Hard to believe, but the cast of Village of the Giants contained two Mouseketeers, an 80's 1-hit wonder, a pin-up girl, several Academy Award winners, and the kids of Lloyd Bridges, Ann Southern, and Mickey Rooney. Scroll on down to find out some information about the films cast and crew.

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THE CAST

Mike

Tommy Kirk (Born: Dec 10, 1941 | Died: Sept 28, 2021) - Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Tommy Kirk eventually moved to California. Tommy was soon chosen to be a Mousketeer on Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Club and for the better part of the late 50's/early 60's, was a mainstay in a number of Disney pictures. He would then go on to star in a number of beach and horror films, before running a carpet and upholstery cleaning business. He appeared in some small roles in the late-90's/early-00's, including another run-in with a giant woman, this time in Fred Olen Ray's Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfolds.

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Horsey

Johnny Crawford (Born: Mar 26, 1946 | Died: Apr 29, 2021) - Born in Los Angeles, California, Crawford got his start in show business on The Roy Rogers Show and Hopalong Cassidy. A few years later, Crawford would join Tommy Kirk as part of the Mickey Mouse Club. In 1958, he joined the cast of the TV series The Rifleman. Though he did a few teen films, Crawford largely stuck to western pictures and TV appearances. In his final years, Mr Crawford was married to Charlotte Samco, and conducted his own orchestra throughout California.

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Fred

Beau Bridges (Born: Dec 9, 1941) - Born Lloyd Vernet Bridges III, Beau is the son of actor Lloyd Bridges, and was bestowed his nickname by his parents, from a character in the book Gone With The Wind. He attended college at UCLA & the University of Hawaii, before dropping out to pursue acting. Since then, he has appeared in all manner of films and television shows, and is still acting to this day. Beau is currently married to Wendy Treece Bridges, and is the father of 5 children (2 from his former marriage to Julie Landfield).

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Genius

Ron Howard (Born: Mar 1, 1954) - The son of actor Rance Howard, Ron Howard was born into an acting family, and starring in films before he was even 2 years old. By 1960, he garnered his most recognizable role as Opie Cunningham on The Andy Griffith Show. Though he struggled to find work as he grew older, Ron eventually studied film directing at USC, and directed his first film in 1977 for Roger Corman, and went on to direct films like Splash and A Beautiful Mind, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Director. Ron is currently married to Cheryl Howard, and has 4 children, several of which have joined the family tradition of acting and directing.

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Merrie

Joy Harmon (Born: May 1, 1940) - Born in Flushing, New York, Joy Harmon eventually went on to act on Broadway, and even became a runner-up for Miss Connecticut. Her measurements (41 1/2-22-36) soon landed her in a number of pin-up gigs, but she made the transition to California when she got a small role on The Groucho Marx Show. In California, she took on a number of TV and film appearances, with one of her most memorable being the car wash scene in the film Cool Hand Luke. She eventually got out of show business, and settled down to raise a family with (former husband) Jeff Gourson. Eventually, Joy parlayed her love of baking into a new career, and started the company Aunt Joy's Cakes in Burbank, CA, where she works to this day.

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Rick

Robert Random (Born: Jan 29, 1943) - Born in British Columbia, Robert's film career began in the mid-60's. A regular on the TV series Gunsmoke,, Robert's talents went from westerns to dramas, including a role in the Orson Welles film The Other Side of the Wind(1972). His final acting role was as a deadly biker named 'Reaper' in a 1990 action sequel called Danger Zone III: Steel Horse War. Currently, word is that Mr Random resides in British Columbia.

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Elsa

Gail Gilmore (Born: Oct 4, 1937 | Died: Mar 2, 2014) - Born Gail Gerber and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Gail started out her early years in ballet. Her dancing led her to Toronto, where she performed on the series Music '60 Presents the Hit Parade, from the CBC. A few years later, Gail moved to Hollywood, where she would gain roles on stage, before changing her last name to Gilmore (as casting persons said Gerber sounded "too German"), before going into Television and Film. 1965 was her most prosperous year, but Gail soon left acting behind, and settled into a relationship with author, Terry Southern. The two moved to the East Coast, where Gail taught ballet for 25 years, and eventually settled in New York City after Southern died in 1995. In her final years, Gail worked with author Tom Lisanti to produce the book Trippin' With Terry Southern: What I Think I Remember, which chronicled her time with Southern, and briefly returned to acting in the films Lucky Days, and River of Fundament.

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Jean

Tisha Sterling (Born: Dec 10, 1944) - Daughter of famed parents Ann Southern and Robert Sterling, Tisha was born in Los Angeles, and didn't appear onscreen until her early twenties. She started in television, with Village of the Giants being her film debut. In 1987, she acted along with her Mother Ann Southern in The Whales of August, playing the younger version of her Mother's character (for some years, many people said that Tisha looked like a younger version of her Mother). Her last starring role was in the 1999 film, Breakfast of Champions In 2016, she published the book, Why I Failed Charm School: A Memoir.

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Pete

Tim Rooney (Born: Jan 4, 1947 | Died: Sept 24, 2006) - The son of famed entertainer Mickey Rooney, Tim spent much of his career in television, appearing on shows like Dr Kildare and Gidget. Film-wise, he only appeared in 5 features including Village of the Giants. His final credits were for voice-acting roles, in the animated series Mister T, and Saturday Supercade.

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Harry

Kevin O'Neal (Born: Mar 26, 1945 | Died: Jan 28, 2023)- Kevin O'Neal was born in Los Angeles, CA, to parents Charles and Patricia O'Neal. His first screen credit was in 1961, on the television show The Deputy. He appeared in numerous television series, though had a regular role in the series No Time For Sergeants. He also appeared in a number of feature films up through 1975, which included Elvis Presley's The Trouble With Girls, and the 1970 film, Love Story.

