Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954)

Monster from the Ocean Floor is a 1954 science fiction film about a sea monster that terrorizes a Mexican cove. The film was directed by Wyott Ordung and starred Anne Kimbell and Stuart Wade.

It was the first from produced by Roger Corman (although he had previously written Highway Dragnet).

Plot
Julie Blair (Kimbell) is an American vacationing at a seaside village in Mexico. She hears stories about a man-eating creature dwelling in the cove. She meets Dr. Baldwin (Dick Pinner), a marine biologist, and they fall for one another. The mysterious death of a diver inspires Julie to inverstigate, but Baldwin is very skeptical. She sees a giant amoeba rising from the ocean.

Cast

 * Anne Kimbell as Julie Blair
 * Stuart Wade as Steven Dunning
 * Dick Pinner as Dr. Baldwin
 * Wyott Ordung as Pablo
 * Inez Palange as Tula
 * Jonathan Haze as Joe
 * David Garcia as Jose
 * Roger Corman as Tommy

Production
Alan Frank listed Monster from the Ocean Floor 's budget as $30,000. However, Corman stated that the film was made for $12,000 over six days. According to Corman, $4,000 of the fim's budget came from Ordung, $3,500 from Corman (from the sale of the Highway Dragnet story to Allied Artists), $5,000 in deferment from Consolidated Labs, and money raised privately by selling $500, and $1,000 shares. Ordong later claimed he hocked his life insurance and sold his apartment to raise $15,000 to play for the film.

Corman had seen an article on a new electric-powered one-man submarine, and was able to use it in the Picture for free in exchange for the publicity and an on-screen credit. The film's original title was "It Stalked the Ocean Floor," but was changed by the distributor for being too artsy.

Reception
The film was sold to Lippert Pictures for $110,000. Corman received a $60,000 advance for this, which enabled him to make his next film. The film grossed $850,000.

TV Guide found the movie lacking, especially citing the direction as failing, however, it found the movie interesting historically as the "beginning of something big and cheap." Variety was kinder, calling the movie a well made quickie.