“The Blob” is a horror and sci-fi movies of 1958, directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. and produced by Jack H. Harris. The film is known for being one of the first to depict the threat of a monstrous creature from outer space.
The plot of the film follows the story of a group of teenagers who discover a shapeless, gelatinous entity falling from space onto a Pennsylvania town. The creature begins to grow out of proportion and become more and more dangerous, swallowing everything in its path and becoming almost invincible. The protagonists must try to stop the creature before it completely destroys the city.
The film was a moderate box office success and spawned a sequel, “The Son of Blob,” in 1972, as well as a 1988 remake directed by Chuck Russell and starring Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith. The 1988 movie was a big hit and helped make The Blob a cult movie of popular culture.
Plot
The plot of “The Blob” follows a group of teenagers who discover a jelly-like shapeless creature falling from space onto a Pennsylvania town. The creature begins to grow out of proportion and become more and more dangerous, swallowing everything in its path and becoming almost invincible.
The film’s protagonist, Steve Andrews (played by Steve McQueen), and his girlfriend Jane Martin (Aneta Corsaut) try to convince the town’s adults of the creature’s existence, but no one seems to believe them. Meanwhile, the creature keeps growing and getting bigger and bigger, becoming an increasingly serious threat to the city.
Steve and Jane join a group of teenagers to try and stop the creature. Meanwhile, the US military arrives in the city to try and stop the threat.
“The Blob” is a classic film of the horror genre and sci-fi from the 1950s and is known for being one of the first to pose the threat of a monstrous creature from outer space.
Characters
Here are the main characters of the film “The Blob”:
Steve Andrews: played by Steve McQueen, he is the protagonist of the film. Steve is a brave and rebellious young man who tries to convince the town’s adults of the creature’s existence.
Jane Martin: played by Aneta Corsaut, is Steve’s girlfriend and one of the few people who believes him about the presence of the creature.
The Blob: the monstrous creature that falls from space and starts destroying the city.
Mr. Andrews: played by Earl Rowe, he is Steve’s father and a police officer in the city.
Lt. Dave: played by John Benson, he is a US Army officer who comes to the city to try to stop the Blob.
Danny Martin: played by Anthony Franke, he is Jane’s little brother and one of the protagonists of the group of teenagers who try to stop the Blob.
Kate: played by Olin Howland, she is an old lady who is the first to discover the presence of the Blob and is swallowed by the creature.
Nurse Kate: Played by Lee Paterson, she is a nurse at the town hospital and is killed by the Blob.
Tony Gressette: played by Robert Fields, he is a bully who targets Steve and the other protagonists.
Film Production
The film ‘The Blob’ was produced by Jack H. Harris and directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. It was produced with a relatively low budget of around $110,000.
Production on the film began in 1957, and was filmed primarily in the city of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Director Yeaworth used a lot of on-location shooting to bring a sense of authenticity to the film.
The character of Steve Andrews was played by Steve McQueen, who was still in his early career at the time. McQueen was chosen by producer Harris because he was a fresh face and little known to the general public.
The Blob creature was created using a combination of bean jelly, oil, and food coloring, which were heated to give the creature a liquid look. The film’s special effects were done by Bart Sloane, who used a mix of stop-motion and mechanical technology to animate the creature.
“The Blob” was released in American theaters in August 1958 and was moderately successful at the box office, earning approximately $4 million. The film eventually became a popular culture cult movie and inspired a sequel, “The Son of Blob,” in 1972, as well as a 1988 remake directed by Chuck Russell.
Distribution and Reception
“The Blob” was released in US theaters in August 1958 by Paramount Pictures. The film was moderately successful at the box office, grossing around $4 million worldwide on a relatively low budget of around $110,000.
Initially, the critics didn’t welcome the film, considering it a simple product of the sci-fi/horror genre, with an elementary narrative setting and not always impeccable technical realization. However, over the years, the film has been reevaluated positively, becoming a classic of the genre and a cult film of popular culture.
The character of Steve Andrews, played by Steve McQueen, has become an icon of cinema, and the film has been lauded for its ability to depict the fears of the era and the social tensions of the Cold War.
The film’s success inspired a sequel, “The Son of Blob,” in 1972, directed by Larry Hagman, as well as a 1988 remake directed by Chuck Russell, starring Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith in the lead roles. The remake also achieved good box office success and further solidified the popularity of the franchise.
Movie Style
The film “The Blob” was made in 1958, in the middle of the golden age of genre cinema. Like many other films of the period, “The Blob” presents itself as a mix of typical elements of horror, science fiction and teen movie of the time.
The film’s style was influenced in particular by American fantasy cinema of the 1950s, which often saw monstrous creatures from outer space at the center of the plot. The Blob was one of the first creatures to be represented with innovative special effects for the time.
The film also has a fairly simple narrative structure, with a linear plot and a series of archetypal characters who move within a provincial community threatened by a alien force. There are also numerous typical elements of teen cinema, such as the presence of rebellious and courageous young people, dealing with adults who do not listen to them.
The film’s style was also influenced by the historical context of the time when the United States was engaged in the Cold War against the Soviet Union. The film therefore reflects anxiety about possible external threats and the fear of a nuclear attack.
In general, “The Blob” presents itself as a simple but effective film, which manages to capture the imagination of the public thanks to its ability to represent the fears and tensions of the time, mixing elements of genre cinema with social and policies.
Director
The director of “The Blob” is Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., an American filmmaker active mainly in the 1950s and 1960s, known for directing numerous genre films, including horror, science fiction and documentaries.
Yeaworth began his career as a producer of documentaries and then moved on to directing genre films. Among his best-known works besides ‘The Blob’ are ‘4D Man’ (1959), ‘Dinosaurus!’ (1960) and “The Flaming Teen-Age” (1960).
Yeaworth was particularly adept at working with relatively limited budgets, managing to create original and interesting works, often using special effects that were innovative for the time.
In “The Blob,” Yeaworth has demonstrated a great ability to create an atmosphere of tension and mystery, thanks to an understated but effective direction. The director has also given the right space to the characters, managing to make their relationships believable and to make the audience empathize with their stories.
Yeaworth’s direction in “The Blob” helped make the film a classic of genre cinema, appreciated both for its originality and for its ability to depict the fears of the time.
