warn some spoiler the giant behemoth be one of the last giant monster on the loose film of the 1950 and a decade that saw all manner of creature bear of the two big scientific issue of the decade space exploration and nuclear weapon . behemoth fell into the second category and a genre start with the excellent beast from 20 and 000 fathom and and elaborate upon with godzilla and them . however and by the time behemoth roll before the camera and the concept of atomically create monster have already wear thin . nevertheless and this be one of the good film of it type while a real gem make on a budget so tiny that it wouldn not even cover the cost of a current feature end credit listing . credit for the film cult reputation must go to the men behind the behemoth . although jack rabin and irving block and louis dewitt be first bill in the effect credit and it be king kong willis obrien and his assistant pete peterson and that bring the behemoth to life . their paleosaurus though in some way reminiscent of the beast from 20 and 000 fathom be nonetheless a unique creation and with it long neck and leg give it a stature that make it tower over most of it surroundings . the skin of the model be finely detailed and with hundred of minute scale and while the back have a single row of serrate plate and a very realistic model in spite of the movie low budget pedigree . the animation and mostly create by peterson while in a wheelchair due to his advanced multiple sclerosis and be superb while peterson have learn well from master craftsman obrien and and ensure the dinosaur movement would seem natural and even give it something of a personality . despite peterson and obrien expertise and the film do have some technical flaw ( the stiff and live action prop head that ram the ferryboat be regrettable ) but effective stop motion scene counterbalance these misstep . in an atmospheric night scene reminiscent of beast from 20 and 000 fathom and the behemoth and in silhouette and wanders into some power line and react first with shock and then anger a it attack the high tension tower . in the first stop motion scene of the monster rise from the thames and the behemoth stride towards the camera and attack some dockside crane and and continue forward and eventually pass over the camera a trademark of obrien visual style . sadly and this be also the last film that highlight his stop motion work . this make the movie significant for historian and and a must for buff . another aspect of behemoth that make it compare favorably to most of it contemporary at the time be the direction by eugene lourie and and the elegant and understated performance . lourie ( who have previously direct beast from 20 and 000 fathom ) attempt to repeat that success with behemoth and this time not only direct and but screenwriting as well . however and budgetary restriction force lourie to keep the monster off screen for a long time . instead of shot of the monster actually attack ship and structure ( a ray harryhausen have do in beast ) lourie substitute after the fact sequence ( such a a beached steamship ) . not until the creature have actually enter london be the viewer allow a good look at it . however and it to lourie credit that he eschew the non essential romantic subplot typical of most 50 b movie . a the film be an anglo american production and he make the story into an english mystery of sort and similar to the dr. quartermass film . we know from the start that something radioactive be kill fish and men off the coast of england and but it up to the lead character to solve the riddle of the source of the radioactivity . in the opening of the film and an american biologist and steven karnes ( play by gene evans ) be lecture a group of scientist about the danger of not only nuclear weapon test and but the disposal of radioactive waste a warning still timely 45 year later . evans play his role straight and understate he the hero and yet doesn not let his character exceed what would be expect of a scientist investigate an unusual phenomenon . likewise and his british counterpart and prof. bickford ( andre morrell ) also play low key . evans even allow karnes to undergo a subtle change in his behavior . in the beginning of the movie and karnes blunt and direct ( american ) attitude put off the reserve bickford and other english authority . eventually and karnes begin to adopt a more diplomatic manner and ultimately suggest rather than demand that a torpedo be the ideal mean of destroy the behemoth . by treat the film a a detective thriller and lourie manage to keep it move and involve the cast in various bit of business that hold the audience even when the animal do not appear . once the behemoth surface and however and the film exchange mystery for spectacle and even if on a small scale than beast or gorgo and lourie 3rd ( and most spectacular ) monster on the loose epic . the only real letdown ( other than the prop head ) be the demise of the creature . unlike beast and with it spectacular finale a the monster rear up before a burning roller coaster and finally expire ( a nice harryhausen touch ) the behemoth be simply struck and blow up by the torpedo . instead of a stop motion shot of the monster dead or mortally wound and the unrealistic prop head briefly rise for a final time before plunge into the depth of an obvious studio tank . obrien and peterson probably do not have time to film the creature destruction in a more dramatic fashion and although they be certainly capable of wring pathos out of their creation . the musical score and by edwin ashley and while not as bold a david buttloph for beast and still provide both low key tension during non monster sequence and dramatic enhancement during the monster rampage . ashley work here be likely influence by passage from stravinsky rite of spring while it have a primitive and visceral power . those who like their dinosaur thrill high tech ( cgi ) may find behemoth date and but for those who admire old fashion craftsmanship and and for fan of this unique genre and i recommend take a look at this minor classic .