Beginning of the End Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A scientist accidentally makes grasshoppers huge with radiation, and now Chicago is on the menu unless Peter Graves can invent a bug-luring mixtape.

🍿 Beginning of the End: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Mysterious Destruction in Illinois

Near Ludlow, Illinois, a quiet evening for a teenage couple turns deadly when they are attacked by an unseen force. Shortly after, a patrol officer discovers the entire town is wiped out, its 150 residents missing and buildings reduced to rubble with no trace of bodies. The area is quickly sealed off by the military.

Investigative Reporter on the Scene

Enterprising journalist Audrey Ames, seeking a story, is turned away by the military roadblock but is determined to uncover the truth. She uses her connections to secure limited access and investigates a nearby experimental agricultural station run by Dr. Ed Wainwright.

The Startling Discovery

Dr. Wainwright’s experiments involve using radiation to create oversized, nutrient-rich plants. He reveals that regular grasshoppers accidentally got into a silo containing irradiated wheat and lived for weeks. Accompanying Wainwright and his deaf-mute assistant, Frank Johnson, to the destroyed grain site, Audrey witnesses a shocking sight: a gigantic grasshopper, which attacks and kills Frank.

Military Mobilization and Doubt

Wainwright and Ames escape and try to convince Colonel Sturgeon of the giant grasshopper threat, who is initially skeptical despite the devastation in Ludlow. After personally witnessing the creatures attack his men, Sturgeon mobilizes the Illinois National Guard, but their conventional weapons prove ineffective against the massive insects. Attempts to get help from the regular army and the Pentagon face delays and disbelief.

Advance Towards Chicago

As town after town falls to the advancing horde, a defense line is established near Chicago. A fierce battle ensues, but the giant grasshoppers break through the military’s defenses and begin to enter the suburbs, posing an imminent threat to the city’s massive population.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dr. Ed Wainwright (Peter Graves): The scientist whose radioactive experiments inadvertently create the giant grasshoppers and who later finds the method to stop them.
• Audrey Aimes (Peggie Castle): An enterprising reporter who uncovers the giant grasshopper threat and works with Dr. Wainwright to save Chicago.
• Gen. John Hanson (Morris Ankrum): The military general who takes charge of the defense against the giant grasshoppers and considers extreme measures to stop them.
• Col. Tom Sturgeon (Thomas Browne Henry): The initial National Guard officer who deals with the mysterious destruction and is skeptical of the giant grasshoppers until he witnesses them.
• Giant Grasshoppers (N/A): Enormous, radiation-mutated insects that emerge from a government experiment to threaten and destroy towns and cities.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Col. Tom Sturgeon: “Where do I get off asking the Regular Army for help with a bunch of oversize grasshoppers?” – Said exasperatedly by the National Guard Colonel, expressing skepticism and reluctance to report the absurd threat to higher command.
• Dr. Ed Wainwright: “There can’t be any grasshoppers like that!” – Exclaimed upon seeing the first gigantic grasshopper, reacting with disbelief to the impossible sight.
• Gen. John Hanson: “Don’t panic!” – A common order given repeatedly by military personnel trying to maintain control as the giant grasshoppers attack.
• Unnamed Soldier: “We’ll need fire trucks, lots of them!” – A panicked suggestion from a soldier, illustrating the military’s desperate and sometimes ill-conceived attempts to combat the giant insects.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $110,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Beginning of the End Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched ‘Beginning of the End’ and man, was that a trip. I went into it knowing about the reputation, especially the special effects, and it absolutely delivered on the cheese. Watching those grasshoppers just… wander around on photos of buildings had me cracking up. And the military trying to fight them with clearly stock footage spliced in? Peak B-movie greatness. Peter Graves is solid as the scientist, and Peggie Castle is way cooler than your typical 50s female lead. Honestly, I had a blast with this one. It’s not ‘good’ in the traditional sense, but it’s genuinely fun and makes you appreciate the ingenuity (or lack thereof) of classic low-budget filmmaking. Definitely one to watch with friends who appreciate vintage creature features!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 1950s creature features and sci-fi B-movies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy intentionally or unintentionally funny ‘bad’ movies”
  • “Followers of director Bert I. Gordon (‘Mr. B.I.G.’)”
  • “Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans (it was featured on the show)”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild sci-fi violence (giant insects attacking people, mostly implied or off-screen)”
  • “Some potentially frightening images (for young or sensitive viewers)”
  • “Depicts mass destruction and peril”
  • “Outdated portrayals and social politics (particularly regarding female characters, as noted in some reviews)”

