I do consider myself a fan of the '50s wave of atomic-spawned giant monster flicks but you do have to draw the line somewhere as regards to entertainment value, and unfortunately IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA falls somewhere below that line. It's a film which has dated badly and despite an eighty-minute running time, feels like it goes on forever. The pacing is extraordinarily slow and let down even further by one of those infuriating romances that proved to be the bane of many a '50s monster flick. The film is not a total dud but it is slow-going and the exciting bits are few and far between. All of the scenes in which the creature is on screen are appealing but unfortunately due to a constrained budget, these appear only briefly throughout the rest of the story.The core of the film consists of a will-they won't-they romance between leading actors Kenneth Tobey and Faith Domergue, many conversations taking the form of dated sexism and 'new woman-ism' which are neither here nor there. The creature rampage is mainly saved for the finale in which the Golden Gate Bridge is destroyed by the giant octopus, and indeed this ending is the only bit that really recalls the rest of the giant monster age such as the GODZILLA films. The only decent bit halfway through the film is when the octopus attacks and sinks a huge ship. The back projection effects are very poor but saved by some splendid stop-motion work from the reliable Ray Harryhausen, here working on one of his earliest mainstream films. Although the octopus only has six tentacles due to budget constraints (!) scenes of it crushing people to death and menacing victims with huge animated tentacles are great fun. It's just a shame the surrounding story is such a crushing bore and never goes anywhere. Not the worst, but lacking in decent entertainment value and only for those die-hard fans out there.

If you make preparations for what you expect from "It Came from Beneath the Sea", the better the chance you'll end up enjoying it. If you approach the movie expecting non-stop action and special effects, you'll probably be disappointed. The monster of this movie only makes a few brief appearances in the first sixty minutes, and the movie is more devoted to serious dialogue than anything else.However, if you find the idea of a giant monster movie handled in a more realistic manner than usual, you'll probably find the movie interesting and entertaining. After seeing so many dumb giant monster movies, I actually found this serious approach refreshing. It's interesting to see a believable way authorities would deal with the sudden appearance of a giant monster. Of course, the big selling point of the movie IS the giant monster. When we do get to see it, it's pretty impressive. Yes, some aspects of the special effects are dated by today's standards (like some cheesy rear projection), but if you put yourself in a 1955 perspective, you can be impressed by what you see.If you're in the mood for a giant monster movie from the 1950s, but with a different narrative twist, give this movie a try.

I have to give some credit to where credit is due, Ray Harryhausen truly made this movie watchable. I'm not saying the Director Robert Gordon and others did a horrible job. I'm just saying besides the visuals in the film, there is nothing worth saying about the film. It was just another Sci-fi B-movie with a simple plot. It had a lot to say about what the nuclear tests and waste products of the day could do to living things. Like other Sci-Fi films at the time, without really looking into the science books, or watching old films that show that being expose to radiation or radioactive material would cause sickness or death. The movie has a make-believe field day by saying that Atom-Bomb cause things to get larger. Throughout the 1950's, you had a number of these types of clichés film. Example of objects in movies getting larger by being expose by radiation are ants, reptiles, and now octopuses! This film had an atomic size octopus from the deepest realms of the Pacific threatens the world's oceans wrecking and shipping anything that touches the water. Navy Captain Pete Mathews (Kenneth Tobey) and two expert marine-biologists, John Carter (Donald Curtis) and Lesley Joyce (Faith Domergue), work around the clock to find a way to stop the creature. The highlight of the film in my opinion, is where the creature create havoc on San Francisco Bay looking for some food supplies. The octopus's food supply have their own internal Geiger Counter to dying off the radiation was never explained, and doesn't make any real scientific sense. Anyways it's driven off, and found the Bay Area to being yummy! It wraps its tentacles around Golden Gate Bridge is amazing stop-moment action even if it's missing two. Ray trying to save money gave the Octopus only six tentacles than eight. I love the scene where the creature attacked the Ferry Building. It's kinda funny that cars are still passing by the Embarcadero while the creature was attacking. I think the movie makers forgot to cut the cars from that shot. There is a shot of the Octopus attacking the submarine that was pretty worthy that might pay tribute to Jules Verne or trying to rip his idea of a Giant Octopus attacking the submarine off. While I think it's pretty good, I have to say the Octopus that was attacking the Nautilus in Disney's 20000 Leagues under the Sea (1954) was better visual than this. Plus, this film didn't have Captain Nemo that would make the film, even better. Although this movie plot is little more than a rehash of earlier Atomic Age horrors movies like The Beast from 20,000 (1953), another Ray Harryhausen movie. The romantic sub plot is annoying to the point, it ruins the movie. There was a scene where they were testing the nuclear radiation. Three scientists are wearing protective suits while examining the specimen. Dr. Joyce stupidly removes her radiation suit, and Pete Matthews falls in love with her, rather than caring about her just being expose to radiation just then. Dr. Lesley is the worst scientist in the world. Rather than doing her job that could have save hundreds of Americans lives, she falls in love with a sea captain and spent more time with wooing him than solving this case. This story is presented as a documentary, as there is a narrator narrating pointless dilogue that isn't needed. Show, don't tell, movie. There are two versions of this film. One in color in newer DVDs while the older has it in black and white. In my opinion, I think it is best to leave the B&W movies in their original form. Overall: the film pace is slow, is filled with stereotypes, and despairingly old fashioned. Still: it's a lot of cheesy fun. Columbia booked this as a double bill with Creature with the Atom Brain all across the US. I wish it came with it. I would had love that. This is the film that brought together producer Charles H. Schneer and special effects legend Ray Harryhausen. Their professional relationship would last until Clash of the Titans, the final feature for both men. I deeply saddened by the loss of special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen, whose stop-motion animation skills brought ancient gods and monsters to life for several generations of moviegoers. He will be miss.

*Spoiler/plot- It came from Beneath the Sea, 1955. Several unexplained sea disasters occur and are investigated by the Navy. A large immense octopus-like creature is the cause and it attacks San Francisco. The authorities fight the beast.*Special Stars- Kenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald Curtis.*Theme- The sea holds many strange dangerous creatures.*Trivia/location/goofs- Giant octopus only had six legs instead of eight for budgetary reasons. The atomic sub was diesel powered, USS Cubera SS-147. Shot in Long Beach Harbor Navy base, California. This film's special torpedo was actually a aerial rocket disguised for the plot point.*Emotion- This film is another giant atomic mutated animal film plot popular for the time of nuclear testing fears. While many of such movies were very bankable and sold tickets, this film's pedigree of using Ray Harryhausen makes it truly experiencing his special art and talent enjoyably to be seen and appreciated by the viewer.