André Morell

We see a series of nuclear blasts followed by footage of men in radiation suits measuring the damage. The camera pans back to show a lecturer Steven Karnes (Gene Evans) explaining the images. The lights come up to show a group of scientists watching the lecture. We are told that since the invention of atomic bombs, over a 150 have been tested. He explains his concern for the amount of radioactive material being buried at sea. There is also concern for how the radiation is being transferred up the food chain. He then warns that his concern is centered about what might eventually emerge from the sea as a result of the contamination. We cut to a small fishing boat coming onto a beach in Cornwall, England. A young girl, Jean Treventhan (Leigh Madison) and her father Tom (Henri Vidon) begin to sort their catch. He sends her to the house with a particular fish he wants cooked. As she leaves he continues to clean the catch when he sees something strange in the water. His face becomes puzzled then bathed in a bright light. He screams in pain as the screen whites out, leaving us wondering what has happened and what is his eventual fate. At the fisherman's home, his daughter becomes concerned that hes not home and heads to the local pub to find him. At the pub she meets John (John Turner) he tells her hes not been seen all day. John offers to go with her to search the beach. John stumbles across the badly burned man. He tells them it was from the sea, burning like fire, the behemoth, and promptly dies. At Tom's funeral, the priest reads the story of the behemoth from the story of Job in the Bible. After the service Jean doesn't want to go home and John takes her for a walk. From a cliff top they spot a huge number of dead fish washed onto the shore. Investigating they discover a pile of pulsating mass. When John touches the substance he becomes badly burned on the hand. In London, Karnes is waiting at his hotel for a confirmation of a flight. On TV he sees news of the strange events in Cornwall. He immediately sees the implication and contacts Professor Bickford (André Morell) at the institute for a meeting. Bickford fills Karnes in on the rest of the story. Especially the death of the fisherman; and the apparent radiation burns on the mans body. Karnes wants to rush down to Cornwall to investigate. However Bickford tells him a Royal Commission has already been established and Bickford invites Karnes to travel with him to the site of the strange events. Arriving at the town, the mood by the locals is extremely aggressive. The fishermen refuse to go out, and want the government to do a lot more than just tests. One of the fishermen (Arthur Gomez) explains that dead fish have been found all over the ocean. The boats have not been out for five days, and concern is growing about how they are supposed to feed their families. Bickford questions the men about the dead fish and is disappointed to find there are no samples. The men don't seem to have seen anything unusual till one steps forward and talks about strange lights hes seen beneath the water. John then takes the Bickford and Karnes to meet the town doctor, who explains Tom was covered with 2nd and third degree burns, with some sort of shock. The doctor thinks it might have been an allergic reaction to a jellyfish sting. He then recalls John has a similar burn on his hand. Showing Bickford and Karnes examine the wound and recommend John be taken up to London for treatment. John offers to lead the men to the cove where the dead fish and strange substance was found. Examining the beach with a variety of instruments turns up no residual radiation or evidence of what might have happened. Returning to London, the two men are soon overwhelmed by samples of seawater being sent in from up and down the coast. So far nothing is turning up to explain the radiation burns, or the report of the monster associated with it. Karnes still puzzled by the lack of evidence begins preparing tests on a number of fish sent in. Using a process akin to reverse x-ray they begin photographing the fish for any residual radiation that should have accumulated in the bone structure. One of the fish shows a strange glowing mass inside similar to the substance that burnt Johns hand in the beach. It seems they now have the evidence they are looking for. Karnes decides to go to Plymouth where the sample was found, and hire a boat to try and identify the exact spot where the contaminated fish was caught. Cruising back and forth in a small fishing vessel, the Molly T reveals nothing. Karnes tells the captain to cut the engines while they try and decide what to do next. Over the radio a report that a cargo ship, the Valkiria, is overdue and all vessels to keep a watch. Unexpectedly the radiation counter on the ship begins to sound an alarm and the captain spots something in the ocean. Karnes briefly sights a strange creature diving under the waves. They chase the creature but it quickly out distances them and the signal is lost. News comes through the Valkiria has been washed up and abandoned. Karnes goes to inspect the wreckage. The ship appears to have suffered a tremendous impact. Quarter inch thick steel plating has been crushed and the bodies of the crew show evidence of horrific injuries Karnes returns to London, none the wiser after