The Giant Gila Monster
	U.S. Release Date: 1959
	U.S. Title: The Giant Gila Monster
	U.S. Running Time: 74 minutes
	U.S. Distributor: McLendon-Radio Pictures Distributing Company
	Monsters: The Giant Gila Monster
	My Rating:
My Comments
An oldy and sorta goody, the only way I've seen this film is when it was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (episode #402 of season 4) and I think it may be the only way I could put up with it. It's a low-budget B-Movie from the late 1950s and achieves it's main effect, that of a giant Gila Monster, by simply filming a real lizard on a scaled-down model landscape. Considered a cult classic by many, worth checking out, but I would recommend viewing it via MST3K. Onto the synopsis...
Synopsis
A young couple parked in a remote location overlooking a ravine disappear after being attacked by a Giant Gila Monster. After not returning home, their families alert the local sheriff and their friends decide to assist the sheriff in his search. In the mean time, more people are going missing (actually being attacked and eaten by the Gila Monster) as well as witnessing strange things and the sheriff and kids investigate them as well. Eventually the couple's car is located deep in the ravine and evidence is found that something large has been moving around down there. Still with no hard evidence of the couple's location or what knocked the car into the ravine, a barn dance is organized and the town's teenagers gather there. However, unknown to all except teen Chase Winstead, the sheriff, and the town drunk who witnessed it, the Gila Monster attacked and derailed a train full of people. Soon the giant lizard makes for the barn dance and attacks, but is driven off by the sheriff and a few others armed with guns, which seemingly have no large effect on the creature. The Gila Monster retreats and makes for the plains, but Chase, who is a mechanic and owns a custom hotrod, loads his car with four tins of nitroglycerin and rams his hotrod into the Giant Gila Monster, destroying it in a fiery explosion.
Other Features: None

Cast & Crew
Chase Winstead Don Sullivan	Director Ray Kellogg
Sheriff Jeff Fred Graham	Producer Ken Curtis, B.R. McLendon, & Gordan McLendon
Lisa Lisa Simone	Screenplay Ray Kellogg & Jay Simms
Old Man Harris Shug Fisher	Editing Aaron Stell
Bob Thompson Mr. Wheeler	Music Jack Marshall
Ken Knox 'Steamroller' Smith	Cinematography Wilfred M. Cline