Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon (1956)

When reports of a murderous clawed beast terrorizing plantations causes native workers to flee their plantations, the landowners send a troubleshooter (John Bromfield) deep into the rain forest to investigate. However, he's saddled with a woman doctor (Beverly Garland) that he resents taking along. Directed by Curt Siodmak (Robert's brother), this cult horror film isn't really a horror film at all. It's more of a jungle adventure movie along the lines of KING SOLOMON'S MINES, SAFARI, BEYOND MOMBASA, ODONGO etc. that were so popular in the 1950s. It's really rather silly since "Curucu" looks fake as all get out. To the film's advantage, it was filmed in Brazil and the Amazon river so the locations give it some authenticity although the movie is laden with what appear to be stock shots. Beverly Garland gets several chances here to show why she was the Scream Queen of 1950s horror movies. It drags in the last 15 minutes as Bromfield and Garland trek through the jungle and are preyed upon by several jungle creatures. I kind of enjoyed it for its nostalgia value as it was one of the first horror movies I saw as a kid and I haven't seen it in over 60 years! With Tom Payne and Larri Thomas.