War of the Colossal Beast is a 1958 black-and-white science fiction film directed by Bert I. Gordon. The movie is a sequel to the 1957 film The Amazing Colossal Man and follows the story of Glenn Manning, a U.S. Army officer who became a giant after being exposed to radiation in the first film. This movie, also known by its alternate titles Revenge of the Colossal Man and The Colossal Beast, continues the narrative of Manning’s tragic transformation and subsequent monstrous behavior.
The film begins with Joyce Manning (Sally Fraser), Glenn Manning’s sister, who is desperate to find her brother after he goes missing. (There is no mention of her in the first film nor any mention of his fiance either) The military had presumed him dead following the events of the first film, but Joyce refuses to believe.
Her suspicions are confirmed when reports of a giant creature stealing food trucks in Mexico surface. The creature is soon revealed to be Glenn Manning, now disfigured and suffering from amnesia due to his injuries.
As the military captures him and brings him back to the United States, they attempt to cure his condition. However, Manning’s psychological state deteriorates, leading to a climactic rampage through Los Angeles.
Cast
- Parkin, Duncan “Dean” (February 26, 1924 – February 1, 2009) – Lt. Colonel Glenn Manning/Colossal Man. Glenn Manning is a U.S. Army officer who, after being exposed to radiation, becomes a giant. Disfigured and amnesiac, he struggles with his monstrous nature as he wreaks havoc before being captured by the military. – War of the Colossal Beast, The Cyclops, The Monster That Challenged the World, Blood of Dracula, The Beast of Hollow Mountain, Attack of the Puppet People, Giant from the Unknown, The Blob, Frankenstein 1970, Teenage Cave Man, TV episodes of The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Bonanza, Perry Mason, Rawhide, 77 Sunset Strip, The Twilight Zone, The Wild Wild West
- Fraser, Sally (December 12, 1932 – January 13, 2019) – Joyce Manning. Joyce is Glenn Manning’s determined sister, who refuses to accept that her brother is dead. She leads a search to find him and discovers his tragic transformation, desperately trying to save him – Earth vs. the Spider, It Conquered the World, War of the Colossal Beast, Giant from the Unknown, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Teenage Monster, Dragstrip Riot, The Cyclops, The Amazing Colossal Man, The Last Hurrah, TV episodes of Perry Mason, The Loretta Young Show, The Millionaire, Maverick, The Restless Gun, Dragnet, General Electric Theater, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Zane Grey Theater, Leave It to Beaver
- Pace, Roger (October 22, 1931 – November 8, 2011) – Major Mark Baird. Major Baird is a military officer involved in the search and capture of Glenn Manning. He works closely with Joyce to help her find her brother and manage the chaotic situation – War of the Colossal Beast, Hell’s Crossroads, From Hell to Texas, Voice in the Mirror, The FBI Story, The Last Hurrah, Hound-Dog Man, Battle of the Coral Sea, The Flying Fontaines,Cry Tough, TV episodes of Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, 77 Sunset Strip, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Deputy, The Twilight Zone, Tales of Wells Fargo, Laramie, The Untouchables
- Bender, Russ (January 1, 1910 – August 16, 1969) – Dr. Carmichael. Dr. Carmichael is a scientist who seeks to cure Glenn Manning’s gigantism. He offers a scientific perspective on Manning’s condition and explores ways to reverse the effects of the radiation – War of the Colossal Beast, The Amazing Colossal Man, It Came from Beneath the Sea, Them!, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Fly, The Thing from Another World, The Space Children, Attack of the Puppet People, TV episodes of Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, 77 Sunset Strip, Wagon Train, The Adventures of Superman, The Outer Limits, The Rifleman, Rawhide, and The Real McCoys
- Alaniz, Rico (October 25, 1919 – March 9, 2015) – Sgt. Luis Murillo. Sgt. Murillo is a Mexican military officer who helps in the search for Glenn Manning after reports emerge of a giant man stealing food in Mexico. He aids in the initial attempts to apprehend Manning – War of the Colossal Beast, The Magnificent Seven, The Big Gundown, The Tall T, The Last Command, The Bravados, The Outlaws Is Coming, The Black Orchid, The Big Circus, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, TV episodes of Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Wagon Train, Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Rifleman, Zane Grey Theater, The Texan, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Have Gun – Will Travel
- Stewart, Charles (May 16, 1923 – May 16, 2016) – Captain Harris. Captain Harris is a U.S. military officer who assists in capturing Glenn Manning and transporting him back to the United States for treatment, playing a key role in the logistics of the mission – War of the Colossal Beast, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Them!, The Giant Behemoth, The Amazing Colossal Man, The Killer Shrews, The Space Children, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, TV episodes of Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, 77 Sunset Strip, The Twilight Zone, The Adventures of Superman, Rawhide, Wagon Train, The Rifleman, Bonanza, The Lone Ranger.
