John Landis grew up on the schlocky monster movies of the 1950s and paid loving tribute to them in this, his first-ever directorial effort, aged just 21.
A scrappy sweetly artless horror-comedy, it was made for $60,000 in just 12 days in the summer of 1971, though it did not receive a release until 1973.
Landis also stars as the titular prehistoric banana-loving apeman who wakes up after 20 million years to roam the streets of Southern California. Beyond that setup, however, there’s barely a shred of plot, as Schlock drifts from unfunny set-piece to unfunny set-piece and is befriended by a blind girl who thinks he’s a dog.
It’s difficult to work out whether the stiff line readings (there’s only one professional actor in the entire film – actress Harriet Medin, credited here as Enrica Blankey) and flatly shot stunts are satirising the Z-movie inspirations or simply the result of a rookie director making do with a pocket-money budget.
As first efforts go, this is about as amateur hour as they come.
Schlock
John Landis Detective Sgt. Wino
Saul Kahan Ivan
Joseph Piantadosi Officer Gillis
Richard Gillis Torn Cop
Tom Alvich Police Thief
Walter Levine Joe Putzman
Eric Allison Dying Man
Ralph Baker Billy
Gene Fox Betty
Susan Weiser-Finley Bobby
Jonathan Flint Barbara
Amy Schireson Gloria
Belinda Folsey Professor Shlibovitz
Emile Hamaty Mrs Binerman
Harriet Medin (as Enrica Blankey) Little Boy
Phillip Levine Woman Onlooker
Shirley Levine Housewife
Mary Cortiz Hippie
Carl Stone Mindy Binerman
Eliza Garrett Nurse
Tonda Marton Doctor
Neil Forn Cal
Charles Villiers Duck Girl
Dana Collins Eye Doctor
Harry Goins Ice Cream Man
Gorden Brettelle Night Driver
Norman Crawford Bartender
Robert E. Collins Piano Player
Ian Kranitz Joyce
Jackie Bonnhein Arnie
Stuart Weiss Patty
Patty Holcomb George
George O’Hanlon Jr. National Guard Captain
John Chambers
Director
John Landis
Video
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Officer Gillis
Betty
Housewife