Professional Reviews

• Generic Film Blog: “Bert I. Gordon delivers exactly what you expect: giant bugs and questionable effects. While the grasshoppers-on-postcards are infamously bad, the film has a certain B-movie charm. Peter Graves and Peggie Castle are surprisingly likable leads trying their best amidst the low-budget chaos. It’s a product of its time, more entertaining today for its camp value than genuine thrills.
• Vintage Sci-Fi Hub: “This entry in the 50s giant monster craze, while clearly riffing on ‘Them!’, offers its own brand of low-budget fun. The plot is thin, and the effects are often laughable, but the earnest performances, particularly by Peggie Castle’s capable reporter, keep it afloat. It’s a quintessential drive-in flick, best enjoyed with a relaxed attitude and a sense of humor about its technical limitations.

Audience Reactions

The infamous ‘grasshoppers on postcards’ special effects are a highlight for many.: Viewers appreciate the unintentional comedy, the earnest acting despite the budget, and its status as a classic entry in the giant bug genre.

Overall Consensus: A beloved, if flawed, B-movie classic in the giant creature subgenre, enjoyed by fans for its campiness, low-budget effects, and vintage charm.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Bert I. Gordon, known as ‘Mr. B.I.G.’ for his giant monster films, also handled the special effects himself, often working in his garage.”
• “Live grasshoppers were used for the giant monster effects, filmed crawling on miniature sets or projected onto screens behind actors. This technique often resulted in inconsistent scaling and transparency.”
• “For the iconic scenes of grasshoppers climbing buildings, real grasshoppers were filmed crawling across photographs of Chicago skyscrapers, leading to visible distortion and the insects occasionally appearing to walk on the sky.”
• “Actor Peter Graves’s brother, James Arness, starred in the earlier, more successful giant bug film ‘Them!’ (1954), which ‘Beginning of the End’ was seen as trying to capitalize on.”
• “Bert I. Gordon reportedly collected 200 grasshoppers for the film in Waco, Texas, but they began eating each other, leaving only about a dozen usable insects for filming.”

🖥️ How to Watch Beginning of the End?

Finding ‘Beginning of the End’ (1957) often requires searching classic film libraries or niche streaming services specializing in older sci-fi B-movies. It is frequently available for rent or purchase digitally via platforms like Amazon Prime Video. Check online movie retailers for physical media like DVD or Blu-ray releases, sometimes found in budget sci-fi collections. Availability may vary by region and service.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Beginning of the End, you might like these similar films:

• Them! (1954): Considered the progenitor of the giant bug movie craze of the 1950s, also dealing with radiation-induced giant insects and a military/science response.
• Tarantula! (1955): Another classic 1950s giant monster film where radiation causes an arachnid to grow to enormous size, posing a threat to a town and requiring military intervention.
• It Conquered the World (1956): Features Peter Graves in another lead role battling an alien threat, sharing the low-budget, earnest tone and B-movie charm of the era.
• The Giant Claw (1957): Infamous for its notoriously low-budget and unconvincing monster effects, appealing to fans of ‘so-bad-it’s-good’ cult classics from the same time period.
• Eight Legged Freaks (2002): A modern homage to 1950s giant insect movies, blending horror and comedy with over-the-top creature effects in a small-town setting.

🛒 Beginning of the End Related Products

• Beginning of the End Special Edition Blu-ray: Digitally restored print with commentary tracks, interviews, and production notes exploring the making of this cult classic. Features the widescreen theatrical version.
• It Came from the Fifties: Classic Sci-Fi Movie Poster Art Book: A large format book showcasing vibrant and imaginative poster art from the golden age of science fiction cinema, including many giant monster films.
• Giant Grasshopper Action Figure: A detailed, articulated action figure inspired by the giant insects from the film. Perfect for display or recreating your own miniature battles.
• Classic Drive-In Monster Movie Pack (Digital): A digital collection featuring ‘Beginning of the End’ and other low-budget creature features from the 1950s and 60s.

🎧 Soundtrack

Beginning of the End features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Natural, Natural Baby” – performed by Lou Bartel & Chorus

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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