Classic Cinema: The Giant Claw (1957)

“Oh, nothing so domestic as a flying saucer. Just a flying battleship.”

Slammed by critics at the time, 1957’s The Giant Claw may have one of the goofiest looking monsters of all time, but I really enjoy this movie. Born in the Atomic Age of film, the movie gives us the story of a giant vulture-like bird terrorizing the world and a small band of scientists, mathematicians, military leaders, and a hotshot aeronautical engineer that are desperately trying to stop it. The plot features the standard tech talk that was rampant in 50’s science fiction and quite a few violent deaths that I suspect could have been quite scary for youngsters to witness.

The film stars Jeff Morrow as Mitch MacAfee, a civil aeronautical engineer that is assisting the military with radar testing, and Mara Corday as mathematician Sally Caldwell, who is working alongside Mitch and the military. The rest of the cast includes Morris Ankrum (Lt. General Considine), Edgar Barrier (Dr. Noymann), and Robert Shayne (General Van Buskirk). The film also features Lou Merrill as Pierre Broussard, a French Canadian farmer who helps Mitch and Sally and believes that the giant bird is La Carcagne, a legendary creature that, if seen by a person, is a harbinger of death.

The creature initially attacks aircraft, but when Mitch discovers its flight pattern, all planes are grounded and the creature begins attacking any and everything on the ground. Some of the attacks are especially violent, in particular the murder of a group of men investigating the sightings, who are eaten one by one as they attempt to parachute to safety when their plane is attacked. There is also a big battle in Manhattan, showing many of the city’s famous buildings being destroyed or damaged by the creature.

Sure, the creature looks ridiculous, but the story itself is very good. The creature is protected by an antimatter shield that our fearless team must find a way to penetrate in order to stop the flying beast. The entire cast does a fine job in their roles. Just look past the marionette creature and you will most likely enjoy this film.

The Giant Claw is a hokey, fun ride that fans of classic science fiction will enjoy. It has decent plot, excellent performances from the cast, and a truly unforgettable, hilarious-looking giant bird. Give it a shot, you might like it.

Thanks for checking out my review.