"I can tell you something about this place. The boys around here call it "The Black Lagoon." Only they say nobody has come back to prove it."
Lucas (Nestor Paiva), Amazon guide in "The Creature from the Black Lagoon."

Universal continues its Legacy line of classic monster films with "The Creature from the Black Lagoon." This impressive 2-disc release features the original film, its two follow-ups and a plethora of extra features that will make fans of the gill man happy creatures indeed.

"Creature from the Black Lagoon" was originally released in 1954 in glorious 3-D. One can only imagine how children reacted back then when the fearsome gill man made his first full appearance onscreen. Though always treated like the ugly stepchild in the Universal monster pantheon; out of all the great man-in-suit monstrosities from the studio, the creature was (and still is) the most disturbing. His ingenious design, which combined the efficiency of a wet suit with the startling visage of a gilled humanoid, was way ahead of its time. Director Jack Arnold, who helmed several great genre films of the '50's including "It Came from Outer Space" and "Tarantula," knew how to effectively showcase a monster. It is his assured take on the material that makes "Creature" such an involving and downright creepy experience even today.

The film begins when a scientist doing research along the Amazon River discovers the skeletal remains (a webbed hand) of a prehistoric amphibious creature. He soon organizes a boating expedition in an attempt to recover the rest of the body. When a dig at the original site proves futile, they decide to travel up river into the "Black Lagoon" to see if fossil remains might have settled on the floor. Unbeknownst to them, they are being followed by a living version of the fossilized beast, and he's got his eyes on the ubiquitous glamour girl on board. When the creature ends up attacking the crew, they decide to attempt to capture it for scientific study.

Richard Carlson (also in Arnold's "It Came...") and beautiful Julie Adams play engaged scientists David and Kay. The two manage to turn in appealing performances in spite of the negligible character development. They headline a supporting group of competent b-movie actors including Whit Bissell and Richard Denning. The screenplay, credited to Harry Essex and Arthur A. Ross (from a story by Maurice Zimm), is heavy on action and just smart enough to get away with some of the more ridiculous plot detours. Adam's famous swim scene might have become an iconic classic, but what scientist is going to go for a leisure swim in the Amazon? The fluid cinematography by William E. Snyder is quite beautiful, especially the underwater sequences. Filming underwater was still relatively new in '55, so orchestrating the action sequences were no easy feet. Even with the technology we have today, Arnold's aquatic action set pieces remain gripping and at times even revelatory. "Creature" is the first real precursor to "Jaws" and, unlike Spielberg's rubber menace, the gill man still retains a very real, organic aura.

Director Arnold and the gill man returned the following year with the 3-D follow-up "Revenge of the Creature." While this entry is nowhere near as entertaining as the original, it does manage quite a bit of suspense once the creature is finally allowed to menace. Evidently the death of the gill man was greatly exaggerated in the last installment. Here he turns up alive and well, still menacing folks in the Black Lagoon. Naturally, another scientific expedition down the Amazon is coordinated for his capture. This time those involved are slightly better prepared and end up taking the gill man alive. He's quickly brought back to a research facility that also happens to be a Sea World-like tourist attraction. (Much of this was shot at Marineland in Florida well before the advent of Sea World.) It isn't long before the gill man grows tired of his caged existence and breaks free. Finally, trouble ensues... Taking the creature out of his habitat wasn't the wisest decision; chained to the bottom of an aquarium for much of the film makes him more of a sad, sympathetic beast. Once he escapes there are some thrilling sequences but his release comes rather late into this already short film.

The characters in "Revenge" are even slighter than those in the original film. There is a love triangle of sorts between three of the scientists - which doesn't go very far. Prof. Ferguson (John Agar) and "ichthyologist" Lori Nelson (Helen Dobson) quickly pair off after meeting one another. The screenplay, this time credited to William Alland and Martin Berkeley, really doesn't do much with the premise and, unlike the first film, creates some preposterous contrivances. For instance, just after our creature escapes from the aquarium, killing fellow scientist Joseph (John Bromfield) and wreaking general havoc, our two love birds... go on a vacation! A romantic getaway that has them conveniently aboard a boat, giving the creature ample opportunity to stalk our leading lady. Arnold does what he can with the silly story, managing to create quite a bit of suspense in between the leaden expository scenes. He and cinematographer Scotty Welbourne do what they can to raise the excitement level, especially in the few underwater action scenes.

Though not a great film, "Revenge" is positively inspired when compared to the third "2-D" outing, "The Creature Walks Among Us." Directed with little passion by John Sherwood, a man primarily known as an assistant director on several "b" productions. "Walks" could be generously described as the more intimate and introspective of the creature films. The horror begins again when Dr. Barton (Jeff Morrow), a rich scientist with insecurity issues, decides to make yet another boating expedition into the Black Lagoon. Along for the ride is his sexy young wife Marcia (Leigh Snowden), hunky scientist Dr. Morgan (Rex Reason) and a small crew. As in "Revenge," the creature is easily captured, this time getting severely burned in the process. He's taken aboard the boat while in a coma and given a tracheotomy; allowing his lungs to directly take in the oxygen. The scientists discover a layer of human skin underneath the monster's gills and fashion a ridiculous plan to make him more human. The gill man is soon breathing air on his own and, gills burned away, now unable to live underwater. He's put into a convenient outdoor cage at Dr. Barton's mansion and waits for his inevitable escape. The slight narrative gives equal time to the annoying relationship between the rich scientist and his bored wife. He's insecure and clingy and she's disgusted with him; spending most of her time making eyes with Dr. Morgan and fending off advances by another crew member. It's bad soap opera and a poor way to send off such a great monster.

The title and the advertising for this particular gill man adventure are a bit misleading. The "Among Us" part consists of the four main characters of the film (and the few bit players). The air-breathing creature does indeed escape his cell but his rampage is brief and underwhelming. Here the "revenge" title would have been far more appropriate as his violence is directed mainly at the insecure scientist who tries to frame him for a murder. Much like Frankenstein, an attempt is made to humanize the creature and it dilutes much of the suspense. His new "look" is a far cry from the great original costume. In much of "Walks" he is given a slimy visage, human eyes and a silly wardrobe. The screenplay by Arthur A. Ross (who had a hand in the original) seems to have been dictated more by budget concerns than any potential drama. Clearly the small cast, limited set pieces and cheap creature effects were the result of a budget much smaller than the first two installments. Sure he walks (and breathes), but he's only half the creature he used to be.

This 2-disc Legacy set is filled with great extras and features hours of supplemental material. In addition to the three gorgeous full screen transfers of the films, each includes a running commentary. Film historian Tom Weaver proves an enthusiastic, knowledgeable source for all things "creature." He solos on the original classic and is joined by fellow film buff Bob Burns for the two sequels. Best of all actress Lori Nelson (from "Revenge") offers her take on filming the first sequel as well. "Back to the Black Lagoon" is a short but comprehensive documentary featuring several surviving members of the various "creature" casts including Nelson, Julie Adams and Ricou Browning (one of a few to don the creature costume). Also included are the original trailers (several different ones for the various "Black Lagoon" re-releases) and a comprehensive photo gallery. Sadly, the first two installments, originally released in 3-D, are presented here "flat." But the prints of all three films are in pristine condition; all restored from their original elements. Each film is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0; the most sophisticated mix for either sequel for what it's worth.