The Giant Spider Invasion
Encyclopedia
The Giant Spider Invasion is a low-budget 1975 film
produced by Transcentury Pictures, a partnership owned by the film's director Bill Rebane
. The film is about giant spider
s that terrorize the town of Merrill, Wisconsin
and the surrounding area. The Giant Spider Invasion was given a U.S. release in theaters in 1975, and was distributed by Group 1 Films. The impressive theatrical poster art was a throwback to the giant monster movies of the 1950s. The film was shown mainly in drive-in theaters. The movie achieved additional exposure many years later, when it was featured in a 1997 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000
(MST3K) (season 8, episode 10). Although it was given small theatrical release, it would later be regarded as a cult classic in the B film realm.
The film gives major roles to some actors who might have been considered "has-beens" at the time. The leads were Steve Brodie
and Barbara Hale
, with other roles going to Alan Hale, Jr.
and Leslie Parrish
. The film's final monster - and the film's largest "giant spider" - was constructed by covering a Volkswagen
automobile with artificial fur. The back of the car was the front of the monster, and its red tail lights served as the monster's glowing eyes. A few other "giant spiders" were puppets representing spiders as large as dogs.
Subplots include:
The invasion is deduced (with various scientific-sounding language) to be the result of some sort of interdimensional gateway, and is ultimately thwarted when Drs. Vance and Langer manage to close off the gateway, draining the spiders of their energy and causing them to melt into puddles of disgusting sludge.
1975 in film
The year 1975 in film involved some significant events, with Steven Spielberg's thriller Jaws topping the box office.-Events:*March 26 - The film version of The Who's Tommy premieres in London....
produced by Transcentury Pictures, a partnership owned by the film's director Bill Rebane
Bill Rebane
"Ito" Rebane is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He is best known for low budget horror movies such as Twist Craze] and The Giant Spider Invasion....
. The film is about giant spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s that terrorize the town of Merrill, Wisconsin
Merrill, Wisconsin
Merrill is a city in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,728 at the 2010 census. The city is located to the south of and adjacent to the Town of Merrill....
and the surrounding area. The Giant Spider Invasion was given a U.S. release in theaters in 1975, and was distributed by Group 1 Films. The impressive theatrical poster art was a throwback to the giant monster movies of the 1950s. The film was shown mainly in drive-in theaters. The movie achieved additional exposure many years later, when it was featured in a 1997 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
(MST3K) (season 8, episode 10). Although it was given small theatrical release, it would later be regarded as a cult classic in the B film realm.
The film gives major roles to some actors who might have been considered "has-beens" at the time. The leads were Steve Brodie
Steve Brodie (actor)
Steve Brodie was an American movie and television actor.Born John Stevenson in El Dorado, Kansas, he took his screen name from the Steve Brodie who claimed that he jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886 and survived...
and Barbara Hale
Barbara Hale
Barbara Hale is an American actress best known for her role as legal secretary Della Street on more than 250 episodes of the long-running Perry Mason television series and later reprising the role in dozens of made-for-TV movies....
, with other roles going to Alan Hale, Jr.
Alan Hale, Jr.
Alan Hale, Jr. was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as Skipper on the popular sitcom Gilligan's Island. Hale was the lookalike son of popular supporting film actor Alan Hale, Sr....
and Leslie Parrish
Leslie Parrish
Leslie Parrish is an American actress. She worked under her birth name, Marjorie Hellen, until she changed it in 1959.-Education:...
. The film's final monster - and the film's largest "giant spider" - was constructed by covering a Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
automobile with artificial fur. The back of the car was the front of the monster, and its red tail lights served as the monster's glowing eyes. A few other "giant spiders" were puppets representing spiders as large as dogs.
