“Not Since King Kong has such a tale been told”
The Milpitas Monster was produced in the early 1970’s by the community of of Milpitas, California, and directed by Samuel Ayer High School photography teacher Robert Burrill. The result is a one-of-a-kind of cinéma vérité monster flick that oozes entertainment. The roles of the Mayor, the city council, the police and file departments, the garbage collectors, and the High School students and faculty are enthusiastically played by themselves.
Animated monster effects accomplished by Stephen Wathen
The monster, spawned by pollution, terrorizes the city of Milpitas by stealing its garbage cans. The Milpitas Monster’s environmental message addressed the booming populations of nearby Silicon Valley communities, whose nearby landfills gave Milpitas a smelly reputation.
Kozy Kitchen restaurant miniature built by Duane Walz
The competent miniatures (including a particularly fine miniature of the Kozy Kitchen restaurant) and the monster suit were constructed by students and parents from Samuel Ayer High School. Stephen Wathen contributed polished character animation with his stop-motion effects of the monster.
The Odorola portable monster detector
I’m impressed with the talent and enthusiasm behind this 16mm amateur production. The bizarre tale of garbage, teenage “hoodlums,” George the loveable homeless alcoholic widower, and a 50-foot tall monster is just too charming to criticize. And everyone looks like they’re having a great time.
KTVU channel 2 Creature Features horror host Bob Wilkins in his cameo appearance as monster expert Dr. Lindford of the U.S. Pollution Control Board
The Milpitas Monster DVD can be purchased from www.milpitasmonster.com.