the inspection. He meets with Bickford. The navy has no cause for the loss, Karnes offers his own theory of a huge marine creature being behind the attack. Bickford backs Karnes, the sample taken from the fish at the lab showed cells of the stomach lining of an unknown beast. The British Admiralty decides to begin searching for the creature and begins contacting the other NATO nations of what they have learned. A remote farmhouse sees a family sitting down for dinner. In the yard a dog is frantically barking. The farmer and his son go to investigate and come face to face with the unseen creature. Both a killed instantly by a blast of radiation from the creature. Back in London, news reaches Bickford of the attack and a photo of a massive footprint, many times larger than a car is received from the farm. Karnes cant identify the footprint and suggests contacting Dr Sampson (Jack MacGowran) of the British museum. The doctor quickly identifies the creature as a specimen from the paleosaurus family only significantly larger than any specimen ever found. He believes the creature to be between 150 and 200 feet long. Sampson is shocked to learn the footprint is not a fossil but something currently living. Bickford tells him of sightings of the Essex coast. Sampson thinks this means the creature is moving into the Thames, probably to die in the shallows. All the bones ever recovered have been in that area. Some instinct convinced the creatures to go there to die. Sampson warns Bickford they know the creature is electric as found in some eels. Sampson however is unable to explain the radiation. Bickford and Karnes go to the Admiralty to try and convince them to close the estuary. The Admiralty refuse, and show the men the wide radar tracking system that controls all traffic in the Thames. Sampson arranges a helicopter to try and spot the creature, within minutes they spot a luminous shape moving through the water. The helicopter gives chase as the watch station reports they see nothing but the helicopter is suddenly bathed in radiation, brightens, and then explodes in mid air. Alerted to the probably location of the creature, the navy swings into full search mode. At Woolwich, the car ferry John Benn sets out for Greenwich across and downstream on the Thames. Passengers settle in for a quiet ride as fog begins to move up the river. Passengers begin to scream as the Paleosaurus (seen for the first time) rears out of the water, attacks and sinks the ship with over 80 people killed or missing. The police immediately close of the river to all traffic as news of the incident spreads. Military specialists begin deploying units along the river to combat the creature if it re-emerges. Civilians are evacuated from any river front homes and the army moves into fortify various positions. At a conference the Admiralty wants to use bombs and explosives to destroy the creature. Bickford argues this is a dangerous move. Blowing the creature up will spread radioactive material all over London. Bickford explains the creature is already dying from the intense radiation inside its body. He feels they may be able to accelerate the process if they can inject a lump radium into the creature. It is decided to use a mini sub with a modified torpedo to attempt the attack. On the Thames near Tower Bridge, the creature is seen coming ashore. It begins by attacking the docks before moving in around the East End, forcing the population to flee in panic. Large numbers of civilians and troops are killed by the radiation the creature emits. As the attack continues the sub and modified torpedo are readied for a counter attack. Through the night the creature rampages through the city till while on a bridge, the structure collapses spilling the paleosaur back into the Thames. Finally the mini sub is ready, and the animals luminous body is seen deep under the Thames. Without hesitation they go in for the kill. After a protracted chase the monster turns on the sub and tries to destroy it before the torpedo can be fired. Surviving the attack, the sub maneuvers again to try and take a shot. At the last second the torpedo is released and scores a direct hit on the creature. As Bikford and Karnes get into a car to drive off. A news report announces huge numbers of dead fish are washing ashore on the east coast of America. Both men give each other a look of, "I know what that means." Chapman_glen@yahoo.com

Title and Credits are shown over a painting of Baskerville Hall on a hill top during a storm. A narrator tells us, "Know then the legend of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Sir Hugo a wild, profane and godless man; An evil man, in truth for there was with him a certain ugly and cruel humor that made his name a byword in the county." A drunken party is underway and a servant is tortured by Sir Hugo (David Oxley). The servant's daughter is the prize, but she has left the house. Furious, Sir Hugo sets the hounds on her trail, "The hounds: Let loose the pack!" The servant girl escapes on the estate, Sir Hugo gives chase and both hear the loud baying of a hound. The girl takes refuge in the old abbey ruins, but Sir Hugo finds her. In a fit of rage, he stabs her with a dagger. He hears the hound. It attacks and kills him. "And so, the curse of Sir Hugo came upon the Baskervilles in the