''The Mysterious Monsters'' (also known as ''Bigfoot: The Mysterious Monster'') is a 1976
documentary film
A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...
written and directed by
Robert Guenette
Robert Guenette (January 12, 1935, Holyoke, Massachusetts – October 31, 2003, Los Angeles, California) was an American film producer, screenwriter, film director, television director and television producer, recipient of the Directors Guild ...
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster ( gd, Uilebheist Loch Nis), affectionately known as Nessie, is a creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or mor ...
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
on November 25, 1974. That version had been produced by
David L. Wolper
David Lloyd Wolper (January 11, 1928 – August 10, 2010) was an American television and film producer, responsible for shows such as ''Roots'', '' The Thorn Birds'', and ''North and South'', and the theatrically-released films ''L.A. Confiden ...
in cooperation with the
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...
and was narrated by Rod Serling.
''The Mysterious Monsters'' was one of the first theatrical releases produced by
Sunn Classic Pictures
Sunn Classic Pictures, also known as Sunn International Pictures, Schick Sunn Classic Pictures, and Taft International Pictures was an independent U.S.-based film distributor, founded in 1971. The company was notable for family films and document ...
. It was narrated by actor
Peter Graves
Peter Graves (born Peter Duesler Aurness; March 18, 1926 – March 14, 2010) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Jim Phelps in the CBS television series ''Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series), Mission: Impossible'' from 1967 ...
. The film investigated not only the possibility of Bigfoot's existence but also of the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti (the Abominable Snowman). It featured dramatic reenactments of various reported Bigfoot sightings. The film showed one witness being given a lie detector test, another being placed under hypnosis. ''The Mysterious Monsters'' was the first movie to feature the home movie taken by Roger Patterson in 1967 reported to show a Bigfoot. Anthropologist
Grover Krantz
Grover Sanders Krantz (November 5, 1931 – February 14, 2002) was an American anthropologist and cryptozoologist; he was one of few scientists not only to research Bigfoot, but also to express his belief in the animal's existence. Throughout his ...
was interviewed and said he believed the film to be authentic. Famed Bigfoot hunter Peter Byrne was also featured and gave insights on the hunt. In discussing the Loch Ness Monster, the film showed a 1934 photograph that was said to be of the creature. In 1994, however, this photo was proven to be a hoax.
Robert and Frances Guenette are credited as the authors of a 160-page book adaption of the film.
The film was later featured in an episode of ''
Cinema Insomnia
''Cinema Insomnia'' is a nationally syndicated American television series presented by horror host Mr. Lobo.
Format
Typically, Mr. Lobo opens each episode by promising to screen a well-known horror or science fiction classic (such as ''Creatu ...
''.
DVD release
On September 22, 2009, Cheezy Flicks released the film on DVD. In 2010, Apprehensive Films made the ''
Cinema Insomnia
''Cinema Insomnia'' is a nationally syndicated American television series presented by horror host Mr. Lobo.
Format
Typically, Mr. Lobo opens each episode by promising to screen a well-known horror or science fiction classic (such as ''Creatu ...
'' version available also on DVD. The DVD cover is a visual reference to the 1978
Marvel
Marvel may refer to:
Business
* Marvel Entertainment, an American entertainment company
** Marvel Comics, the primary imprint of Marvel Entertainment
** Marvel Universe, a fictional shared universe
** Marvel Music, an imprint of Marvel Comics
* ...
''Star Wars'' comic ''Star Wars 13: Day of the Dragon Lords''.
See also
*
Bigfoot in popular culture
Bigfoot is an alleged ape-like creature said to inhabit North America. Since the mid-20th century, Bigfoot has become increasingly relevant in popular culture and is the subject of film, television, advertising, music, literature and more.
Adv ...