there underneath the water.
A cloud like, uh...
Have you ever seen the city
at night with a storm coming on?
It was like that.
A great white cloud
lighted from underneath.
Well, it could
have been phosphorus.
- Different.
- Did it seem to move?
I was moving too fast
myself to notice.
[laughing]
Well, perhaps we'd better
try and find the doctor.
I'll take you up there
if you'd like.
[music continues]
[knocking on door]
Come in.
Ah, John, my lad,
how's the flipper?
Couple of gentlemen
to see you, doctor
from the atomic...something.
Ah, gentlemen, uh, come in.
Morning.
- My name is Bickford.
- How do you do?
- This is Mr. Karnes.
- How do you do?
Sit down, please.
We, uh, we'd like
to ask you a few questions
about Mr. Trevethan.
Oh, sad case.
Very sad, indeed.
What would you say was
the cause of his death?
Burns, first,
second and third degree
combined with shock,
of course.
You didn't call in
a consultant?
The man was dying when I got
there. What was the good?
(Karnes)
For a postmortem.
Why?
To mortify the daughter more?
This is an unusual case.
Oh, what would you say
was the cause of the burns?
Some sort of poisoning,
I would say.
Not an acid?
No, it was like no acid
I ever treated,
but from time to time,
a jellyfish or a kelp
could cause that sort of thing.
Combined with, perhaps,
a very strong allergic reaction.
Have you ever
had a similar case?
No.
Oh, just a minute.
John, do you mind?
[instrumental music]
I'm afraid it isn't very pretty.
[dramatic music]
Does it remind you of something?
Yes,
the tests in the Pacific.
And, doctor, I, I think perhaps
you'd better send this man
up to our clinic in London
for a check over.
How did this happen?
I was on the beach.
I was walking,
and I see this strange stuff.
It was like a piece
of jellyfish it was,
on-only it had a kind
of shine to it.
Shine?
I bent down to touch it, and...
Just where did it happen?
In the cove. I can-I can
show you if you'd like.
It was the same cove
where the old man died.
Uh, gentlemen, you can change
here if you want to.
Hmm.
[dramatic music]
Well...I checked the rocks
and algae. Nothing.
John!
Can you show me the exact spot
where you got your burn?
Well, the tide was out,
like it is now.
And that rock there
was on the left.
Yes. It was by this rock.
It was like this stuff
got caught behind it
when the tide went out.
Nothing here at all.
Ms. Trevethan,
was your father still alive
when you reached him?
He was.
Did he say anything?
Could he speak?
He said,
"It came out of the sea."
And then he said, "Behemoth."
Behemoth? What do you think
he meant by that?
It's a prophecy from the Bible.
It means some sort of
monstrous great beast.
Well, thank you very much.
I don't get it. Behemoth.
Who knows what the man saw,
if he saw anything.
Well, he must
have seen something.
Strange marine animal
of some sort.
We know radioactivity can cause
a sudden unhealthy growth,
mutations.
The man was dying in agony.
It's hardly the sort of report
I'd like to base a theory on.
Well, I'm not basing
any theories.
I just don't want to overlook
any possible evidence.
Now this stuff
that John touched
whatever it was,
he said it was shining.
Well, radiation doesn't shine.
Now, now, now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
We've no proof
there was any radiation here.
If there had been, we'd have
picked it up on our instruments.
Those are radiation burns
on his hand. I know that.
Oh, yes, well, I'll know it
when I hear the report
from the clinic in London.
Look, can you have your stations
send in specimens
from all up and down the coast?
Sea water, algae, plankton,
and especially fish.
- Could you do that?
- Yes, of course.
I'm never against checking.
Because one thing's for sure.
Something has happened here
that isn't in the book.
Something came out
of the ocean.
And now it's gone back into.
[dramatic music]
We've received samples
from 72 coastal stations.
Still missing those
from Hebrides.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hello.
Oh, hello, Steve.
Steve Karnes, Ned Lee.
- Hello.
- How are you?
I see your stations
are working very fast.
Tell me, what technique do you
use for measuring radiations?
Well, we evaporate the liquid
and then examine the residue.
This new ionization chamber
is very sensitive
and shows the slightest
deviation from normal radiation.
- What are the results?
- So far, all normal.
Is everything ready
for the radio autograph?
Yes, everything's all prepared.
Well, I'll leave you
to work with Ned.
- I'll see you later, Steve.
- Fine.
If you'll follow me, Mr. Karnes.
Yes, indeed.
I hope the instruments will be
satisfactory, Mr. Karnes.
Oh, these are very nice, Mr. Lee
but I'm not going to perform
a brain surgery.
I'm going to slice a fish.
Good old platichthys flesus.
I'm glad we've got this one.
If there's anything going on
at the bottom of the sea
this is the old girl
who can let us know about it.
Now, you see we cut
longitudinally here.
Being very careful.
To lay bare the internal organs
without touching
or injuring them.
And now we have to dry
out the extra moisture.
- Are the dryers ready?
- Oh, yes, Mr. Karnes.
There you are.
Here we have another
excellent specimen.
Well, that finishes
the first batch.
- Are we ready for photography?
- Yes, I think so.
This way, Mr. Karnes.
Oh, this is fine. Perfect.
Could we have number one?
- Thoroughly dry?
- Perfectly.
Good. Lights, please.
Now...
Place the fish like this
to get a contact impression.
Time clock, 20 seconds.
- What light do you use?
- We don't use any.
Now, if the fish has absorbed
any radioactive particles
they'll be concentrated
in the bones
and the internal organs.
So, actually,
the fish exposes itself
with a kind of built-in X-ray,
and we call it radio autograph.
[alarm ringing]
Now, put it in development.
Next.
[instrumental music]
[bell ringing]
[knocking on door]
(Karnes)
Come in.
- Well?
- They're developing.
How soon will the plates
be ready?
(male #2)
We have the first few now.
May we see them?
Thank you.
Nothing wrong with that one.
That one seems to be alright.
Hmm. Wonder what that is?
Well, it could be
a flaw in the film.
Now, this is important.
Is there any way
light could have
leaked into this room?
Well, let's see.
Turn off all the lights.
What's that?
Oh, no. Don't touch it.
My gloves and pincers.
(Bickford)
Let's have some lights now.
Where's the microscope?
(Bickford)
Over here.
- What could it be?
- I don't know.
Phosphorus combined
with radium will glow.
I've never seen anything
like that before.
[dramatic music]
Here. Take a look.
What's the tag on that specimen,
Mr. Lee?
Fourteen, that's...Plymouth.
Will you bring in plate 14,
please?
Have this tested
for radioactivity
and get me
the Department of Fisheries
on the telephone right away.
Yes, sir.
[music continues]
Look at that.
You see how each bone
stands out?
There's an enormous
concentration
of radioactive particles.
Now, this is the spot where
we removed that glowing matter.
[telephone ringing]
Hello,
this is Professor Bickford
of Atomic Research.
I want to speak to Mr. Lapham.
I don't care
what conference he's in.
This is a matter
of extreme urgency.
Oh, very well.
Well, will you ask him
to ring me
within five minutes?
If stuff like that
got on the market
the result would be disastrous.
We must block it off
at the port.
Well, it isn't enough
to block off the results.
We've got to find
the cause of this.
Now, I want to go to Plymouth.
I want to scout out the exact
area where that fish was found.
Can you get me a boat?
Are you still holding
to the monster theory?
Well, it's something
that moves under its own power
and moves fast.
Currents couldn't
have carried it.
It could be a separate incident.