Plot
The central plot of the film revolves around the titular spider invasion, which occurs when what appears to be a meteorite crashes down in rural Wisconsin, and spawns spiders of varying sizes. (The titular spider is large enough to swallow a man whole, and crawl onto the roof of a house.)Subplots include:
- Dan Kester and his hate/hate relationship with his wife, Ev
- Dan's adulterous affair with local barmaid Helga
- Dave Perkins' attempts to make out with Ev's sister Terry
- A fundamentalist preacher leading a revival meeting
- Drs. Vance and Langer getting involved in somewhat of a romance (all the more notable as the two lead actors were also in their early-mid 50s when the movie was made)
- The eventual panic that results when the townspeople are confronted with the spider
The invasion is deduced (with various scientific-sounding language) to be the result of some sort of interdimensional gateway, and is ultimately thwarted when Drs. Vance and Langer manage to close off the gateway, draining the spiders of their energy and causing them to melt into puddles of disgusting sludge.
Cast
- Despite the film's B-movie status, it does feature a cast that, if not exactly a "star-studded" one, contains members that are at least familiar to most North American TV and film viewers of the period:
- Alan Hale, Jr.Alan Hale, Jr.Alan Hale, Jr. was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as Skipper on the popular sitcom Gilligan's Island. Hale was the lookalike son of popular supporting film actor Alan Hale, Sr....
(Sheriff Jones), best known for his role as The SkipperThe SkipperThe Skipper is the title and nickname of Jonas Grumby, a fictional character from the 1960s situation comedy Gilligan's Island. Played by Alan Hale, Jr., the Skipper was the owner and captain of the S. S...
on the TV series Gilligan's IslandGilligan's IslandGilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
. This is jokingly referenced in his first line of the film, when he calls Dave "little buddy". He also appeared in two other MST3K episodes, Angels RevengeAngels RevengeAngels Revenge is a 1979 American film directed by Greydon Clark and distributed by Arista Films. It is also known as Angels' Brigade and Seven from Heaven....
and The Crawling HandThe Crawling HandThe Crawling Hand is a 1963 science fiction film directed by Herbert L. Strock, and starring Rod Lauren, Peter Breck, Allison Hayes, and Alan Hale, Jr...
. - Barbara HaleBarbara HaleBarbara Hale is an American actress best known for her role as legal secretary Della Street on more than 250 episodes of the long-running Perry Mason television series and later reprising the role in dozens of made-for-TV movies....
(Dr. Jenny Langer), best known for her role of Della StreetDella StreetDella Street was the fictional secretary of Perry Mason in the long-running series of novels, films, and radio and television programs featuring the fictional defense attorney created by Erle Stanley Gardner.-Description:...
in numerous Perry MasonPerry Mason (TV series)Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
episodes and TV movies; married to actor Bill Williams, who played alongside her as Dutch in this film. - Robert EastonRobert Easton (actor)Robert Easton is an American actor whose career in film and television spans more than 60 years. His mastery of English dialect has earned him the epithet "The Man of a Thousand Voices", For decades he has been a leading Hollywood dialogue or accent coach.Easton was born Robert Easton Burke in...
(Dan Kester), known as the "Henry HigginsHenry HigginsHenry Higgins may refer to:*The fictional character: see Pygmalion or My Fair Lady*The Australian politician and judge H. B. Higgins* Henry Higgins -See also:*Harry Higgins, English cricketer*Henry Huggins, fictional character...
of Hollywood" (at least, in his IMDB Entry) due to his mastery of numerous accents and dialects. He also appeared in the MST3K episode The Touch of SatanThe Touch of SatanThe Touch of Satan is a 1971 horror film. It was directed by Don Henderson, and it starred Michael Berry and Emby Mellay in their debut roles. The film was shot in 1970 in the Santa Ynez, California area and featured the early work from movie makeup artist Joe Blasco...
, and provided the voice of "Phones" in StingrayStingray (TV series)Stingray is a children's marionette television show, created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by AP Films for ATV and ITC Entertainment from 1964–65. Its 39 half-hour episodes were originally screened on ITV in the UK and in syndication in the USA. The scriptwriters included Gerry and...
. - Leslie ParrishLeslie ParrishLeslie Parrish is an American actress. She worked under her birth name, Marjorie Hellen, until she changed it in 1959.-Education:...
