Reptilicus

Infobox Film
name = Reptilicus


image_size =
caption = film poster by Reynold Brown
director = Danish version:
Poul Bang
English version:
Sidney W. Pink
producer =
writer = Ib Melchior
Sidney W. Pink
narrator =
starring = Carl Ottosen
Ann Smyrner
Mimi Heinrich
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor =
released = 1961
runtime = 81 min.
country = Denmark/ U.S.A.
language = Danish / English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:107627
imdb_id = 0056405

"Reptilicus", a giant monster film about a fictional prehistoric reptile, is a Danish-American co-production, produced by American International Pictures and Saga Studios, and is upon close examination two distinctly different films helmed by two different directors.

The Danish version, which was shot in the Danish language, was directed by Danish director Poul Bang and released in Denmark on February 25, 1961. The American version, which was shot in the English language with a nearly identical cast, was directed by the film's American producer-director Sidney W. Pink; this version was initially deemed virtually unreleasable by American International Pictures and had to be extensively reworked by the film's Danish-American screenwriter, Ib Melchior, before being finally released in America in 1962.

The Monster

Resembling a giant dragon-like serpent with webbed wings, Reptilicus, with near-impenetrable armor-plated skin, had the ability to regenerate itself from any segment as well as fly (a feature obscured in the US version, when AIP removed the flying scene). In the US version, an effect was added (albeit randomly and clumsily) where Reptilicus shot a neon-green acid slime from his mouth.

The special effect used to bring Reptilicus to life is a wired marionette.

tory

Danish miners dug up a section of a giant reptile's tail from the frozen grounds in Lapland, where they were drilling. The section was flown to the Denmark Aquarium in Copenhagen, where it was preserved in a cold room for scientific study. But due to careless mishandling, the room was left open and the section began to thaw, only for scientists to find that it was starting to regenerate. Professor Martens, who was in charge of the Aquarium, dubbed the reptilian species "Reptilicus" (upon a reporter's suggestion), and compared its regeneration abilities to that of other animals like earthworms and starfishes. Once fully regenerated from the tail section, Reptilicus went on an unstoppable rampage from the Danish countryside to the panic-stricken streets of Copenhagen (including one of its famous landmarks, Langebro Bridge), before finally being killed with poison by ingenious scientists and military officers. However, the monster's foot was not destroyed, and it sunk to the bottom of the sea. The movie is left open-ended, because of the possibility that the foot could regenerate.

Trivia

*Much like Universal Studios' original "Dracula" film, this film had two different versions:
**The original version, with the actors speaking Danish, had many more scenes including a romance between Svend and Karen, a comical musical number by Petersen (Dirch Passer), and the original Reptilicus flight scene.
**The English version, in which the Danish actors are refilmed speaking English (a few of the actors are different, like the character of Connie Miller). AIP used this print and not only redubbed the actors, but drastically cut out many scenes as well as rearranging some (even adding some effects, like Reptilicus shooting acid slime from his mouth). Some additional music by Les Baxter was used as well.
*Actress Nora Hayden was originally slated to play Lise Martens, but walked out of production when she refused to have second billing, so she was replaced with Ann Smyrner.
*This movie featured the popular Danish comedian Dirch Passer, who played the comical night watchman Petersen. At one point, Saga Studios considered naming the film "Dirch and the Dragon".
*This film also featured Birthe Wilke as herself as a nightclub singer singing "Tivoli Nights".
*As Denmark's first giant monster film (and as of 2007 the only one), this film has a cult following there. Although heavily inspired by Toho's Godzilla films, as well as Godzilla's 1953 forefather "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms", it is also considered a Danish "Plan 9 from Outer Space".
*Sidney Pink tried to get a sequel/remake to Reptilicus made, back in 2001, before his unfortunate passing in 2002.
*Japanese release title: "The Frozen Evil Beast's Onslaught" (冷凍凶獣の惨殺 - "Reitō Kyōjū no Zansatsu"). It was also released as "Prehistoric Beast Reptilicus" (原始獣レプティリカス - "Genshijū Reputirikasu").
*Charlton Comics produced a comic book based on the movie. It lasted 2 issues in 1961 before being renamed "Reptisaurus the Terrible" for another 6 issues in 1962, as well as a one-shot "Reptisaurus Special Edition" in 1963. A feature film version of "Reptisaurus" is currently in production.
*The film achieved such a popular cult following that clips were often featured on the TV series, "The Monkees" and clips were used on "The Beverly Hillbillies" as "the Swamp Monster."
*For the scene in which Reptilicus chases a hysterical crowd through the streets, the film makers hired members of an athletic club to run through the streets and jump off a bridge.
*In the original cut, there was a scene in which the monster was flying. In the final cut, this scene was removed because it was not thought to look 'real' enough.

taff

*Directors: Poul Bang (Danish Version) and Sidney W. Pink (English Version)
*Producers: Johann Zalabery and Sidney W. Pink
**(US Producer: Samuel Z. Arkoff)
*Writers: Ib Melchior and Sidney W. Pink (original story)
*Music: Sven Gyldmark
**(Additional Music in US version by Les Baxter)
*Photography: Aage Wiltrup

Cast

*Carl Ottosen - Gen. Mark Grayson
*Ann Smyrner - Lise Martens
*Mimi Heinrich - Karen Martens
*Asbjørn Andersen - Prof. Otto Martens
*Bodil Miller - Connie Miller (Danish version)
*Marla Behrens - Connie Miller (American version)
*Bent Mejding - Svend Viltorft (drilling crew chief)
*Povl Wøldike - Dr. Peter Dalby
*Dirch Passer - Mikkwlawn Peterson (night watchman)
*Ole Wisborg - Capt. Brandt (Royal Danish Guard)
*Birthe Wilke - Herself (nightclub singer)
*Børge Møller Grimstrup - Danish farmer

Literature

*Dean Owen: "Reptilicus" (Monarch Books, 1961)
*Sidney W. Pink: "So You Want to Make Movies" (Pineapple Press, 1989)
*Robert Skotak: "Ib Melchior - Man of Imagination" (Midnight Marquee Press, 2000)
*Nicolas Barbano: "Twice Told Tails - The Two Versions of Reptilicus", in "Video Watchdog" #96 (2003)

External links

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