History Film / CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon

As of the Essential Collection, Gill Man is one of the 8 official Universal Monsters.

* CaliforniaDoubling: The Brazilian Jungle was actually the Florida Everglades; you can even see a light post at one point!

* AccidentallyAccurate: Oddly, the drunken Riverboat captain's statement that the Creature is "stronger than that which you call evolution" was probably a more accurate explanation for how evolution actually works than the "scientists" who seem to believe that [[EvolutionaryLevels a "living fossil" like the creature is "less evolved" than more recent creatures.]] The truth is, such creatures happen because they've achieved a form that's more-or-less ideal to their environment, and any deviations would be out-competed.

Gill Man is one of the [[Franchise/UniversalHorror 8 Major Universal Monsters]].

Gill Man is one of the [[UniversalHorror 8 Major Universal Monsters]].

* ThreeDMovie: Originally released as one. Currently available on Blu-Ray 3D.

'''''Creature From the Black Lagoon''''' is a Creator/{{Universal}} {{Horror}} film from 1954. Tells the story of "the Devonian man," or Gill Man, an amphibious, half man, half fish, creature that has existed since the age of dinosaurs in such a perfect condition that it has not had to evolve. An expedition is organized to go into [[TheAmazon heart of the Brazilian Jungle]] where "Evolution has stopped" to try and find a living specimen. Naturally, Gill Man is highly territorial and [[MarsNeedsWomen lonely]], killing and drowning anyone he can get his claws on. He's also highly intelligent; once the IgnoredExpert convinces the crew to leave while they can, Gill Man barricades the exit to the lagoon by toppling a tree so he can finish them off.

** The first was by J.R. Fearn under the pseudonym Vargo Statten. It was published in the 50's and is faithful to the film. The only real departure is a scene wherein David and Mark get attacked by a giant man-eating underwater tree.
** The second is by Walter Harris writing under under the pseudonym "[[AwesomeMcCoolname Carl Dreadstone]]," which barely resembles the film. Not only are several characters renamed (some slightly, others very drastically), but everyone besides David and Kay who survived the movie dies, and the titular monster as a Franchise/{{Godzilla}}-sized [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever aquatic hermaphroditic pig-lizard]] referred to as [=AA=] for "Advanced Amphibian." In addition to numerous ''KingKong'' metaphors, Harris adds a subplot involving the expedition getting captured by a hostile Indian tribe, a scene where "[=AA=]" battles a [[HellishCopter helicopter]], and a changed ending wherein the monster needs to be killed with a Polaris missile from a Brazilian Navy torpedo boat (!).

** The first was by J.R. Fearn under the pseudonym Vargo Statten. It was published in the 50's and is faithful to the film.
** The second is by Walter Harris writing under under the pseudonym "[[AwesomeMcCoolname Carl Dreadstone]]," which barely resembles the film, renaming almost all of the characters, killing off nearly everyone who survived in the actual movie, and depicting the titular monster as a Franchise/{{Godzilla}}-sized [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever aquatic hermaphroditic pig-lizard]].

* ArtisticLicenceBiology: The Gill Man himself, obviously. There's also a line suggesting that there were giant rats in the Devnonian period...two hundred million years before mammals, give-or-take.

* PeopleInRubberSuits: Almost the architype

* LicensedPinballTable: Partially based on the movie, and partially based on [[FramingDevice attending a drive-in to see the movie]]. More information [[Pinball/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon here.]]

* SpiritualSuccessor: To "Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth," according to some CthulhuMythos fans.

* FountainOfExpies: Lots of fish men in other media took notes from Gill Man.

** Subject to the same UnfortunateImplications as ''Film/KingKong'' and other films, with a "they're coming to take our white women" subtext.

* RedShirt: Luís and Tomás, slashed to horrified death.

* WhatMeasureIsANonUnique

* ArtisticLicenceBiology - The Gill Man himself, obviously. There's also a line suggesting that there were giant rats in the Devnonian period...two hundred million years before mammals, give-or-take.

** Subject to the same UnfortunateImplications as ''Film/KingKong'' and other films, with a "they're coming to take our white women" subtext.

* EvolutionaryLevels

* RedShirt: The two Brazilian diggers in the first movie, slashed to horrified death

* {{Novelization}}: By an unknown author under the pseudonym "[[AwesomeMcCoolname Carl Dreadstone]]" which barely resembles the film, renaming almost all of the characters, killing off nearly everyone who survived in the actual movie, and depicting the titular monster as a Franchise/{{Godzilla}}-sized [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever aquatic hermaphroditic pig-lizard]].

* LicensedPinballTable: Partially based on the movie, and partially based on attending a drive-in to see the movie. More information [[Pinball/CreatureFromTheBlackLagoon here.]]

Notable for its beautiful underwater shots (the 3-D version of the movie is breathtaking), artful full-body ''submersible'' costuming for Gill Man, location filming [[CaliforniaDoubling (in Wakulla Springs ,Florida]] rather than Brazil, but still good) and the quick, graceful swimming of Gill Man--Ricou Browning, who played him underwater, was an Olympic Swimmer. Of course, above water he's a slow, waddling horror, but has titanic strength and jaguar-sharp claws to make up for it. Also notable for being very suspenseful and restrained compared to other {{B Movie}}s, only showing Gill Man's hand and silhouette at first, and teasing the audience with having him stalk the female lead underwater almost shyly.