Eegah

About the production

The film was shot in just two weeks with a minimal crew. Richard Kiel, who played Eegah, had to endure hours of makeup application each day and wore platform shoes to appear taller. The cave scenes were filmed at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park. The infamous shaving cream scene was improvised on set when the production ran out of prop blood.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Eegah reached screens in 1962 from Fairway International Pictures, when exhibitors still paired shorts and features in mixed programs.

Why this film matters

Students of early cinema study Eegah as an example of 1962 treatment of teenagers stumble across a prehistoric caveman, who goes on a rampage.

Making of

The production was a family affair, with Arch Hall Sr. directing, his wife producing, and their son starring. The film was made quickly and cheaply, typical of the drive-in movie era. Richard Kiel was discovered by the Hall family while working as a bouncer. The desert location filming was challenging due to extreme temperatures, with cast members suffering from heat exhaustion. The infamous scene where Eegah shaves with a rock was considered too graphic by some theaters and was cut in certain markets. The film's soundtrack was recorded separately, with Arch Hall Jr.'s musical performances added to showcase his singing talent.

What critics said

Contemporary journalism left scarce detail on Eegah, leaving later critics to infer its 1962 reception.

Did you know?

• Richard Kiel, who played Eegah, was 7'2" tall but still had to wear platform shoes to appear even more imposing
• The film was featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000, which helped cement its cult status
• Arch Hall Jr. sings three songs in the film, including 'Valerie' which was released as a single
• The title character's name was originally going to be 'Eegah the Stone Age Killer'
• The film's budget was so low that the crew used real animal bones from a butcher shop for the caveman's cave
• Director Arch Hall Sr. cast his son Arch Hall Jr. as the lead to launch his music career
• The famous line 'Watch out for snakes!' became an internet meme decades after the film's release
• The film was shot without sound recording and all dialogue was dubbed later
• Richard Kiel's makeup was so thick that he could barely eat or drink during filming
• The movie was part of a double feature with 'The Choppers' in many theaters

Visual style

The cinematography by William M. Wages was rudimentary but effective for a low-budget production. The desert locations were captured with stark, high-contrast lighting that emphasized the harsh environment. Many shots were handheld due to budget constraints, giving the film a documentary-like feel in outdoor scenes. The cave sequences used dramatic shadows and low-key lighting to create atmosphere, though the effect was often undermined by poor lighting equipment. The film occasionally employed Dutch angles during action scenes to suggest chaos and danger.

Innovations

Eegah employed minimal technical innovation but did feature some interesting makeup effects for its time. Richard Kiel's caveman makeup, created by a team led by Jack Young, involved extensive prosthetics and hair work that took hours to apply each day. The film used process photography for some driving scenes, a common technique in low-budget productions. The sound recording was done entirely in post-production, a cost-saving measure that resulted in poorly synchronized dialogue.

Music

The film's music was composed by Arch Hall Sr. under the pseudonym William Watters. The soundtrack prominently features rock and roll songs performed by Arch Hall Jr., including 'Valerie,' 'I Live for Love,' and 'Dawn of Love.' These musical interludes were clearly designed to promote Hall Jr.'s singing career rather than serve the narrative. The incidental music was minimal, consisting mainly of stock library cues and simple percussion elements. The sound quality was poor due to the film's post-production dubbing process.

Famous quotes

Eegah!" - Roxy Miller upon first seeing the caveman

Watch out for snakes!" - Robert Miller's repeated warning

Daddy, I saw him! He was huge!" - Roxy describing Eegah

Stupid teenagers!" - Eegah's thoughts (implied through grunts)

You're the first girl I've ever seen!" - Eegah's fascination with Roxy" ]

memorableScenes

preservationStatus

The film exists in its complete form and has been preserved through various home video releases. The original negative status is unknown, but multiple 35mm prints have survived. The film entered the public domain, which has led to numerous poor quality DVD releases. A restored version was released by the Film Detective in 2017, sourced from the best available elements.

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What audiences thought

Initial audience response was poor, with the film performing badly at the box office during its limited theatrical run. However, over the decades, it has developed a devoted cult following. Drive-in audiences in the 1960s reportedly laughed at the film's absurdity. Modern audiences often seek it out specifically for its camp value and unintentional humor. The film's MST3K appearance created a new fan base that appreciates it as a piece of bad movie history.

Film connections

Influenced by

• King Kong (1933)
• The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
• Teenage monster movies of the 1950s

This film influenced

• The Lost Continent (1968)
• The Mighty Gorga (1969)
• various MST3K-featured films

Where to watch

• Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/Eegah
• Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eegah%20(1962)%20by%20Arch%20Hall.webm