Well, either way,
there's only one thing to do.
Track down this thing, find out
what it is, and then destroy it.
I'll get you a boat.
[intense music]
What's our position?
We passed the banks, Mr. Karnes.
Is that the place
the condemned fish came from?
It came from half a mile back,
passed square over this spot.
Didn't your machine
tell you anything?
No.
Should we give it another run?
No. No,
let's lay to for a while.
Alright.
[bell ringing]
Are you sure we couldn't have
missed the spot in the fog?
Look, mister,
I've been fishing this bank
since I was 12 years old.
You tell me exactly what
it is you're looking for.
Skipper, did you ever
spend a night in the jungle?
Me?
And you feel something out there
beyond the light of your fire
prowling around?
- A tiger?
- I don't know.
Any more than I know what
we're looking for right now.
(man on PA)
Attention! Attention!
A steamship Valkyrie
abound for Hull
is now more than
12 hours overdue.
If you have sighted
this vessel
please call
the coast guard at once.
I know the Valkyrie.
She's a beauty.
[rattling]
Look there.
Two points off the port bow.
[dramatic music]
- That's it.
- Your tiger? Let's have a look.
Skipper, I have to warn you.
Whatever this thing is,
it can be very dangerous.
- I'll risk it.
- Alright. Let's go.
[music continues]
[rattling continues]
Can't we get any more speed?
It's pulling away.
Engine room, more speed!
[music continues]
[rattling continues]
[rattling stops]
- Well, it's gone.
- What do we do now?
Let's circle around a while.
(man on PA) Coast guard, calling
the trawler, Molly T. Over.
Molly T. calling coast guard.
Standing by. Over.
(man on PA) Do you have
Mr. Steven Karnes aboard? Over.
Mr. Karnes is aboard. Do you
want to speak to him? Over.
Molly T., you will return
to port at once.
That is all.
Now what?
They sound as if they mean it.
[engine rumbling]
- Are you Mr. Karnes?
- Yes. What is it?
The steamship Valkyrie
was found beached last night.
No reasonable explanation.
Professor Bickford called us
to take you there at once.
[dramatic music]
Hello, Mr. Karnes.
Well, this is as far down
as we can get.
- How many survivors?
- There aren't any.
I've never seen
such terrible injuries.
- What is it?
- Radiation.
- What do you make of all this?
- I don't know.
But this damage, I mean, it must
have been some gigantic impact.
This is quarter of an inch
steel plate, reinforced.
It's incredible.
Well, I've got
to get back to London.
- Can you fix it up?
- Certainly.
- Superintendent.
- Yes?
Will you arrange for Mr. Karnes
to get back to London?
- Aye.
- Thank you, sir.
[music continues]
Go right in, sir.
Professor Bickford
is already here.
Thank you.
Oh, hello, Steve. You alright?
Yes, sir.
- Mr. Karnes.
- Sir.
I've just been showing
Professor Bickford
our report
on the Valkyrie disaster.
You visited the vessel too,
I believe.
Yes, sir. Uh, what did
the commander give as a cause?
Didn't state.
Merely said what it wasn't.
What's your idea, Steve?
I'm afraid it's going
to sound unbelievable.
Everything about this affair
is unbelievable
but it happened.
I feel, admiral, what we're
facing is a marine animal
of tremendous size and strength.
Do you really believe
that a whale
could have smashed
through steel plates
so high above the waterline?
I didn't say a whale.
Behemoth?
That's as good a name
as any for now.
Did you get my message
from the trawler?
Yes. I've just read it.
Well, we saw it,
from a distance.
Too far to tell
just what it was.
But it was gigantic
and moving very fast
and then we lost it.
And as to its
unbelievable strength
well, the Valkyrie
is proof of that.
Karnes has been developing this,
what shall I call it
Behemoth theory
for some time, admiral.
As to the radioactivity
of the thing
there can be no doubt.
But as to its size
and shape, well
I was very unwilling
to go along with him.
However, even before receiving
this Valkyrie report
I had independent confirmation
from my own laboratory.
That glowing substance which
we sent for chemical analysis
it has been found
to contain cells
from the stomach wall
of some unidentified species.
So now you agree
with Mr. Karnes?
- Yes, sir.
- Very well.
We shall organize
a pattern of search.
Thank you, gentlemen,
for alerting us to this danger.
We shall shortly
find this creature
whatever it is,
and dispose of it.
Is there any way of knowing
which way the beast is headed?
No, sir. Up until now,
it's been moving north.
I see. Well, in that case,
we'd better alert
the Coastal Nations
through NATO.
[instrumental music]
Yes.
Highly radioactive.
Of course we're informing
all other European neighbors.
I repeat, highly radioactive.
[speaking in foreign language]
[speaking in foreign language]
[dog barking]
What's wrong with Toby?
[instrumental music]
[barking continues]
[dog squeals]
[dramatic music]
[gunshots]
[screeching]
[dramatic music]
[knocking on door]
Ah. Have you got
the photographs?
Right here, sir.
[intense music]
Those are footprints.
Imagine the size of the thing.
That's the dead man, sir,
the farmer.
And that's the farm,
what's left of it.
Looks like a tornado.
Did anyone actually
see the thing?
Nobody that lived.
A neighbor called
the constable later.
Is there anything more
we can do for you, professor?
No.
No, thank you, officer.
- Goodnight, sir.
- Goodnight.
Steve, have you ever
seen footprints like these?
Well, I've seen fossils,
but that's, that's crazy.
They belong to a different age.
Well...
Who's your best man
in paleontology?
Samson. He is the curator
of the Natural History Museum.
Let's talk to him.
Professor Bickford.
Oh, it's an honor
even at this hour.
Dr. Samson, this is Mr. Karnes.
- How do you do?
- How do you do, sir?
I'm sorry to have
disturbed you so early.
Oh, no. Don't mention it.
I live just across the street.
We wanted to get your opinion
on this...photograph.
It is quite blurred, gentlemen.
Right.
I can see the footprint,
of course
made by some lizard, yes?
But the size, Dr. Samson.
This is a police car here.
Oh, I see.
Oh. Well, this is interesting.
It is the, the old
Paleosaurus family.
Uh, like this specimen
we've got here, only...
...much larger.
Much larger.
I should say this beast
must've been
about 150 to 200 feet long.
Now, wait. I-I'll show you.
Oh, yes, we had some here.
Mm. Yeah.
You see?
Now, that's the largest
footprint known.
Only seven feet long.
Dr. Samson, do you
have, uh, an illustration
of the whole creature?
Oh, certainly, indeed.
Oh, what a splendid
fossil you've found.
I'll get my assistant
to take a cast this morning.
Dr. Samson,
this creature is not dead.
Y-you're joking.
No. It's alive,
very much alive.
Where is it? We must organize
an expedition straight away.
I'll get all my staff.
Uh, in the Pacific, I presume.
No. In England.
It was last seen
off the Essex Coast.
Oh, it's heading for the Thames.
They always make for
the freshwater rivers to die.
That's where the skeletons
have been found.
Some irresistible instinct
to die in the shallows
that gave them birth.
You know, all my life
I hoped this would happen.
Ever since childhood,
I've expected it.
I knew these creatures
were alive somewhere
but I had no proof.
No scientific proof.
And I, I had
to keep it to myself
or my colleagues
would have all laughed at me.
See, no form of life
ceases abruptly.
And all these reports
of sea serpents.
Well, what can they be?
The tall, graceful neck
of Paleosaurus.
He can stay underneath
the surface for an age.
And now...
...now he comes to the top.
