Creature from the Black Lagoon

SmokeScreeners Rating:  

Year of Release: 1954

MPAA Rating: G

Director: Jack Arnold

Distributor: Universal 

In this film 26 smoking incidents occured, 5 of which were inside and 21 of which were outside.

The film was reviewed by Dr. Barry Hummel on 2/21/2009.

Dr. Hummel posted the following additional comments: "Creature from the Black Lagoon has a small cast of actors, but boy do they know how to smoke! 4 of the movie's stars smoke during the film, including cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.

The party gets started early in the movie, when most of the cast is discussing the discovery of a partial skeleton in the Amazon Rain Forest.  Two of the films stars were apparently unable to make it through this important discussion without smoking: 

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The scientists undertake an expedition to solve the riddle of the skeleton, only to discover a living creature in the Black Lagoon.  They decide to poison the previously pristine lagoon with a paralytic agent to try and bring the creature to the surface.  As long as they are polluting the area, Kay Lawrence (Julia Adams) makes the following contribution: 

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The paralytic agent actually works, and the scientists are able to capture the creature.  The pipe-smoking Dr. Thompson (Whit Bissell) lights up while standing watch over the creature:  

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Please note the incredible risk that Dr. Thompson takes by falling asleep!  Not only does he takes his eyes of the creature, but he falls asleep holding a smoldering pipe!  The expedition would come to a tragic end for sure if the boat caught fire in the middle of the Black Lagoon!"