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The Secret of the Loch

From Wikipedia of Horror


Template:Use British English Template:Infobox film The Secret of the Loch is a 1934 British film about the Loch Ness Monster. It is the first film made about the monster.[1][2][3] It was edited by David Lean.

Charles Bennett said the film was based on his original idea. He later admitted it was "terrible... but amusing".[4]

Premise

Professor Heggie is determined to prove to a sceptical scientific community the existence of a dinosaur living in Loch Ness. Young London reporter Jimmy Anderson believes him and offers to help. He also falls in love with Angela, the professor's granddaughter. Jimmy finally plucks up the courage to enter the Loch himself, where he comes face to face with the monster.

Cast

Actor Role
Seymour Hicks Professor Heggie
Nancy O'Neil Angela Heggie
Gibson Gowland Angus
Frederick Peisley Jimmy Anderson
Eric Hales Jack Campbell, the Diver
Rosamund John Maggie Fraser, the Barmaid
Ben Field Piermaster
Robert Wilton Reporter
Hubert Harben Professor Blenkinsop Fothergill
Fewlass Llewellyn Scientist at Meeting
Stafford Hilliard Macdonald
D. J. Williams Judge
Clive Morton Reporter/Photographer in Pub
Cyril McLaglen Mate

Production

The film was inspired by the success of King Kong. It was made by Bray Wyndham, an independent producer using Ealing’s studios and technicians while Basil Dean had a dispute with RKO. Prominent billing was given to Seymour Hicks. Director Milton Rosmer was borrowed from Gaumont, although George King was originally announced for the job.[5]

Charles Bennett and Billie Bristow visited Loch Ness in December 1933 to research the film.[6] Bennett later said "I went up to the Scottish highlands and searched out Loch Ness. I never met the monster, but I found a wonderful Scotch whiskey."[7]

The film was known as Sinister Deeps.[8]

The film was shot over four weeks.[9] In the film, the "monster" was portrayed by a young green iguana.

Critical reception

TV Guide called the film "a trite programmer which doesn't make one believe in the humans' actions, much less the sea serpent's";[10] while Allmovie called it a "fairly amusing British monster movie...obscure but entertaining oddity";[11] and Britmovie noted an "enjoyable comic romp."[12]

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Milton Rosmer

This article incorporates text from the Wikipedia article "The Secret of the Loch", available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License.Retrieved 2026-03-07.

  1. ↑ Secret of the Loch . Classic Horror
  2. ↑ Template:Cite web
  3. ↑ Template:Cite news
  4. ↑ Tom Waver, Double Feature Creature Attack: A Monster Merger of Two More Volumes of Classic Interviews McFarland, 2003 p 18-19
  5. ↑ Template:Citation
  6. ↑ LOCH NESS MONSTER: Two 'Planes and Yacht in Search PREPARING TO MAKE A FILM The Scotsman 19 Dec 1933: 9.
  7. ↑ Template:Cite book
  8. ↑ PREPARATIONS FOR "MONSTER" FILM: Underwater Scenes in New Production The Scotsman 16 Jan 1934: 11.
  9. ↑ Template:Cite news
  10. ↑ Template:Cite web
  11. ↑ Template:Cite web
  12. ↑ Template:Cite web
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