But, Dr. Samson--
Yes, we must organize
an expedition straight away.
Oh, think of it.
What a wonderful specimen
to have in the museum.
Oh, but it's,
it's dreadfully dangerous
and I suppose you know
it's also electric.
Electric? That would account
for the glowing.
Mm, e-electric, like an eel.
But this beast
isn't only electric
it's intensely radioactive.
Radioactive?
Then I, I suppose
the creature will have to be...
...killed.
Dr. Samson, I must get
to the admiralty now.
- May I take this with me?
- Yes.
Thank you very much.
And thank you for all your help.
Goodbye.
Oh, but first, gentlemen, uh,
uh, first study the photographs.
(Bickford) Well, at least now we
know what our adversary looks like.
This sketch is the paleontology
people's best guess.
Pleasant looking chap, isn't he?
We're told that he carries
a strong electric charge.
Judging by the beast's size
I would say that
it was powerful enough
to drive a battleship.
Of course, its tremendous
electric charge
is what projects the radiation.
That's what makes
the creature so deadly.
Well, do you have
any concrete suggestions?
Yes. First,
block off the Thames.
But London is fed by ships.
You're asking us
to evacuate the city?
Why, we didn't do that even
at the height of the blitz.
But, admiral--
Now, for a single
overgrown crocodile
which we don't even know
is heading this way...
Oh, no. The Thames Estuary
is already blocked off by radar.
But why don't you see
for yourselves?
I can have you there
within the hour.
[dramatic music]
These screens, sir,
show us everything
that's going on in the estuary.
We're maintaining radio contact
with all ships
as well as
with the helicopter patrol.
Now this screen corresponds
to the area marked
H on our maps.
Well, there's a destroyer,
as you see.
It's proceeding
into the adjoining area.
And up there
in the right-hand corner
you see a helicopter
entering the area.
That would be our friend,
Dr. Samson, with his cameras.
I wonder if he'll
get his pictures.
In this fog, I imagine
we get a better picture on here
than he will in his helicopter.
[helicopter whirring]
I'm dropping down.
You got your camera ready,
Peters?
- Plenty of film?
- Yes, Dr. Samson.
But you must realize
with visibility as it is, it's--
Oh, we'll sight it, Peters.
After all these years, we must.
Look. Down over to the left.
[dramatic music]
Can't see anything.
There is something there.
A white patch,
beneath the surface.
I think it's moving.
That's it. I know it.
We've sighted a moving object
underneath the water.
Our position is at...
...H-3-2.
Where's H-3-2?
There, sir. The helicopter.
I'm going down to investigate.
Over.
[music continues]
Can you make out
anything below them?
(male #3) No, sir. There's
nothing showing on the screen.
Must be a false alarm.
It's definite.
I can see it very plainly.
We're just above it,
moving at the same speed.
Well, there's nothing on
the screen, but the helicopter.
[music continues]
Aren't there some things
that radar can't pick up?
No, sir. We can even see
the fish when they're running.
Nothing can get by us.
Well, I'm afraid there's
something that can now.
[music continues]
[explosion]
Can't pick up the helicopter.
(man on radio)
Control tower calling X-134.
Will you resume contact?
Will you come in? Over.
Nothing shows. Nothing.
We'd better get back
to the admiralty at once.
(man on radio)
Calling all surface and aircraft
in the vicinity of area H.
Proceed at once
to point H-32 on your map.
[intense music]
[fog horn blaring]
[fog horn blaring]
[brake screeches]
[fog horn blaring]
[dramatic music]
[woman screams]
[roaring]
[woman screams]
[music continues]
[roaring]
[screams]
[all screaming]
[music continues]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[screaming]
[music continues]
Extra! Extra!
Monster attacks London!
Monster! Latest!
(man on radio) ...which now
brings the casualties to 36 dead
and more than 50 missing.
The Metropolitan Police
announced that the embankments
of the Thames
are closed to all traffic.
The public is asked
to keep all streets clear
adjoining the river.
We repeat the Metropolitan
Police bulletin.
We repeat the Metropolitan
Police bulletin.
The situation is well in hand.
There is no reason for panic
but the immediate vicinity of
the River Thames is dangerous.
Oh, fiddlesticks!
We repeat.
The vicinity of
the River Thames is dangerous.
This is your roving
reporter David McAvoy
speaking from my position
in front of the Port Of
London Authority Headquarters.
Throughout the day
we've seen armed forces
police, and ministry heads going
in for a series of meetings
which have been
taking place here.
The commissioner,
Sir Charles More
has been personally in charge.
Hello, Riverside, PLA speaking.
- Tower Bridge.
- Tower Bridge.
PLA speaking. Tower Bridge.
Port Of London Authority,
boat 4, report to pier 8.
Port Of London Authority,
boat 4, report to pier 8.
Hello,
Port Of London Authority...
(male #4)
This is the situation.
The beast appeared at Woolwich,
where it destroyed the ferry
and collided
with four motor barges.
That was exactly
two and half hours ago.
Are you closing the bridges,
commissioner?
The bridges will be closed
at the first alert
and the traffic will be rerouted
through the tunnels.
The beast can strike anywhere
and we're planning
to meet it anywhere.
A committee of scientists
under the chairmanship
of professor James Bickford
is now meeting
with a military specialist.
Meanwhile, as you know
the army and the police
are taking all possible steps
for the protection
of the civilian population.
[dramatic music]
[knock on door]
[knock on door]
[knock on door]
[music continues]
[music continues]
Keep in touch with me
by telephone.
Very good, sir.
- Well, Allison?
- Still in conference, sir.
(Summers) Gentlemen, I still
think the simplest way
is the use of explosives.
Very well,
a few drainpipes will be
knocked out under the river.
Several houses
will be destroyed
which, I remind you,
have already been evacuated.
Gentlemen, I propose bombs
which we can deliver
with great precision
from low-flying planes
or helicopters.
But, Admiral Summers, even
supposing you score a direct hit
with your first bomb,
which is problematical
then you'll blow
the creature to bits
but don't you realize
that they...
That each bit will be intensely
radioactive?
A million radioactive particles
blown into every
corner of London?
Why, the whole city
would be poisoned
for God knows how many years.
No, sir, we must find a way
of destroying this creature
in one piece
and then we can safely dispose
of the radioactive carcass.
This animal, we know is carrying
such a huge concentration
of radioactive particles
that it cannot possibly survive.
It's burning itself
out by the minute.
Right now it's dying
of its own radioactivity.
How long will it last?
We have no way of knowing.
Couldn't we somehow
speed up the process?
I wonder.
Suppose...
Suppose we were to introduce,
say
ten centigrams of pure radium
into this disintegrating mass.
Wouldn't that
accelerate the process?
Destroy the creature by burning
it up from the inside?
Couldn't we tip a shell
with radium, say, antitank?
No, no.
Suppose the shell
misses the target.
We cannot chance firing
a radium warhead
at the city of London.
The result would be disastrous.
No, it must be a direct hit
and the radium must remain
inside the creature.
You know...
...a torpedo would be
the ideal solution.
It explodes on impact
and its force is contained
in the waters around it.
Now, if we could fit a tip
of pure radium to the warhead
then it would be buried
deep inside the beast.
That seems to be the answer.
Do you agree?
- Yes.
- Yes.
And we have the radium
at Howell.
I could get you a
miniature submarine in time.
That would be the surest way
of delivering the torpedo.
But do you realize the danger?
[intercom buzzes]
Yes?
Can you give us the latest news?
We have nothing, sir.
Nothing sighted.
