Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

The American black-and-white 3D monster horror film, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), was produced by William Alland and directed by Jack Arnold. During a geology expedition in the Amazon, a skeletal hand with webbed fingers from the Devonian period is discovered, providing a direct link between land and sea animals. Expedition leader Dr. Carl Maia instructs his two assistants to remain at camp while he visits the marine biology institute. There, he meets up with his friend and former student, ichthyologist Dr. David Reed. After working at an aquarium in California, David has joined Carl’s institute in Brazil to study lungfish. With some persuasion from David, his financially-minded boss Dr. Mark Williams agrees to fund a return expedition to the Amazon in search of the rest of the skeleton.

Shortly after Carl’s departure from camp, a humanoid creature with both aquatic and terrestrial abilities, belonging to the same species as the ancient fossil, becomes intrigued by the expedition’s base. Its sudden appearance startles the assistants, causing them to react violently in fear. In response, the distressed Creature defends itself and unintentionally takes the lives of both assistants. The group then boards the Rita, a tramp steamer commanded by a gruff captain named Lucas. Along with David, Carl, Mark, David’s partner and colleague Kay Lawrence, and another scientist named Dr. Edwin Thompson make up the team. Upon arriving at camp, they discover that while Carl was away his assistants were fatally attacked. Lucas suspects it was likely a jaguar responsible, although the others are not so certain.