shape of a hound from Hell, forever to bring misfortune to the Baskerville family. Therefore, take heed and beware the moor in those dark hours when evil is exalted else you will surely meet the hound of Hell, the hound of the Baskervilles." Dr. Mortimer (Francis De Wolff) reads this last passage to Sherlock Holmes (Peter Cushing) at his Baker street residence. Holmes is unimpressed and Dr. Mortimer is perturbed. Holmes asks the real reason for his visit. "The body of Sir Charles Baskerville discovered on Dartmoor early today," Dr. Mortimer reads from a local newspaper. Sir Charles was found by a servant, Barrymore, near the abbey ruins up on a hill not far from Baskerville Hall. The coroner's inquest ruled it heart failure. Dr. Mortimer's desire is to have Holmes investigate the matter because he thinks Sir Henry is in danger. Holmes agrees to see Sir Henry at his hotel the next day. Dr. Watson (Andre Morell) sees Dr. Mortimer out. Sir Henry Baskerville (Christopher Lee) is dressing in his hotel room. Holmes and Watson arrive, but Sir Henry mistakes them for hotel employees that have come to investigate a missing boot. Dr. Mortimer arrives amid the confusion and makes introductions. Sir Henry makes it clear he intends to occupy Baskerville Hall. Dr. Mortimer reluctantly tells Holmes the estate is worth about one million pounds. The will details bequests, including one thousand pounds for the Barrymores, and Dr. Mortimer is to receive forty thousand pounds. Holmes tells Sir Henry that, "I must impress upon you that I believe your life to be in considerable danger." Holmes also tells him that he is unable to leave London at the moment, but he will be sending Dr. Watson along to Dartmoor. Before anyone leaves, the first attempt on Sir Henry happens. A poisonous tarantula is hidden in a boot and crawls up near Sir Henry's head, but Holmes dispatches it. Sir Henry, Watson and Dr. Mortimer arrive in Dartmoor. Dr. Mortimer exits the cart for a short walk home. Before he walks away Perkins, the cart driver (Sam Kydd) suggests that Dr. Mortimer not walk alone. He tells him there has been a prison escape and a man named Selden, sentenced to life imprisonment is out on the moors. Sir Henry and Watson proceed to Baskerville Hall while Dr. Mortimer walks home. They are met at the Hall by Barrymore (John Le Mesurier). He gives the new master a tour of the house, and shows him a portrait of Sir Hugo. He tells him of the legend. Sir Henry notices a missing portrait, another of Sir Hugo. He is told it disappeared a few months ago. Watson is at the table finishing his meal. Sir Henry offers a toast, but Mrs. Barrymore (Helen Goss), visibly upset drops her glass then excuses herself. Dr. Watson asks Barrymore about the death of Sir Charles, as he found the body. Dr. Watson asks Barrymore if he believes in the legend of the hound. Barrymore tells Dr. Watson that he has heard the terrible howl. Dr. Watson is awakened in the night to the sound of a woman moaning. He investigates but finds nothing. The next morning the local Vicar, Bishop Frankland (Miles Malleson) stops to ask Sir Henry for a donation to the church. He is invited in for a glass of sherry. Sir Henry asks Mrs. Barrymore to donate an old suit to the jumble sale. Dr. Watson stops at the Grimpen Post Office to get a telegram from Holmes. It reminds Watson, "Under no circumstances allow Sir Henry to venture on the moor alone at night." Dr. Watson walks back to Baskerville Hall through the moor. He encounters Stapleton (Ewen Solon) who warns the doctor he was about to step into a trap. Stapleton also warns Watson to stick to the trail, lest he fall into the Grimpen Mire. Along the walk he encounters Cecile Stapleton (Maria Landi). Watson asks her if he is on the right path to Baskerville Hall. She bolts without answering, and Watson follows her but he falls into the mire. Stapleton rescues him, Cecile returns and helps. The Stapletons, father and daughter, return Dr. Watson to Baskerville Hall. Watson and Stapleton go into the house, and Cecile remains in the cart outside. They don't know Sir Henry is out riding his horse. Sir Henry arrives and talks to Cecile. She is very rude to Sir Henry. She runs away and when confronted, she kisses Sir Henry. That evening after everyone else has gone to bed, Sir Henry is joined by Dr. Watson. They see a light under the door of an unoccupied room. A candle burns near a window. Sir Henry notices a light out on the moor--a signal. Dr. Watson and Sir Henry investigate outside and find the source of the light. They find Selden (Michael Mulcaster), the escaped convict. They give chase and hear the hound. Sir Henry suffers a mild heart attack. Dr. Watson helps him back to the hall. Dr. Mortimer examines Sir Henry and orders bed rest. Dr. Watson wants Mortimer to stay and watch Sir Henry while he returns to the moor. Watson goes to the abbey ruins and encounters Holmes asking, "Why have you left Sir Henry alone?" Holmes tells Watson he has been in Devon for the whole time gathering information from Selden. "Selden told me all he had seen since hes been hiding." They hear the hound in the distance and run to investigate. Holmes notices Dr. Mortimer left Baskerville Hall. They hear a man scream and rush to investigate. They spot a man they believe to be Sir Henry dead. Holmes and Watson