[dramatic music]
[snarling]
[screeching]
[bell ringing]
[horn blaring]
[roaring]
[music continues]
[inaudible dialogue]
[snarling]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[horn blaring]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[roaring]
(male #5)
Aah!
[screaming]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[intense music]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[beeping]
[groaning]
[beeping]
[music continues]
[roaring]
[choking]
[music continues]
[gunshots]
[snarling]
[gunshots]
[beeping]
[screaming]
[beeping continues]
[dramatic music]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[intense music]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[roaring]
How much longer will it be,
Bickford?
We're forging the tip now.
It's a delicate operation.
You can't handle radium
as if it were iron.
But have you heard
what's been going on out there?
Yes, we've heard.
It won't be long now.
[dramatic music]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[explosion]
[alarm ringing]
[roaring]
(male #6)
Switch on.
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roars]
[roars]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[men screaming]
[roaring]
All ready, sir.
Well, that's fine.
So, what is it exactly?
Well, you see we're tracing
a highly radioactive
moving target
and this is the little gimmick
that'll find it for us.
Yeah, well,
that's your department.
You just tell me where to steer
and when to pull the trigger.
I'll certainly try.
[sirens ringing]
[intense music]
- Here it is, commander.
- Okay, we'll get it fixed up.
[helicopter whirring]
PB-7, PB-7, PB-7.
Report to me, PB-7.
PB-7, PB-7.
Report to me, PB-7.
[helicopter whirring]
[dramatic music]
PB-7, PB-7, PB-7.
Report to me, PB-7.
PLA, this is PB-7, PB-7.
I've sighted target.
Map reference, L-8-R-1-7.
Map reference, L-8-R-17.
Target sighted.
Map reference, L-8-R-17.
[intense music continues]
Alright, here we go.
Stand by to cast off.
- Come on, Mr. Karnes.
- Right.
Let go!
Ready?
[instrumental music]
[helicopter whirring]
[helicopter whirring]
[beeping]
[beeping continues]
[beeping intensifies]
[dramatic music]
[intense beeping]
Any news?
[dramatic music]
[beeping]
[helicopter whirring]
- Anything?
- Nothing, sir.
[beeping]
[beeping]
Can we try it again?
- Steer 3-1-9.
- 3-1-9.
[music continues]
[beeping]
[dramatic music]
[beeping]
Stand by to fire.
[beeping]
Hold it.
Hold it.
[beeping]
Fire!
[explosion]
PB-7. PB-7. Reporting.
Professor Bickford.
They've hit it.
[instrumental music]
Make fast, forward!
- You alright?
- Yes, I'm fine. Thank you.
Well done, well done.
(man on radio) We interrupt this
program for a special news bulletin.
We have just received
a report from America
that mountains of dead fish
are washing ashore
along the coast
from Maine to Florida.
We now return you
to our normal program.
[dramatic music]
[thunder rumbling]
(male narrator) And the Lord said,
"Behold now the behemoth "
[intense music]
Play one of the best new FPS shooters,
search Steam for PROJECT WARLOCK
[music continues]
[explosion]
(Karnes) And afterwards,
these mysterious figures
faces masked with lead.
These are ourselves.
Men, the kings of the Earth
trying to measure the extent
of the destruction
they themselves have created.
Since the beginning
of the Atomic Age
we've had 143 explosions
such as these you've just
seen here on the screen.
Now, one millionth part
of a gram of radium
is the safety limit.
The amount one human
can tolerate.
And yet, with each
of these explosions
we are hurling
into our atmosphere
hundreds of tons
of radioactive materials.
Who is it?
(Karnes) But it isn't only with
dramatic explosions such as these
that we're poisoning
this planet.
What about the dumping in our
oceans of our atomic wastes?
Granted, we are sealing them
in lead containers
but lead disintegrates
and corrodes
at the bottom of the sea.
Gentlemen, I was attached
to Operation Crossroads
as a marine biologist.
As you all no doubt know
that was Bikini.
And if there's one thing
we found out
it was that
there's no such thing
as an even
statistical dispersion
of radioactive materials.
Now, we checked samples
of the sea water in this area
and the radiation
was insignificant.
But in the tiny plankton
living in this water
it was 2000 times greater.
And in the fish that ate this
plankton, 40,000 times greater.
And in the seabirds
that fed upon these fish
the radioactivity
was 500,000 times greater.
Gentlemen, we are witnessing
a biological chain reaction.
A geometrical progression
of deadly menace.
I am in no position to question
your findings, Mr. Karnes
but may I point out
that these things occurred
in the most desolate,
uninhabited spot of the globe?
But I refuse to be panicked.
I do not believe that
Mr. Karnes wishes to panic us
as you put it.
But if you remember, in Japan
boatloads of fish
had to be destroyed
many thousands of miles away
from the test area.
That's exactly what I mean.
We cannot fence off the ocean.
These radioactive particles
are absorbed by the plankton
and then in a kind
of biological progression
from fish to bigger fish
or by the strange attraction
of protoplasmic masses
they form radioactive
conglomerates
unbelievably deadly.
The ocean is my province,
gentlemen,
but how little we know about it.
We only touch the surface
with our lines and our dragnets
our diving suits
and bathyscopes.
For all we know
what we have started
may have already matured.
And who can tell when this,
this, whatever it is...
...will rise to the surface
and strike back at us?
Make for the rock.
Now, my fine friends,
out with you.
Now...
Oh, this little beauty's for us.
Run it up to the house
and put it on the fire
while I haul the rest
up to the village.
And past the pub
to brag to your cronies?
I cannot imagine
what you're referring to.
What's that for?
For the best fisherman
in all Cornwall.
Oh, get away.
[instrumental music]
Dad, don't be late!
Be off with you!
[beeping]
[intense music]
[screaming]
[wind whooshing]
Father?
Is that you, dad?
He'll be as drunk as a lord.
[indistinct chatter]
[chuckles]
That makes it your round then,
Charlie.
- Hello, John.
- Hello, Jean.
Have you seen dad?
Not since this morning.
- He hasn't been by at all?
- No.
That's strange.
I thought he'd come by
to show off his whitefish.
So the old devil did it again,
did he?
Well, you see,
we beached in the cove
then I went on up to the house
to start the dinner,
and he was going to the village.
Well, he couldn't
have come through town
not with a whitefish,
otherwise the whole world
would've known of it.
I'll tell you what? Let's go
and look for him, shall we?
[instrumental music]
Dad!
Dad!
Tom!
Dad!
Tom! Tom!
Dad! Dad!
- John!
- Wait here. I'll look around.
[dramatic music]
- Get back, Jean! Don't look!
- Let me go!
Dad.
What happened, man?
Can-can you talk to us?
Can you hear us, Tom?
Dad. Dad.
From the sea, burning like fire.
What was it?
Behemoth.
[dramatic music]
[crying]
(male #1)
"Man that is born of woman
"is of few days
and full of trouble.
"He cometh forth like a flower
and is cut down."
Job, chapter 14,
the first verse.
And if any man could know
the sufferings of Job,
it was Thomas Trevethan.
Job and his suffering
turned to God for an answer.
Then answered the Lord
unto Job and said
"Behold now the behemoth
which I made with thee.
"He moveth his tail
like a cedar,
"out of his mouth
go burning lamps.
"And sparks of fire leap
out from the behemoth.
"He maketh the oceans
to boil like a pot.
"His breath kindleth coals
"and a flame goeth
out of his mouth."
But in the words of the Lord,
"There is comfort for those
Thomas Trevethan left behind."
