The Snow Creature

In The Snow Creature, a scientific expedition in the Himalayas captures a live Yeti. They bring the creature back to Los Angeles, where it escapes …

The Snow Creature (1954) starring Paul Langton, Leslie Denison

Product Description 

Legends of a prehistoric creature, the link between man and beast, send American scientists on an expedition through the Himalayas. Their search for the Yeti leads them on a treacherous path through the mountains as the creature sets brutal traps to halt their pursuit. During a tense showdown deep within a cave, the team is able to capture one of the beasts. When the Yeti is brought to Los Angeles, the enraged monster breaks free from his cage. Striking from the concealment of the sewers, the beast unleashes his fury on the city. Acts of menace and destruction multiply as the police attempt to subdue the creature. Their pursuit leads to a violent confrontation with this bestial ancestor of man.

Review

I have to say,, on a superficial level The Snow Creature reminds me of the original King Kong. Or the original The Lost World 1925. And there’s some truth to that. All those films have explorers finding, and capturing, a dangerous, mythic creature that they take back to civilization, which promptly escapes and wreaks havoc. But there’s some significant difference.

On the plus side, the reason that these researchers are looking for the beast is — it’s kidnapped one of the expedition’s bearers’ wives! And, when the leaders of the expedition refuse to search for the “mythical” creature, he forces them to! With the help of the remaining bearers. And, since the creature has taken his wife, it’s very understandable. Another interesting bit is that, when they get back to civilization, the extended delay is due to bureaucrats fighting over who’s responsible for what!

On the negative side, the pace is slow. I’d say “glacially slow”, but that’ too close to being a pun.

Cast of characters

• Paul Langton (The Incredible Shrinking Man) … Dr. Frank Parrish
• Leslie Denison (The Return of the Vampire) … Peter Wells
• Teru Shimada (The Wackiest Ship in the Army) … Subra
• Rollin Moriyama … Leva
• Robert Kino … Insp. Karma
• Robert Hinton … Airline Manager
• Darlene Fields … Joyce Parrish
• George Douglas … Corey Jr.
• Robert Bice (Thirty Seconds over Tokyo) … Fleet
• Keith Richards (Star Spangled Rhythm) … Harry Bennett
• Rudolph Anders (She Demons) … Dr. Louis Dupont
• William Phipps (Cat-Women of the Moon) … Lt. Dunbar (as Bill Phipps)
• Jack Daly … Edwards
• Rusty Wescoatt (Batman and Robin movie serial) … Guard in Warehouse

Additional cast

• Darwin Greenfield … Woman (uncredited)