The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

With rampaging-dinosaur movies virtually extinct, it’s a treat to see three vintage specimens unearthed simultaneously for video. But beware, enlightened viewers: What’s truly prehistoric about these movies is their attitude toward women.

The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms tells the story of a guy scientist, a girl scientist, and the man-eating rhedosaurus that brings them together. Turning dino-buster when an arctic A-bomb blast unleashes the title creature, he (Paul Christian) barks commands while she (Paula Raymond) makes coffee and looks concerned. Neither has the star appeal of the Beast, a stop-motion puppet given great, lizardy death throes by animator Ray Harryhausen in a fiery amusement-park climax. C+