For the Lord said to Job,
"Gird up thy loins like a man.
"Cast abroad the rage
of thy wrath.
"Then I will confess to thee
"thine own right hand
can save thee."
[dramatic music]
Shall we be going now?
Not home.
I wouldn't want
to go there yet.
Let's go for a walk then.
[instrumental music]
Look!
[intense music]
Thousands of them.
Thousands upon thousands.
Let's come away, John.
No. Wait a minute.
What's this stuff?
[screams]
John! Your hand!
[dramatic music]
Any luck with my tickets?
Well, I'm still working on your
plane reservation, Mr. Karnes.
- Pretty crowded, are they?
- Jammed.
We'd hoped you'd be
with us longer, sir.
Wish, I could be.
Would you care to watch
the television?
I'll have you paged
the moment I know anything.
Alright. Thank you.
(man on TV) And therefore, all
the news from the Middle East
is at the moment
most inconclusive.
And now our closing piece
for the afternoon
is an item of news
from Cornwall.
It appears that
the fishing industry there
has come to
a complete standstill.
All the beaches
are clogged up with dead fish,
and nobody can tell
why these fish are dead.
However, it has its more
amusing side to it.
For from Looe comes a report
that a sea monster
has been sighted.
Uh, no doubt one
of the Loch Ness variety
with fire-breathing
and all that,
but it does prove one point,
ladies and gentlemen.
It proves
that all the Scotch whiskey
has not been exported
to America.
Well, I'll say farewell now...
[dramatic music]
Oh, Mr. Karnes, I think
I have your reservation.
What?
Oh, I'm sorry. Cancel it.
Cancel it?
I'm sorry. The reservation
has just been canceled.
Is Professor Bickford
still in the lab?
Good.
May I speak to him, please?
Yes, very urgent.
[knocking on door]
Yes. Come in.
Oh, Mr. Karnes.
Ah, sit down.
You were halfway across London
a minute ago.
- Subway.
- Subway?
Oh, I see.
The underground.
You've mastered the intricacies
of that system, have you?
- Have a cup of tea?
- No, thanks.
I came to talk to you
about that Cornwall report.
Yes. Yes. There's rather more
in it than the press reports.
- A man is dead.
- Dead?
Yes. A fisherman from Looe,
died of burns.
It's very peculiar. The report's
a little vague unfortunately.
You know how these
village doctors are?
But there were burns,
spotting of the skin
and perforating ulcers.
Hmm. Same symptoms
as Hiroshima.
No, no, no, no.
Don't let's jump to conclusions.
Certain acids can cause
similar reaction.
A passing ship could
have dropped something.
That would account for the death
of all those fish.
I'm going down there,
Professor Bickford.
Maybe you're right
about this acid.
I only hope to God you are.
But supposing you aren't.
Now, how do you get there?
Now, look here,
you're young, aggressive.
A chap can cause
a great deal of trouble
by charging into
a situation like this.
Oh, we can't just sit here
on our tails and do nothing.
In a thing like this,
every hour counts.
Look here, Steve, I'm chairman
of a Royal Commission
on this precise subject.
You don't really imagine
that we sit around on our tails
drinking tea, do you?
No, sir. I'm sorry.
I didn't mean it to sound
as bad as it did.
Well, now, to answer your
question, Looe is in Cornwall
you change trains at Plymouth
and arrive at 11 o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Would you care to come along?
[chuckles] You chaps are great ones
for shaking hands, aren't you?
[train horn blaring]
[seagulls squawking]
Morning.
Can anyone tell me where
I can find Dr. Morris, please?
That's his house up there.
But it's too early for him yet.
Why aren't the boats out?
You from the newspapers?
No. We're from
the Atomic Energy Commission.
We've come here
to do some tests.
It's time somebody
did something.
Aye, and it better be something
more than tests.
(Bickford)
Hmm. Things bad about here?
You should have seen
the beach last week.
Aye, and outside too.
Everywhere a man looked,
fish floating, belly up.
How are these men
going to feed their families?
Will you answer me that?
This is the season we make our
living for the whole year, man.
How long has it been
since they've been out?
It's five days now.
Well, hasn't anybody even tried?
After what happened
to Trevethan?
Here, mister, you try.
Go on. I'll loan you my boat.
Take her out.
Is there any way we can see
any of these fish
that were washed up?
Well, Most of them washed out
yesterday on the tide.
The rest, we burned.
What did they look like?
They looked like dead fish.
Anybody see anything
that might have killed them?
No one saw anything
unusual at all?
I saw lights.
[dramatic music]
Lights?
What kind of lights?
Oh, like a giant cloud,
you might say.
Down there underneath the water.
A cloud like, uh...
Have you ever seen the city
at night with a storm coming on?
It was like that.
A great white cloud
lighted from underneath.
Well, it could
have been phosphorus.
- Different.
- Did it seem to move?
I was moving too fast
myself to notice.
[laughing]
Well, perhaps we'd better
try and find the doctor.
I'll take you up there
if you'd like.
[music continues]
[knocking on door]
Come in.
Ah, John, my lad,
how's the flipper?
Couple of gentlemen
to see you, doctor
from the atomic...something.
Ah, gentlemen, uh, come in.
Morning.
- My name is Bickford.
- How do you do?
- This is Mr. Karnes.
- How do you do?
Sit down, please.
We, uh, we'd like
to ask you a few questions
about Mr. Trevethan.
Oh, sad case.
Very sad, indeed.
What would you say was
the cause of his death?
Burns, first,
second and third degree
combined with shock,
of course.
You didn't call in
a consultant?
The man was dying when I got
there. What was the good?
(Karnes)
For a postmortem.
Why?
To mortify the daughter more?
This is an unusual case.
Oh, what would you say
was the cause of the burns?
Some sort of poisoning,
I would say.
Not an acid?
No, it was like no acid
I ever treated,
but from time to time,
a jellyfish or a kelp
could cause that sort of thing.
Combined with, perhaps,
a very strong allergic reaction.
Have you ever
had a similar case?
No.
Oh, just a minute.
John, do you mind?
[instrumental music]
I'm afraid it isn't very pretty.
[dramatic music]
Does it remind you of something?
Yes,
the tests in the Pacific.
And, doctor, I, I think perhaps
you'd better send this man
up to our clinic in London
for a check over.
How did this happen?
I was on the beach.
I was walking,
and I see this strange stuff.
It was like a piece
of jellyfish it was,
on-only it had a kind
of shine to it.
Shine?
I bent down to touch it, and...
Just where did it happen?
In the cove. I can-I can
show you if you'd like.
It was the same cove
where the old man died.
Uh, gentlemen, you can change
here if you want to.
Hmm.
[dramatic music]
Well...I checked the rocks
and algae. Nothing.
John!
Can you show me the exact spot
where you got your burn?
Well, the tide was out,
like it is now.
And that rock there
was on the left.
Yes. It was by this rock.
It was like this stuff
got caught behind it
when the tide went out.
Nothing here at all.
Ms. Trevethan,
was your father still alive
when you reached him?
He was.
Did he say anything?
Could he speak?
He said,
"It came out of the sea."
And then he said, "Behemoth."
Behemoth? What do you think
he meant by that?
It's a prophecy from the Bible.
It means some sort of
monstrous great beast.
Well, thank you very much.
I don't get it. Behemoth.
Who knows what the man saw,
if he saw anything.
Well, he must
have seen something.
Strange marine animal
of some sort.
We know radioactivity can cause
a sudden unhealthy growth,
mutations.
The man was dying in agony.