return to Baskerville Hall to get help to move the body. They see a light under the door of the signal room. Inside the room is Sir Henry reading a book. Sir Henry asks, "Who was it Holmes? Who was the poor devil that died instead of me?" Holmes deduces it was Selden, "Selden had on the suit you were wearing when we met in London." The next morning, Holmes and Watson return to the site of the death of Selden. They go to the abbey ruins and there they find blood on a stone and a dagger. Barrymore finds Selden's body, which had been moved from the night before. His body has been mutilated. "Some revolting sacrificial rite has been performed," Holmes notes. At the Hall, Holmes confronts Mrs. Barrymore and extracts the confession she was aiding her brother, Selden. She gave him food and Sir Henry's clothes and used the candle as a signal. Holmes pays a visit on the Bishop to inquire about a missing spider. Holmes knows the Bishop is regarded as the highest living authority on the study of rare spiders. He asks about the genus Theraphosa--tarantula. Bishop Frankland finally admits he is missing a tarantula and volunteers his visitor list, which included Dr. Mortimer and the Stapletons. Sir Henry stops at the Stapleton cottage. He lets himself in when no one answers his knock. Cecile appears and asks, "Why did you come here?" Stapleton is out and Cecile tells Sir Henry he is invited for dinner. She tells Sir Henry she is Spanish and her mother is dead. Her father returned to farm, but the property is no good. Sir Henry is in love with Cecile. Stapleton walks in and sees his daughter and Sir Henry being intimate. They sit and have a drink. Holmes and Watson meet with and confront Dr. Mortimer. They suspect he may have had a hand in the strange circumstances surrounding the death of Sir Charles and the attempts on Sir Henry. They ask about an old tin mine on the property. Mortimer tells Holmes that Stapleton may be more help as it is under his land. Holmes insists in seeing the mine, and insists that Dr. Mortimer accompany him. Holmes shows Mortimer the dagger that was used on Selden and the same as Sir Hugo used to kill the servant girl centuries earlier. Stapleton, Dr. Mortimer, and Holmes explore the old tin mine. Watson stays above. It is dank and water seeps through from the mire above. Holmes is looking for bones. While Stapleton and Mortimer chock the wheels of an old mining cart, Holmes explores deeper. He tells the two men, "We won't need to go any further, I've found what I came down for." They hear the hound howling. The cart runs down the rails, hits a support beam and causes a cave in, trapping Holmes. They dig for a while, but after two hours they stop. As it turns out, Holmes is waiting in the cart. He hurt his leg. Back at Baskerville Hall, Sir Henry invites Holmes and Watson to join him for dinner at the Stapletons. Holmes is very rude to Sir Henry. This is his plan--he wants Sir Henry to leave without them. The dagger is missing and Holmes has learned that Sir Hugo's hands were webbed, like Stapleton's hands. It turns out Stapleton is next in line for the Baskerville fortune. Holmes and Watson head for the abbey ruins where Sir Henry and Cecile have gone. She is leading Sir Henry to her father, the hound, and certain death. Fortunately Holmes and Watson hear Cecile's plan as she tells Sir Henry he will die. The hound appears and leaps on Sir Henry. It begins to maul him. Stapleton attacks Watson as he tries to shoot the hound. They scuffle briefly but Watson manages to shoot Stapleton. Holmes shoots the hound which turns on Stapleton. Cecile retrieves the dagger and tries to finish Sir Henry off, but Holmes intervenes. Cecile escapes. Holmes and Watson help Sir Henry to his feet and show him the dead dog. The dog was kept in the mine, starved for weeks, given the scent and turned loose. His missing boot was the scent. Cecile still running slips into the mire and is pulled under. Back in London Holmes and Watson admire a gift sent by Sir Henry. It is the missing portrait of Sir Hugo, showing his deformed hand, as a souvenir Holmes can add to his collection. Sir Henry also included a check for a very generous amount. Watson asks Holmes about what clue was the key. Holmes quips that, "the missing boot put me on the scent." We close with Holmes and Watson having tea.

A highly principled British colonel becomes obsessed with leading a band of P.O.W.s to build a bridge at the behest of their Japanese captors in World War II Burma.

During King Arthur's time, a sword maker wishes to win Lady Linet's heart but first he must become a noble knight. As a blacksmith John can't hope to win the hand of Linet, daughter of the Earl of Yeonil. Off he goes to prove himself a noble knight. He makes himself a suit of armor with a winged chicken helmet and runs around fighting for King Arthur as the Black Knight. Evil doings include plots by visiting kings and a Druid sacrificial ceremony at Stonehenge. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> Young swordsmith John secretly becomes the Black Knight to help out King Arthur when Saracens and Cornish men plot to take over the country by mounting raids dressed up as Vikings. However, his thoughts are not only on the protection of England when the good lady Linet becomes threatened. —Jeremy Perkins {J-26}