- Becwar, George (July 16, 1913 – September 30, 1974) – John Swanson. John Swanson is a scientist involved in the efforts to rehabilitate Glenn Manning, working alongside Dr. Carmichael to prevent further destruction and find a cure for Manning’s condition – War of the Colossal Beast, The Amazing Colossal Man, It Came from Beneath the Sea, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, The Monster That Challenged the World, Them!, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Fly, The Space Children, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, TV episodes of Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, 77 Sunset Strip, The Twilight Zone, Rawhide, The Adventures of Superman, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Bonanza, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
- Gordon, Roy (January 15, 1896 – March 12, 1978) – Mayor. The Mayor is a city official involved in making decisions about how to handle Glenn Manning once he is brought back to the United States, representing the civilian perspective on public safety and ethical concerns – War of the Colossal Beast, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Amazing Colossal Man, Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, The Cyclops, The Man from Planet X, Mysterious Island, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Thing from Another World, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, TV episodes of Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, 77 Sunset Strip, The Adventures of Superman, Rawhide, Wagon Train, The Lone Ranger, Dragnet, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
- Hernandez, Robert (November 26, 1911 – October 11, 1970) – Miguel. Miguel is a local Mexican man who encounters Glenn Manning while Manning is hiding in Mexico. He witnesses the giant stealing food, highlighting the fear and confusion caused by Manning’s presence – War of the Colossal Beast, The Magnificent Seven, The Hitch-Hiker, The Three Caballeros, The Black Scorpion, The Bravados, The Badlanders, The Treasure of Pancho Villa, Beneath the 12-Mile Reef, Rio Grande, TV episodes of Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, The Lone Ranger, Zorro, Bonanza, The High Chaparral, The Cisco Kid, Rawhide, The Virginian, Have Gun – Will Travel
- Milan, George (March 13, 1919 – June 7, 1984) – General Nelson. General Nelson is a high-ranking military officer who oversees the mission to capture and control Glenn Manning, ensuring the U.S. military’s response to the extraordinary threat posed by the colossal man – War of the Colossal Beast, A Star Is Born, War of the Worlds, I Was a Teenage Frankenstein, The Long, Hot Summer, Monster on the Campus, Al Capone, Invasion of the Saucer Men, I Want to Live!, Return to Warbow, TV episodes of Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, The Twilight Zone, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Rawhide, Bonanza, Dragnet, 77 Sunset Strip, and The Adventures of Superman
- Chambers, Stan (August 11, 1923 – February 13, 2015) – The TV Announcer – Chambers was primarily known as a television journalist for KTLA in Los Angeles, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, War of the Colossal Beast, Zarkorr! The Invader, TV episodes of KTLA 5 News at 10
The film was directed by Bert I. Gordon, who was also the producer and special effects supervisor. Known for his work on a variety of giant monster films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Gordon earned the nickname “Mr. B.I.G.” due to both his initials and his penchant for creating films about oversized creatures. The screenplay was written by George Worthing Yates1, who was an experienced writer of science fiction films and had worked on several other genre classics, including Them! and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers.
The producers decided to use the very heavy make up on Duncan ‘Dean’ Parkin as a way to disguise the fact that a different actor was playing Col. Manning, especially since in a dream sequence flashing back to the original film featured Glenn Langan, the star of that film. The “beast” makeup was created by Jack Young, who had earlier designed the titular monster of “The Cyclops” (1957). Both creatures were performed by the same person – stagehand, Duncan “Dean” Parkin.
The production utilized a variety of techniques to depict the colossal size of the main character, Glenn Manning. This included combining live-action footage with scaled miniatures and employing creative camera angles to enhance the illusion of Manning’s gigantic stature.
These techniques, while somewhat rudimentary by today’s standards, were quite effective for the time and are a testament to Gordon’s ingenuity in working with a limited budget. “War of the Colossal Beast” was shot primarily in Southern California.
Specific locations included Griffith Park and the San Fernando Valley area, which were used to depict both the desert sequences in Mexico and various outdoor scenes in Los Angeles. The movie climaxes at Griffith Park Observatory.
The practical locations and minimal set design were characteristic of the low-budget productions of the era, which often had to maximize the use of readily available locales to keep costs down. One interesting piece of trivia about War of the Colossal Beast is that the film’s climax features a brief segment shot in color.
This was unusual for black-and-white films of the time and was likely included to add a shocking visual impact to the film’s conclusion. The sequence depicts Manning’s gruesome face in full color right before his tragic end, enhancing the horror element of the story. The film is often remembered for its special effects,
particularly the make-up and prosthetics used to depict Manning’s grotesque, half-destroyed face. The portrayal of the disfigured Manning and his tragic narrative arc add a layer of pathos to the monster genre, differentiating it from other science fiction films of the period.
War of the Colossal Beast holds a unique place in the pantheon of 1950s science fiction cinema. Though not a major hit, it has gained a cult following over the years due to its distinctive blend of horror and science fiction, as well as its role in the continuation of the storyline established in The Amazing Colossal Man.
The film exemplifies the resourcefulness of filmmakers during the era and remains a notable example of mid-century American genre filmmaking. I’ll give this movie 3 out of 5 stars
Footnotes
- George Worthing Yates (August 14, 1901 – June 6, 1975) was an American screenwriter known for his work on numerous science fiction and adventure films during the 1950s and 1960s. He began his career writing for serials and later transitioned to feature films, making a name for himself in the genre of science fiction. In addition to War of the Colossal Beast (1958), Yates wrote or co-wrote several notable films, including It Came from Beneath the Sea (1955), which features a giant octopus attacking San Francisco, and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956), a story about alien invasions. He also worked on Them! (1954), a classic about giant ants that was one of the first “big bug” films, and Attack of the Puppet People (1958), a film about a doll maker who shrinks people to doll size. Yates’s screenwriting often focused on themes of giant creatures or extraterrestrial threats, reflecting the fears and fascinations of the Cold War era. His contributions to the science fiction genre helped shape the landscape of 1950s cinema, making his works a staple of classic American sci-fi. ↩︎
Further Reading
Sources
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Colossal_Beast
- IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052378/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv
- Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_of_the_colossal_beast
- MST3K https://mst3k.fandom.com/wiki/War_of_the_Colossal_Beast_(film)
- 1000 Misspent Hours http://www.1000misspenthours.com/reviews/reviewsa-d/warofthecolossalbeast.htm
- Scifist https://scifist.net/2024/08/11/war-of-the-colossal-beast/