It's hardly the sort of report
I'd like to base a theory on.
Well, I'm not basing
any theories.
I just don't want to overlook
any possible evidence.
Now this stuff
that John touched
whatever it was,
he said it was shining.
Well, radiation doesn't shine.
Now, now, now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
We've no proof
there was any radiation here.
If there had been, we'd have
picked it up on our instruments.
Those are radiation burns
on his hand. I know that.
Oh, yes, well, I'll know it
when I hear the report
from the clinic in London.
Look, can you have your stations
send in specimens
from all up and down the coast?
Sea water, algae, plankton,
and especially fish.
- Could you do that?
- Yes, of course.
I'm never against checking.
Because one thing's for sure.
Something has happened here
that isn't in the book.
Something came out
of the ocean.
And now it's gone back into.
[dramatic music]
We've received samples
from 72 coastal stations.
Still missing those
from Hebrides.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hello.
Oh, hello, Steve.
Steve Karnes, Ned Lee.
- Hello.
- How are you?
I see your stations
are working very fast.
Tell me, what technique do you
use for measuring radiations?
Well, we evaporate the liquid
and then examine the residue.
This new ionization chamber
is very sensitive
and shows the slightest
deviation from normal radiation.
- What are the results?
- So far, all normal.
Is everything ready
for the radio autograph?
Yes, everything's all prepared.
Well, I'll leave you
to work with Ned.
- I'll see you later, Steve.
- Fine.
If you'll follow me, Mr. Karnes.
Yes, indeed.
I hope the instruments will be
satisfactory, Mr. Karnes.
Oh, these are very nice, Mr. Lee
but I'm not going to perform
a brain surgery.
I'm going to slice a fish.
Good old platichthys flesus.
I'm glad we've got this one.
If there's anything going on
at the bottom of the sea
this is the old girl
who can let us know about it.
Now, you see we cut
longitudinally here.
Being very careful.
To lay bare the internal organs
without touching
or injuring them.
And now we have to dry
out the extra moisture.
- Are the dryers ready?
- Oh, yes, Mr. Karnes.
There you are.
Here we have another
excellent specimen.
Well, that finishes
the first batch.
- Are we ready for photography?
- Yes, I think so.
This way, Mr. Karnes.
Oh, this is fine. Perfect.
Could we have number one?
- Thoroughly dry?
- Perfectly.
Good. Lights, please.
Now...
Place the fish like this
to get a contact impression.
Time clock, 20 seconds.
- What light do you use?
- We don't use any.
Now, if the fish has absorbed
any radioactive particles
they'll be concentrated
in the bones
and the internal organs.
So, actually,
the fish exposes itself
with a kind of built-in X-ray,
and we call it radio autograph.
[alarm ringing]
Now, put it in development.
Next.
[instrumental music]
[bell ringing]
[knocking on door]
(Karnes)
Come in.
- Well?
- They're developing.
How soon will the plates
be ready?
(male #2)
We have the first few now.
May we see them?
Thank you.
Nothing wrong with that one.
That one seems to be alright.
Hmm. Wonder what that is?
Well, it could be
a flaw in the film.
Now, this is important.
Is there any way
light could have
leaked into this room?
Well, let's see.
Turn off all the lights.
What's that?
Oh, no. Don't touch it.
My gloves and pincers.
(Bickford)
Let's have some lights now.
Where's the microscope?
(Bickford)
Over here.
- What could it be?
- I don't know.
Phosphorus combined
with radium will glow.
I've never seen anything
like that before.
[dramatic music]
Here. Take a look.
What's the tag on that specimen,
Mr. Lee?
Fourteen, that's...Plymouth.
Will you bring in plate 14,
please?
Have this tested
for radioactivity
and get me
the Department of Fisheries
on the telephone right away.
Yes, sir.
[music continues]
Look at that.
You see how each bone
stands out?
There's an enormous
concentration
of radioactive particles.
Now, this is the spot where
we removed that glowing matter.
[telephone ringing]
Hello,
this is Professor Bickford
of Atomic Research.
I want to speak to Mr. Lapham.
I don't care
what conference he's in.
This is a matter
of extreme urgency.
Oh, very well.
Well, will you ask him
to ring me
within five minutes?
If stuff like that
got on the market
the result would be disastrous.
We must block it off
at the port.
Well, it isn't enough
to block off the results.
We've got to find
the cause of this.
Now, I want to go to Plymouth.
I want to scout out the exact
area where that fish was found.
Can you get me a boat?
Are you still holding
to the monster theory?
Well, it's something
that moves under its own power
and moves fast.
Currents couldn't
have carried it.
It could be a separate incident.
Well, either way,
there's only one thing to do.
Track down this thing, find out
what it is, and then destroy it.
I'll get you a boat.
[intense music]
What's our position?
We passed the banks, Mr. Karnes.
Is that the place
the condemned fish came from?
It came from half a mile back,
passed square over this spot.
Didn't your machine
tell you anything?
No.
Should we give it another run?
No. No,
let's lay to for a while.
Alright.
[bell ringing]
Are you sure we couldn't have
missed the spot in the fog?
Look, mister,
I've been fishing this bank
since I was 12 years old.
You tell me exactly what
it is you're looking for.
Skipper, did you ever
spend a night in the jungle?
Me?
And you feel something out there
beyond the light of your fire
prowling around?
- A tiger?
- I don't know.
Any more than I know what
we're looking for right now.
(man on PA)
Attention! Attention!
A steamship Valkyrie
abound for Hull
is now more than
12 hours overdue.
If you have sighted
this vessel
please call
the coast guard at once.
I know the Valkyrie.
She's a beauty.
[rattling]
Look there.
Two points off the port bow.
[dramatic music]
- That's it.
- Your tiger? Let's have a look.
Skipper, I have to warn you.
Whatever this thing is,
it can be very dangerous.
- I'll risk it.
- Alright. Let's go.
[music continues]
[rattling continues]
Can't we get any more speed?
It's pulling away.
Engine room, more speed!
[music continues]
[rattling continues]
[rattling stops]
- Well, it's gone.
- What do we do now?
Let's circle around a while.
(man on PA) Coast guard, calling
the trawler, Molly T. Over.
Molly T. calling coast guard.
Standing by. Over.
(man on PA) Do you have
Mr. Steven Karnes aboard? Over.
Mr. Karnes is aboard. Do you
want to speak to him? Over.
Molly T., you will return
to port at once.
That is all.
Now what?
They sound as if they mean it.
[engine rumbling]
- Are you Mr. Karnes?
- Yes. What is it?
The steamship Valkyrie
was found beached last night.
No reasonable explanation.
Professor Bickford called us
to take you there at once.
[dramatic music]
Hello, Mr. Karnes.
Well, this is as far down
as we can get.
- How many survivors?
- There aren't any.
I've never seen
such terrible injuries.
- What is it?
- Radiation.
- What do you make of all this?
- I don't know.
But this damage, I mean, it must
have been some gigantic impact.
This is quarter of an inch
steel plate, reinforced.
It's incredible.
Well, I've got
to get back to London.
- Can you fix it up?
- Certainly.
- Superintendent.
- Yes?
Will you arrange for Mr. Karnes
to get back to London?
- Aye.
- Thank you, sir.
[music continues]
Go right in, sir.
Professor Bickford
is already here.
Thank you.
Oh, hello, Steve. You alright?
Yes, sir.
- Mr. Karnes.
- Sir.
I've just been showing
Professor Bickford
our report
on the Valkyrie disaster.
You visited the vessel too,
I believe.
