Florida Gains a Gill Man- and Experiences the "Revenge of the Creature"- Tonight!

Tonight on MeTV, Universal's top 1950s monster, the famed Gill Man, makes his return, taking up residence far from his Amazon home! He is brought to Florida, but not as a tourist at a theme park- he’ll become the main attraction at one! This move is NOT to its liking- and becomes the catalyst for the "Revenge of the Creature"!

This is the sequel to the original "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and the second part of the Gill Man trilogy. We are reintroduced to the unsophisticated but lovable Captain Lucas, the skipper of the good ship Rita from the first film. With that previous experience, it’s a given that he would be the one to hire to be the guide into that dangerous part of the Amazon where the Creature dwelled. But, should that really be in the past tense? Though the Gill Man was assumed dead at the end of the first film, rumors have surfaced that he is alive and well in his lagoon lair!

These stories encourage a return expedition-helmed by good-hearted scientist Clete and his macho pal Joe- who are hoping to once again locate the monster, but this time, definitely capture it for study. Capt. Lucas, knowing how things went the last time, warily leads them to the lagoon, warning the anxious researchers that actually finding the Creature again may not be reason to celebrate. Regardless, they go on with the plan to secure the Gill Man to be studied at- a Florida theme park! (Certainly, what most of us think of as a plausible site for research – not to mention charging tourists to watch the “research”- and don’t forget to exit through the gift shop!)

The first encounter with this creature that has escaped evolution and obviously still lives plays out just as Lucas warned, with injuries and peril- but that doesn’t stop these guys. They opt to utilize a dangerous tactic often employed by poachers - "fishing with dynamite" (was that a game show ion the Sportsman’s Channel?)- in a final attempt to subdue the Gill Man. The idea is that perhaps they can use the explosive impact of the explosives to stun him enough for capture - but that method also risks doing fatal damage to the Creature. Undeterred, they think the plan will work as they hope, so they can bring him back -alive- to Florida.

Fortunately (for them), the explosive scheme does indeed work! The unconscious Creature is shipped to Florida and brought to the Ocean Harbor theme park- ahem, what I mean is- research center. The comatose specimen must be kept breathing through movement, forcing water through his gills- and the researchers work tirelessly to do that in order to insure his survival and bring him back to consciousness. Finally, he begins to stir-and, as soon as consciousness returns, begins to rage and attack his “captors”! The Gill Man is finally subdued after a fierce battle, and the decision is made to move him to a more secure underwater enclosure. Realizing that they must prevent him from attacking the public and the research team, or escaping his enclosure, they clamp his webbed, clawed foot into a metal shackle affixed to the tank floor. Professor Clete enlists the aid of one of the observers-an ichthyology student who just happens to be an attractive blonde ( who most likely already has a degree in looking fetching in a bathing suit). Together, they will attempt to measure the intellect and adaptability of the Gill Man, and teach him to follow simple commands, with the help of a large underwater electric prod (and again I’ll ask- isn’t water a CONDUCTOR of electricity? Wouldn’t the people in the water also feel the shock? Never mind, I’ll suspend my disbelief for the hundredth time…) The scientists make real progress in charting the Gill Man’s intelligence and physical make-up- while the Creature, true to form, is again smitten with this new woman in his life – maybe it IS just the allure of a white bathing suit, like in the first movie. The Gill Man’s frustrations with imprisonment- and reactions to certain outside stimulus- are enough to spur him to use his intellect and power to escape confinement, leave the park- and beginning a reign of terror across the state of Florida! Clete and the authorities (weren’t they a band?) are the only hope to recapture the powerful amphibian creature- before he claims more victims- including his latest female crush !

This 1955 movie is a worthy sequel to the first film in the Gill Man saga, kind of taking a “King Kong” approach- bringing the monster back to civilization and a different unfamiliar environment. We’ll run down the cast including John Agar, John "Mr. Sportsman" Bromfield, and lovely Lori Nelson, as well as a young Clint Eastwood in a brief cameo role as a somewhat absent-minded lab assistant. We'll give you some insight into who plays the Creature -and when and where you might see one of those guys OUTSIDE the suit in the movie- along with the usual Gill Man gags. This is another show that blends some of our old footage with new, so you will see our original coffin and set along the way. By the way, YES- this IS the infamous movie I presented in 3-D back in the 80s in the Chicago market (it was syndicated to various markets across the country- I happened to host it in our area). This version is in the digital splendor of 2-D, though I would encourage you, if you ever have the opportunity, to see the 3-D version. I got to see the original film in 3-D when it was presented as a special screening at a local theatre as a part of the Flashback Weekend convention, and it was impressive! In this show, you will see a couple unusual commercials, including one for a new diet plan, plus a song , a revisit to a unique superhero museum, and a vintage interview with Victoria Price, Vincent’s daughter! Add in an appearance by Gwengoolie and another of our celebrity pals, and it’s a boatload of fun!

"Revenge of the Creature" surfaces tonight on MeTV at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central, or check listings in your area (or at www.metv.com ) for the time and channel to tune in to watch. Twitter fans keep live-tweeting during the show, using the hashtag #svengoolie – and making us trend in the most-popular topics nationally- so feel free to join in! In the Chicago viewing area, viewers again get the warm fuzzy feelings of horror in the rat-infested “Willard” at 11am on our main local station CW26.

Valentine’s Day is coming- and you will find your heart’s desire of great items in our store. If the one you love happens to love our show- that’s the place to find great Sven gifts-so check it out!

And, tonight on MeTV- check out that horrible heartthrob from the Black Lagoon-who might try to avoid a speargun rather than Cupid’s arrows!