Curucu, Beast of the Amazon * (1956, John Bromfield, Beverly Garland, Tom Payne) – Classic Movie Review 12,486

Director Curt Siodmak’s 1956 Universal International Pictures jungle adventure/ monster movie film Curucu, Beast of the Amazon stars John Bromfield, Beverly Garland, and Tom Payne. Universal International Pictures made some rotten low budget adventure flicks in the Fifties, and this is certainly another one of the worst. But it’s got Amazon jungle Eastmancolor cinematography and Beverly Garland on its side.

Plantation boss Rock Dean (Bromfield) and feisty doctor Andrea Romar (Garland) trek along the Amazon to find a ‘beast’ terrorising the local Indians. Dean’s guide Tupanico (Payne) warns him about the birdlike monster Curucu, pronounced Koo-Ruh-SOO from the Portuguese Curuçu). Curucu is, of course, really chief Tupanico (Payne), trying to scare the tribesmen off the plantations, so he can lead them in the old ways, before the white men brought so-called civilisation and disease.

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon is a ridiculous, cheapo Fifties Tarzan-style jungle yarn, with all the clichés intact and no real stars to bail it out. The actors we have here give impressively idiotic performances, with Garland just priceless, and Curt Siodmak’s script is never less than plain risible.

The attractive Amazon jungle Eastmancolor cinematography by Rudolph Icsey is an unexpected plus, however, though the lack of a monster is most upsetting. But, it’s a jolly good movie for a good laugh and a scoff.

Also in the cast are Harvey Chalk, Sergio de Oliveira, Larri Thomas, Wilson Viana, Frank Bevan, Roberto Aurel, Andrea Bayard, and Luz del Fuego.

Universal said: ‘Actually filmed in the Amazon Jungle in spectacular Eastman Color!’ Curt Siodmak said: ‘I shot it down there in Brazil in the jungles. I never recovered, physically.’

It was released on 1 December 1956 in a double bill with the science fiction adventure horror film The Mole People.

The cast are John Bromfield as Rock Dean, Beverly Garland as Dr Andrea Romar, Tom Payne as Tupanico, Harvey Chalk as Father Flaviano, Larri Thomas as the dancer Vivian, Sergio de Oliveria as Captain of Police, Wilson Viana as Tico, Andrea Bayard, Luz Del Fuego, Frank Bevan, and Roberto Aurel.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,486

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