Yes, sir. Uh, what did
the commander give as a cause?
Didn't state.
Merely said what it wasn't.
What's your idea, Steve?
I'm afraid it's going
to sound unbelievable.
Everything about this affair
is unbelievable
but it happened.
I feel, admiral, what we're
facing is a marine animal
of tremendous size and strength.
Do you really believe
that a whale
could have smashed
through steel plates
so high above the waterline?
I didn't say a whale.
Behemoth?
That's as good a name
as any for now.
Did you get my message
from the trawler?
Yes. I've just read it.
Well, we saw it,
from a distance.
Too far to tell
just what it was.
But it was gigantic
and moving very fast
and then we lost it.
And as to its
unbelievable strength
well, the Valkyrie
is proof of that.
Karnes has been developing this,
what shall I call it
Behemoth theory
for some time, admiral.
As to the radioactivity
of the thing
there can be no doubt.
But as to its size
and shape, well
I was very unwilling
to go along with him.
However, even before receiving
this Valkyrie report
I had independent confirmation
from my own laboratory.
That glowing substance which
we sent for chemical analysis
it has been found
to contain cells
from the stomach wall
of some unidentified species.
So now you agree
with Mr. Karnes?
- Yes, sir.
- Very well.
We shall organize
a pattern of search.
Thank you, gentlemen,
for alerting us to this danger.
We shall shortly
find this creature
whatever it is,
and dispose of it.
Is there any way of knowing
which way the beast is headed?
No, sir. Up until now,
it's been moving north.
I see. Well, in that case,
we'd better alert
the Coastal Nations
through NATO.
[instrumental music]
Yes.
Highly radioactive.
Of course we're informing
all other European neighbors.
I repeat, highly radioactive.
[speaking in foreign language]
[speaking in foreign language]
[dog barking]
What's wrong with Toby?
[instrumental music]
[barking continues]
[dog squeals]
[dramatic music]
[gunshots]
[screeching]
[dramatic music]
[knocking on door]
Ah. Have you got
the photographs?
Right here, sir.
[intense music]
Those are footprints.
Imagine the size of the thing.
That's the dead man, sir,
the farmer.
And that's the farm,
what's left of it.
Looks like a tornado.
Did anyone actually
see the thing?
Nobody that lived.
A neighbor called
the constable later.
Is there anything more
we can do for you, professor?
No.
No, thank you, officer.
- Goodnight, sir.
- Goodnight.
Steve, have you ever
seen footprints like these?
Well, I've seen fossils,
but that's, that's crazy.
They belong to a different age.
Well...
Who's your best man
in paleontology?
Samson. He is the curator
of the Natural History Museum.
Let's talk to him.
Professor Bickford.
Oh, it's an honor
even at this hour.
Dr. Samson, this is Mr. Karnes.
- How do you do?
- How do you do, sir?
I'm sorry to have
disturbed you so early.
Oh, no. Don't mention it.
I live just across the street.
We wanted to get your opinion
on this...photograph.
It is quite blurred, gentlemen.
Right.
I can see the footprint,
of course
made by some lizard, yes?
But the size, Dr. Samson.
This is a police car here.
Oh, I see.
Oh. Well, this is interesting.
It is the, the old
Paleosaurus family.
Uh, like this specimen
we've got here, only...
...much larger.
Much larger.
I should say this beast
must've been
about 150 to 200 feet long.
Now, wait. I-I'll show you.
Oh, yes, we had some here.
Mm. Yeah.
You see?
Now, that's the largest
footprint known.
Only seven feet long.
Dr. Samson, do you
have, uh, an illustration
of the whole creature?
Oh, certainly, indeed.
Oh, what a splendid
fossil you've found.
I'll get my assistant
to take a cast this morning.
Dr. Samson,
this creature is not dead.
Y-you're joking.
No. It's alive,
very much alive.
Where is it? We must organize
an expedition straight away.
I'll get all my staff.
Uh, in the Pacific, I presume.
No. In England.
It was last seen
off the Essex Coast.
Oh, it's heading for the Thames.
They always make for
the freshwater rivers to die.
That's where the skeletons
have been found.
Some irresistible instinct
to die in the shallows
that gave them birth.
You know, all my life
I hoped this would happen.
Ever since childhood,
I've expected it.
I knew these creatures
were alive somewhere
but I had no proof.
No scientific proof.
And I, I had
to keep it to myself
or my colleagues
would have all laughed at me.
See, no form of life
ceases abruptly.
And all these reports
of sea serpents.
Well, what can they be?
The tall, graceful neck
of Paleosaurus.
He can stay underneath
the surface for an age.
And now...
...now he comes to the top.
But, Dr. Samson--
Yes, we must organize
an expedition straight away.
Oh, think of it.
What a wonderful specimen
to have in the museum.
Oh, but it's,
it's dreadfully dangerous
and I suppose you know
it's also electric.
Electric? That would account
for the glowing.
Mm, e-electric, like an eel.
But this beast
isn't only electric
it's intensely radioactive.
Radioactive?
Then I, I suppose
the creature will have to be...
...killed.
Dr. Samson, I must get
to the admiralty now.
- May I take this with me?
- Yes.
Thank you very much.
And thank you for all your help.
Goodbye.
Oh, but first, gentlemen, uh,
uh, first study the photographs.
(Bickford) Well, at least now we
know what our adversary looks like.
This sketch is the paleontology
people's best guess.
Pleasant looking chap, isn't he?
We're told that he carries
a strong electric charge.
Judging by the beast's size
I would say that
it was powerful enough
to drive a battleship.
Of course, its tremendous
electric charge
is what projects the radiation.
That's what makes
the creature so deadly.
Well, do you have
any concrete suggestions?
Yes. First,
block off the Thames.
But London is fed by ships.
You're asking us
to evacuate the city?
Why, we didn't do that even
at the height of the blitz.
But, admiral--
Now, for a single
overgrown crocodile
which we don't even know
is heading this way...
Oh, no. The Thames Estuary
is already blocked off by radar.
But why don't you see
for yourselves?
I can have you there
within the hour.
[dramatic music]
These screens, sir,
show us everything
that's going on in the estuary.
We're maintaining radio contact
with all ships
as well as
with the helicopter patrol.
Now this screen corresponds
to the area marked
H on our maps.
Well, there's a destroyer,
as you see.
It's proceeding
into the adjoining area.
And up there
in the right-hand corner
you see a helicopter
entering the area.
That would be our friend,
Dr. Samson, with his cameras.
I wonder if he'll
get his pictures.
In this fog, I imagine
we get a better picture on here
than he will in his helicopter.
[helicopter whirring]
I'm dropping down.
You got your camera ready,
Peters?
- Plenty of film?
- Yes, Dr. Samson.
But you must realize
with visibility as it is, it's--
Oh, we'll sight it, Peters.
After all these years, we must.
Look. Down over to the left.
[dramatic music]
Can't see anything.
There is something there.
A white patch,
beneath the surface.
I think it's moving.
That's it. I know it.
We've sighted a moving object
underneath the water.
Our position is at...
...H-3-2.
Where's H-3-2?
There, sir. The helicopter.
I'm going down to investigate.
Over.
[music continues]
Can you make out
anything below them?
(male #3) No, sir. There's
nothing showing on the screen.
Must be a false alarm.
It's definite.
I can see it very plainly.
We're just above it,
moving at the same speed.
Well, there's nothing on
the screen, but the helicopter.
[music continues]
Aren't there some things
that radar can't pick up?
No, sir. We can even see
the fish when they're running.
