Creature From The Black Lagoon - Costume Mask (Head)

Source: Amazon.com

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON - COSTUME MASK (Head)
Scary Masks

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This is a BRAND NEW accessory in its original packaging. It is an officially licensed product (we only sell the ‘real deal’, no imitations).

Creature From Black Lagoon Mask - Scary Masks This is an over-the-head mask. This is a pull over the head mask. It covers the back of the head and neck. There is a small fin on the bottom back. The mask is a dark olive green. The eyes are blue, the mouth is more puckered, there are not white teeth showing, and the neck bellow the mouth is the same olive green rather than a light yellow as it shows on the picture.

Most monster movie fans have believed for decades that the design of the Creature was the work of Bud Westmoore, but that is not the case. The Creature's "gill-man" design actually came off of the pen of artist Milicent (Millicent) Patrick. Although the fetching young illustrator never got her name in the films credits she was paraded from film screening to film screening in hopes that her model-like good looks would drum up more publicity for the film. Her contribution to the history of monster films has never been fully given the credit that it so deserves. Unfortunately there a far too many such "unknown heroes" in the genre of horror and sci-fi films.

Two actors would end up actually playing the Creature. Ricou Browning was used for the underwater shots and Ben Chapman for the scenes on dry land. Browning had been responsible for showing the films producers two areas, one in Silver Springs, and the other in Wakulla Springs, Florida that would end up being used as the Black Lagoon. He was asked to swim in front of the camera for some underwater test shots. A week later he was called and asked if he would like the job. He accepted. Browning worked well for the underwater Creature but, the studio wanted the monster to be a giant and he was less than six feet in height. That's when the six foot seven inch Ben Chapman entered the picture. With the costume on he measured in at well over seven feet tall. That was just what the film makers were looking for. As a result of there being two actors of different sizes two separate Creature costumes were developed. Each would be quite different in design and appearance to fit each actor. On screen these differences are not detectable but, when one costume was next to the other it was obvious. This worked because the viewer would never see the two together and no one ever noticed. (Read More)