The Alligator People is a 1959 American CinemaScope science-fiction horror film directed by Roy Del Ruth. It stars Beverly Garland, Bruce Bennett, and Lon Chaney Jr. This film was the penultimate feature directed by Del Ruth, and quite different from those of his days at Warner Bros.

The film was theatrically distributed by 20th Century Fox on July 22, 1959 on a double bill with Return of the Fly. It was written by Orville H. Hampton (also known for The Snake Woman, Jack the Giant Killer and the Oscar-nominated One Potato, Two Potato), The monster make-up was designed by Ben Nye and Dick Smith. The film featured music by Irving Gertz, known for his numerous science fiction and horror film scores.

Garland, who also served as the film's narrator, noted that Jane Marvin was one of her favorite roles,

While praising Struss's photography and the performances of Chaney and Garland, film historian Bill Warren criticized the monster and assessed The Alligator People as a "decently crafted and intelligently made program SF-horror film, sadly let down by misconceived makeup and perfunctory ideas".

See also

  • List of American films of 1959

References

  • Joe Dante on The Alligator People at Trailers from Hell
  • Rerecording of The Alligator People soundtrack