Nothing can get by us.
Well, I'm afraid there's
something that can now.
[music continues]
[explosion]
Can't pick up the helicopter.
(man on radio)
Control tower calling X-134.
Will you resume contact?
Will you come in? Over.
Nothing shows. Nothing.
We'd better get back
to the admiralty at once.
(man on radio)
Calling all surface and aircraft
in the vicinity of area H.
Proceed at once
to point H-32 on your map.
[intense music]
[fog horn blaring]
[fog horn blaring]
[brake screeches]
[fog horn blaring]
[dramatic music]
[woman screams]
[roaring]
[woman screams]
[music continues]
[roaring]
[screams]
[all screaming]
[music continues]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[screaming]
[music continues]
Extra! Extra!
Monster attacks London!
Monster! Latest!
(man on radio) ...which now
brings the casualties to 36 dead
and more than 50 missing.
The Metropolitan Police
announced that the embankments
of the Thames
are closed to all traffic.
The public is asked
to keep all streets clear
adjoining the river.
We repeat the Metropolitan
Police bulletin.
We repeat the Metropolitan
Police bulletin.
The situation is well in hand.
There is no reason for panic
but the immediate vicinity of
the River Thames is dangerous.
Oh, fiddlesticks!
We repeat.
The vicinity of
the River Thames is dangerous.
This is your roving
reporter David McAvoy
speaking from my position
in front of the Port Of
London Authority Headquarters.
Throughout the day
we've seen armed forces
police, and ministry heads going
in for a series of meetings
which have been
taking place here.
The commissioner,
Sir Charles More
has been personally in charge.
Hello, Riverside, PLA speaking.
- Tower Bridge.
- Tower Bridge.
PLA speaking. Tower Bridge.
Port Of London Authority,
boat 4, report to pier 8.
Port Of London Authority,
boat 4, report to pier 8.
Hello,
Port Of London Authority...
(male #4)
This is the situation.
The beast appeared at Woolwich,
where it destroyed the ferry
and collided
with four motor barges.
That was exactly
two and half hours ago.
Are you closing the bridges,
commissioner?
The bridges will be closed
at the first alert
and the traffic will be rerouted
through the tunnels.
The beast can strike anywhere
and we're planning
to meet it anywhere.
A committee of scientists
under the chairmanship
of professor James Bickford
is now meeting
with a military specialist.
Meanwhile, as you know
the army and the police
are taking all possible steps
for the protection
of the civilian population.
[dramatic music]
[knock on door]
[knock on door]
[knock on door]
[music continues]
[music continues]
Keep in touch with me
by telephone.
Very good, sir.
- Well, Allison?
- Still in conference, sir.
(Summers) Gentlemen, I still
think the simplest way
is the use of explosives.
Very well,
a few drainpipes will be
knocked out under the river.
Several houses
will be destroyed
which, I remind you,
have already been evacuated.
Gentlemen, I propose bombs
which we can deliver
with great precision
from low-flying planes
or helicopters.
But, Admiral Summers, even
supposing you score a direct hit
with your first bomb,
which is problematical
then you'll blow
the creature to bits
but don't you realize
that they...
That each bit will be intensely
radioactive?
A million radioactive particles
blown into every
corner of London?
Why, the whole city
would be poisoned
for God knows how many years.
No, sir, we must find a way
of destroying this creature
in one piece
and then we can safely dispose
of the radioactive carcass.
This animal, we know is carrying
such a huge concentration
of radioactive particles
that it cannot possibly survive.
It's burning itself
out by the minute.
Right now it's dying
of its own radioactivity.
How long will it last?
We have no way of knowing.
Couldn't we somehow
speed up the process?
I wonder.
Suppose...
Suppose we were to introduce,
say
ten centigrams of pure radium
into this disintegrating mass.
Wouldn't that
accelerate the process?
Destroy the creature by burning
it up from the inside?
Couldn't we tip a shell
with radium, say, antitank?
No, no.
Suppose the shell
misses the target.
We cannot chance firing
a radium warhead
at the city of London.
The result would be disastrous.
No, it must be a direct hit
and the radium must remain
inside the creature.
You know...
...a torpedo would be
the ideal solution.
It explodes on impact
and its force is contained
in the waters around it.
Now, if we could fit a tip
of pure radium to the warhead
then it would be buried
deep inside the beast.
That seems to be the answer.
Do you agree?
- Yes.
- Yes.
And we have the radium
at Howell.
I could get you a
miniature submarine in time.
That would be the surest way
of delivering the torpedo.
But do you realize the danger?
[intercom buzzes]
Yes?
Can you give us the latest news?
We have nothing, sir.
Nothing sighted.
[dramatic music]
[snarling]
[screeching]
[bell ringing]
[horn blaring]
[roaring]
[music continues]
[inaudible dialogue]
[snarling]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[horn blaring]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[roaring]
(male #5)
Aah!
[screaming]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[intense music]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[beeping]
[groaning]
[beeping]
[music continues]
[roaring]
[choking]
[music continues]
[gunshots]
[snarling]
[gunshots]
[beeping]
[screaming]
[beeping continues]
[dramatic music]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[intense music]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[roaring]
[screaming]
[music continues]
[roaring]
How much longer will it be,
Bickford?
We're forging the tip now.
It's a delicate operation.
You can't handle radium
as if it were iron.
But have you heard
what's been going on out there?
Yes, we've heard.
It won't be long now.
[dramatic music]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[roaring]
[electricity crackling]
[explosion]
[alarm ringing]
[roaring]
(male #6)
Switch on.
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[roars]
[roars]
[roaring]
[roaring]
[men screaming]
[roaring]
All ready, sir.
Well, that's fine.
So, what is it exactly?
Well, you see we're tracing
a highly radioactive
moving target
and this is the little gimmick
that'll find it for us.
Yeah, well,
that's your department.
You just tell me where to steer
and when to pull the trigger.
I'll certainly try.
[sirens ringing]
[intense music]
- Here it is, commander.
- Okay, we'll get it fixed up.
[helicopter whirring]
PB-7, PB-7, PB-7.
Report to me, PB-7.
PB-7, PB-7.
Report to me, PB-7.
[helicopter whirring]
[dramatic music]
PB-7, PB-7, PB-7.
Report to me, PB-7.
PLA, this is PB-7, PB-7.
I've sighted target.
Map reference, L-8-R-1-7.
Map reference, L-8-R-17.
Target sighted.
Map reference, L-8-R-17.
[intense music continues]
Alright, here we go.
Stand by to cast off.
- Come on, Mr. Karnes.
- Right.
Let go!
Ready?
[instrumental music]
[helicopter whirring]
[helicopter whirring]
[beeping]
[beeping continues]
[beeping intensifies]
[dramatic music]
[intense beeping]
Any news?
[dramatic music]
[beeping]
[helicopter whirring]
- Anything?
- Nothing, sir.
[beeping]
[beeping]
Can we try it again?
- Steer 3-1-9.
- 3-1-9.
[music continues]
[beeping]
[dramatic music]
[beeping]
Stand by to fire.
[beeping]
Hold it.
Hold it.
[beeping]
Fire!
[explosion]
PB-7. PB-7. Reporting.
Professor Bickford.
They've hit it.
[instrumental music]
Make fast, forward!
- You alright?
- Yes, I'm fine. Thank you.
Well done, well done.
(man on radio) We interrupt this
program for a special news bulletin.
We have just received
a report from America
that mountains of dead fish
are washing ashore
along the coast
from Maine to Florida.
We now return you
to our normal program.
[dramatic music]