The Cyclops (film)
A 1957 sci-fi horror about a radioactive cyclops.
The Cyclops, a 1957 American science fiction horror film, was written, produced, and directed by Bert I. Gordon. Its cast includes James Craig, Lon Chaney Jr., and Gloria Talbott. The story revolves around giant mutated creatures and a one-eyed cyclops, both resulting from radiation exposure—a plot device frequently used in 1950s cinema.
The film follows a search party organized by Susan Winter, the girlfriend of missing test pilot Bruce Barton. The group, which includes scientist Russ Bradford, mining expert Martin Melville, and pilot Lee Brand, flies into the Mexican jungle. There, they discover oversized animals, such as a mouse, eagle, spider, iguana, lizard, and boa constrictor. They also find Barton, now a 25-foot-tall cyclops disfigured by radioactivity from local uranium deposits. Barton kills Melville but seems to recognize Susan. When the cyclops tries to stop the group from escaping by plane, Bradford wounds it in the eye, killing it.
Production took place in 1955. James Craig, Tom Drake, and Gloria Talbott signed on for the independent project, originally planned as an RKO release until financing collapsed. Director Bert I. Gordon rushed to finish the film within five or six shooting days before funds ran out, a challenge compounded by Lon Chaney Jr.’s habitual drunkenness. Duncan Parkin, who played the cyclops, also portrayed a similar disfigured giant in *War of the Colossal Beast* (1958). Special effects were limited to backscreen projection, basic matte work, and inserting large images into scenes. In one shot, the cyclops grabs Susan but also the background, revealing black space behind it. The wreckage of Barton’s aircraft is a jumble of mismatched parts, including a light aircraft wing, a P-51 Mustang canopy, and a radial engine.
Gordon sold distribution rights to RKO, which planned a 1956 double bill with *X the Unknown*, but RKO went bankrupt. Allied Artists then acquired the rights and released *The Cyclops* in July 1957, paired with *Daughter of Dr. Jekyll* (also starring Talbott). *Variety* called it “for undiscriminating audiences,” and Leonard Maltin’s 2012 guide dismissed it as “Nothing much in this cheapie.” In the UK, the film was cut to 65 minutes.
- Release year
- 1957
- Director
- Bert I. Gordon
- Starring
- James Craig, Lon Chaney Jr., Gloria Talbott
- Genre
- Science fiction horror
- Production company
- Allied Artists
- Runtime
- 65 minutes (UK cut)
Lore & Background
The film follows a search party in the Mexican jungle looking for missing test pilot Bruce Barton. The group discovers giant mutated animals and eventually Barton himself, now a 25-foot-tall one-eyed cyclops disfigured by uranium deposits. Barton kills one member but hesitates upon recognizing his girlfriend Susan, before being killed by a wound to the eye.
Production was troubled: shot in 1955 with only five or six days of filming, the budget was tight and Lon Chaney Jr. was habitually drunk. Special effects were limited to backscreen projection and matte work, with visible flaws such as the cyclops grabbing the background. The film was originally planned for RKO release in 1956 but went to Allied Artists after RKO went out of business.
Duncan Parkin, who played the cyclops, also played a similar giant role in War of the Colossal Beast. The film was released as a double feature with Daughter of Dr. Jekyll, also starring Gloria Talbott.
Reader's Guide
The Cyclops is a low-budget entry in the 1950s cycle of radiation-themed monster movies. Its production history reflects the era's independent filmmaking struggles, with a rushed schedule and limited effects. The film is notable for featuring Lon Chaney Jr. in a supporting role and for its unintentionally visible special effects errors. Critical reception was poor, with Variety calling it 'for undiscriminating audiences' and Leonard Maltin dismissing it as 'nothing much in this cheapie.' Despite this, it remains a curiosity for fans of 1950s B-movies and Gordon's work. The film's legacy is tied to its place in the double-feature market and its use of a then-popular atomic-age monster trope.
Did You Know?
- The film was shot in 1955 but not released until July 1957.
- Lon Chaney Jr. was habitually drunk during production.
- The cyclops was played by Duncan Parkin, who also played a similar giant in War of the Colossal Beast.
- A visible special effects error shows the cyclops grabbing the background instead of the actress.
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