(Ev Kester), played roles as varied as Daisy Mae in the Lil' Abner film and the doomed bride of the assassin in the 1962 film version of The Manchurian CandidateThe Manchurian Candidate (1962 film)The Manchurian Candidate is a 1962 American Cold War political thriller film starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury, and featuring Henry Silva, James Gregory, Leslie Parrish and John McGiver...
. - Both Ev and Dan also had links to the Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
series; Leslie Parrish played Lt. Carolyn Palamas in the Original Series episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?", while Robert Easton played the KlingonKlingonKlingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
judge in the film Star Trek VI. - Steve BrodieSteve Brodie (actor)Steve Brodie was an American movie and television actor.Born John Stevenson in El Dorado, Kansas, he took his screen name from the Steve Brodie who claimed that he jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886 and survived...
(Dr. J.R. Vance), already known to MST3K fans for his appearance in the film The Wild World of BatwomanThe Wild World of BatwomanThe Wild World of Batwoman is an American science fiction superhero film directed by Jerry Warren. The film stars Katherine Victor as Batwoman, George Andre as Professor G. Octavius Neon, and Steve Brodie as Jim Flanagan....
; his son, Kevin BrodieKevin BrodieKevin Brodie is a film director, screenwriter and former child actor. He was the son of actors Steve Brodie and Lois Andrews....
also appeared in this film, playing Dave Perkins. - Christiane SchmidtmerChristiane SchmidtmerChristiane Schmidtmer was a German actress, fashion model and nude model of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life:Christiane Schmidtmer was born in Mannheim, Germany to Gertrud and Jakob Schmidtmer on Christmas Eve 1939...
(Helga), best known in America as the sexy Lufthansa stewardess Lise Bruner in Boeing BoeingBoeing BoeingBoeing Boeing is a 1965 American bedroom farce comedy film, based on the 1960 French play Boeing-Boeing, and starring Jerry Lewis and Tony Curtis. It was released on December 22, 1965...
.
- Alan Hale, Jr.
Director
- Director Bill RebaneBill Rebane"Ito" Rebane is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He is best known for low budget horror movies such as Twist Craze] and The Giant Spider Invasion....
had a festival given in his honor; the "Bill Rebane Film Festival" took place in Madison, WisconsinMadison, WisconsinMadison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
in May 2005. Hosting the festival were MST3K stars Michael J. NelsonMichael J. NelsonMichael John Nelson is a U.S. comedian and writer, most famous for his work on the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Nelson was the head writer of the series for most of the show's 11-year run, and spent half of that time playing the on-air host, also named Mike Nelson...
and Kevin MurphyKevin Murphy (actor)Kevin Wagner Murphy is an American actor and writer best known as the voice and puppeteer of Tom Servo on the Peabody Award-winning comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.- Early career :...
. In an article recapping the festival in Scary Monsters Magazine, the two noted that although they lambasted the film during their show, they admired how Rebane was able to pull cast and crew together to get the film made.
Picture
- At the beginning, you can hear a pilot talking about the giant spider he has seen. That person is David Hoff, an actual pilot in the Wisconsin Air-Guard.
- The television control room sequence was shot after sign-off at WAOW-TVWAOW-TVWAOW is the ABC-affiliated television station for North Central Wisconsin's Northern Highland area licensed to Wausau. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on Rib Mountain. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 6 and in high definition on...
, Wausau, WisconsinWausau, WisconsinWausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
. Instead of post production (green-screen) insertion of the screen images, live displays were used. The flying saucer was a provided by the lead producer (name unknown) made with such materials as a paperplate overexposed. The electronic equipment was operated by Ralph Reinhold. - The planetarium sequence was shot in the Astronomy Department at UW-Stevens Point.
Home releases
- A VHS release of the film in the mid-1980s was distributed by Media Home Entertainment. The MST3K version was released by Rhino Home VideoRhino EntertainmentRhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
, as part of the Collection, Volume 10 and Collection, Volume 10.2 box sets. The film has also become available on DVD as part of a two-disc "deluxe" version from Silver Street Pictures and Synergy Entertainment which includes some additional materials, such as audio commentary and an interview with director Bill Rebane.