Reptilicus
| Reptilicus | |
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Danish theatrical poster
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| Directed by |
Danish version: Poul Bang English version: Sidney W. Pink |
| Written by | Ib Melchior Sidney W. Pink |
| Starring | Carl Ottosen Ann Smyrner Mimi Heinrich |
| Music by | Sven Gyldmark |
| Cinematography | Aage Wiltrup |
| Edited by | Sven Methling Edith Nisted Nielsen |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by |
American International Pictures (USA) Saga Studios (Denmark) |
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Release date
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Running time
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81 min. |
| Country | Denmark United States |
| Language | Danish English |
| Budget | $100,000 |
Reptilicus is 1961 Danish-American giant monster film about a prehistoric reptile. The film was produced by American International Pictures and Saga Studio, and separate versions were released in Denmark and in the United States.
The original Danish-language version was directed by Danish director Poul Bang and released in Denmark on February 25, 1961.
The American version, which was in English with a nearly identical cast, was directed by the film's American producer-director Sidney W. Pink; this version was initially deemed virtually unreleasable by American International Pictures and had to be extensively reworked by the film's Danish-American screenwriter, Ib Melchior, before being finally released in America in 1962. Pink was angry at the changes and wound up in a legal dispute with AIP. After Pink and others viewed the English-language version, the lawsuit was dropped.
Danish miners Svend Viltorft dig up a section of a giant reptile's tail from the frozen grounds in Lapland, where they are drilling. The section is flown to the Danish Aquarium in Copenhagen, where it is preserved in a cold room for scientific study. But due to careless mishandling, the room is left open and the section begins to thaw, only for scientists to find that it is starting to regenerate.
Professor Otto Martens, who is in charge of the Aquarium, dubs the reptilian species "Reptilicus" (upon a reporter's suggestion) and compares its regeneration abilities to that of other animals like earthworms and starfish.
Once fully regenerated from the tail section, Reptilicus goes on an unstoppable rampage from the Danish countryside to the panic-stricken streets of Copenhagen (including one of its famous landmarks, Langebro Bridge), before finally being killed with poison by ingenious scientists and military officers.
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Wikipedia