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The Narrator, presumably of a newsreel, begins this documentary of extraordinary events:
| "From our beginnings on the Navy drawing board, through the months of secret experiments out on the western desert, then through the desperate search for metals with the properties she needed, she was designed to be the nation's greatest weapon of the seas - the atom-powered submarine. Her engines were to be a miracle of speed and power, her sides strong enough to withstand any blow, her armament and fire power of greater force than the worst enemy she might encounter. The mind of man had thought of everything - except that which was beyond his comprehension!" |
[The screen fades to black. Then the screen fades in on stormy waters and the main titles scroll up from the white-capped waves.]
The first "atomic" submarine is on its shakedown cruise. (It is never given a name, but the first nuclear submarine in real-life was named Nautilus.) We are introduced to Commander Pete Mathews (Ken Tobey) and his crew.
Our first "glimpse" of the octopus: As a huge mass seen on the sonar. It's moving too fast to be a ship, and it's too huge to be a whale. The submarine is immobilized briefly, but manages to escape. When the bow planes are investigated, a huge hunk of tissue (which we are never shown) is found. |
IN THE LAB ? SCIENTISTS AT WORK FOR SEVEN DAYS. FINALLY:
Scientists John Carter (Donald Curtis) and Lesley Joyce (Faith Domergue) have deduced that that tissue was from a giant octopus, turned radioactive by H-bomb tests.
(Movie viewers are shown a small octopus in that tank.) |
Since it can't catch its normal diet - which is warned away by the radioactivity - it must go after man. The military scoff at their theories, which angers Professor Joyce. |
AND AN INNOCENT FREIGHTER AT SEA...
Sailors on a freighter know not what is to come. |
Now they see it.
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In the darkness, the gigantic octopus rises above the freighter. |
Another view of the octopus' head over the freighter.
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Four survivors are found and brought to a Naval hospital. One man's story of the ship being drawn under by tentacles is ridiculed by the Navy doctor, so the other survivors deny having seen anything. Navy brass still refuses to believe a giant octopus can be possible.
AT HARPER'S COVE, NEAR ASTORIA, OREGON
A family of four disappeared near Astoria...meanwhile fishermen complain of poor catches. Dr. Lesley and Commander Mathews come here to investigate. Later, the sheriff drives John Carter to the site to join Lesley and Mathews, and sticks around.
The sheriff has scoffed at Dr. Joyce and Cmdr. Mathews tales of a 'sea monster.' He wanders off along the beach near the rocks and sees the octopus. |
The octopus has hauled itself up onto dry land and presumably kills and devours the sheriff. We never see the sheriff engulfred by a tentacle, let alone eaten, but Mathews, Joyce and Carter drive off helter-skelter in a jeep.
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The Navy drops depth charges hoping to drive the octopus to shore where it can be killed. The Golden Gate Bridge is electrified...but something goes wrong.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Carter has turned on the electricity, which drives off the octopus, but now it is trapped in the bay.
Dr. LESLEY JOYCE PROVIDES MORE PROOF THAT GIANT OCTOPI EXIST
An octopus attacks a ship in the 13th century
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IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY...TENTACLES INVADE THE CITY.
In real life Commander Mathews would never leave his ship to attempt to plant the deonator. In the movies, it's dramatically necessary, apparently. He is knocked unconscious, but being negatively buoyant, he does not float to thhe surface. Civilian John Carter goes out to do the job and rescue his rival in love.
Commander Mathews asks Lesley if she'd like to settle down and have a family. Although she kisses him...she also seems to refuse him. But he can collaborate with her on a book she's writing, "How to Catch a Sea Beast," which makes it a rather ambiguous ending.
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