The She Creature (also known as The She-Creature) is a 1956 American black-and-white horror film produced by American International Pictures from a script by Lou Rusoff (brother-in-law of AIP executive Samuel Z. Arkoff). The She Creature was produced by Alex Gordon and directed by Edward L. Cahn. The monster costume was created by master make-up artist Paul Blaisdell and is considered one of his best.
The She-Creature was released by American International Pictures as a double feature with It Conquered the World.
The story was inspired by the success of the best-selling book The Search for Bridey Murphy, which concerned hypnotism. Exhibitor Jerry Zigmond suggested this subject might make a good film consequently AIP commissioned Lou Rusoff to write a script.
However, AIP did not have enough money to entirely finance the film as a result the company asked Alex Gordon if he could contribute the remainder. Israel Berman, a colleague of Gordon’s brother Richard, knew a financier called Jack Doppelt, who agreed to provide $40,000 of the film’s $104,000 budget.
Edward Cahn persuaded his old friend Edward Arnold to play the hypnotist for $3,000 for one week’s work, and most noteworthy also cast Peter Lorre. Arnold died two days before production, prompting Lorre to read the script, after which he pulled out of the film. The producer had to find a substitute cast quickly.
Cast
Chester Morris as Dr. Carlo Lombardi
Tom Conway as Timothy Chappel
Cathy Downs as Dorothy Chappel
Lance Fuller as Dr. Ted Erickson
Ron Randell as Police Lt. Ed James
Frieda Inescort as Mrs. Chappel
Marla English as Andrea Talbott
Frank Jenks as Plainclothes Sgt.
El Brendel as Olaf
Paul Dubov as Johnny
William Hudson as Bob (as Bill Hudson)
Flo Bert as Marta
Jeanne Evans as Mrs. Brown
Kenneth MacDonald as Police Doctor
Jack Mulhall as Lombardi’s Lawyer
Spike as King
Plot
An oily carnival hypnotist Dr. Carlo Lombardi (Chester Morris) conducts experiments in hypnotic regression that take his unwitting female subject Andrea Talbott (Marla English) to a past life as a prehistoric humanoid form of sea life. He uses the physical manifestation of the prehistoric creature to commit murders.
THE SHE CREATURE (1956) One Sheet Movie Poster
Category: Movie Memorabilia
Type: One Sheet Movie Poster
Size: 41″x27″
Condition: C-7/8; Folded
Shipped: Flat