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Nancy

Charla Doherty (Born: Aug 6, 1946 | Died: May 29, 1988)- Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Charla was another teenager who broke into the world of film through television, acting in shows like Leave it to Beaver, and Dr Kildare. Her first big-screen debut was in the Jimmy Stewart film Take Her, She's Mine (1963). After her role as Nancy in Village, Charla became a member of the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, playing the character Julie Olson for 2 years, before making her final television appearance in the 1967 television film In the Year 2889. She later took up local theatre, where she starred in and directed productions. She was living with her mother at the time she passed away on May 29, 1988. Charla Doherty was survived by a son, Trevor Black.

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Red, Dance Choreographer

Toni Basil (Born: Sept 22, 1943) - Starting out her career as a dancer, Toni Basil soon appeared in a number of films in the 1960's. Village of the Giants marked her first stint as a choreographer, a role she continues to do to this day. In the early 80's, Toni's music career took off, with the biggest hit being the song Hey Mickey, for which Toni starred in and choreographed the music video for.

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Georgette

Vicki London (Born: 1944) - Born Victoria Lynn Blumenfeld, Vicki was raised in Memphis, Tenn. She began performing locally in early childhood, and at the age of sixteen, moved to Hollywood. There she appeared in a number of TV shows and the cult classic, Lord Love a Duck. She also promoted the Jack Lemmon hit Under the Yum Yum Tree as the Yum Yum Girl, while also singing in local nightclubs, made two records, and toured with a musical production called The Blackhawk Gunfighters. Vicki married in 1966, retiring from Hollywood. She went on to teach children's musical theater, and wrote two books. She is now a crisis therapist, and woman-centered life coach in Northern California.

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Chuck

Hank Jones (Born: Jun 3, 1940) - Born Henry Z Jones Jr, in college Hank studied Communications, and started a band. He later got into TV and film, acting up until the year 1980. He then focused on genealogy, where research into his family lineage won him several awards. He was also a fellow on the American Society of Genealogists, and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.

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Fatso

Jim Begg (Born: Mar 2, 1938 | Died: Feb 15, 2008) - Born William James Begg, there isn't much information on Jim. Career-wise, he wore a number of hats when it came to the entertainment industry. His first credit is as a producer on a 1961 production called The Hired Gun, but up until the time of his death, he'd also act, write, and even sang a song for the film The Cool Ones in 1964. A few years after Village of the Giants, he'd star in the film Catalina Caper, which also starred Tommy Kirk.

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The Sheriff

Joseph Turkel (Born: Jul 15, 1927 | Died: Jun 27, 2022) - Born in Brooklyn, New York, Joe started acting in 1948 with the film City Across the River. Over the course of his career, he starred in three films from Bert I Gordon, as well as three for director Stanley Kubrick, an also appeared in the 1982 film, Blade Runner. He officially retired from acting in 1998.

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Cora

Debi Storm (Born: Jul 16, 1958) - Debi Storm's film and television career began when she was discovered on the kid's show, Romper Room. Her career in television would lead her into a number of TV appearances before she was even 10. Her first major film role was in A Patch of Blue, which starred Sidney Poitier. Debi's career lasted until her late teens, when she would appear in such films as The Brotherood of Satan, & Fun with Dick & Jane. After she left show business, Debi became a full-time Mother, and raised her four children.

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The Deputy

Rance Howard (Born: Nov 17, 1928 | Died: Nov 25, 2017) - Born Harold Engle Beckenholdt, he changed his name to Rance when he became an actor. His first role was in a children's touring company in 1948. Since then, he has had over 300 acting credits, and several producing and writing credits. He is Ron Howard's father, and has been cast in a number of productions his son has done.

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Girl on Motorcycle (uncredited)

Mary Statler (Born: Nov 5, 1936) - Mary's work on Village of the Giants would be one of numerous uncredited stunt roles she would have over her career in Hollywood. Along with doing stunt work in films like Paint Your Wagon and The Great Race, she is also one of the co-founders of The Stuntwomens Association of Motion Pictures.

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Girl in Basement (uncredited)

Susan Holloway (Born: N/A) - Like a number of cast members in Village of the Giants, Susan Holloway's main acting credits are from the 1960's. She had a number of supporting and uncredited roles in six other films at the time. She also is credited as a makeup artist for the 2010 short, Why Must The Show Go On.

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THE ENTERTAINMENT

Performer - Woman, When It Comes To Your Love

The Beau Brummels | Sal Valentino (Born: Sept 8, 1942), Ron Elliott (Born: Oct 21, 1943), Ron Meagher (Born: Oct 2, 1941), Declan Mulligan (Born: Apr 4, 1938 | Died: Nov 2, 2021), John Petersen (Born: Jan 8, 1945 | Died: Nov 11. 2007) - Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the group gained notoriety when their debut single Laugh, Laugh hit it big. The group released several records through 1968, though as the decade carried on, several members would leave the group for various reasons, before they disbanded. In 1974, four of the original members reunited to release a self-titled studio album.

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Performer, Songwriter - Little Bitty Corrine

Freddy Cannon (Born: Dec 4, 1936) - Born into a musical family, Frederick A. Picariello got into the beat early on. He spent much of his youth listening and looking for new music, and soon joined a small band playing rhythm guitar. Soon after, Freddy went solo, and his song Tallahassee Lassie was his first big hit, and his career lasted up to the big point of the 60's British Invasion. In the 70's, he briefly worked for Buddha Records, and would later work with Dick Clark on several American Bandstand reunions. Word is he still tours and performs at concert venues to this day.

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Performer - Marianne, Nothing Can Stand in my Way

Mike Clifford (Born: Nov 5, 1943) - Born in November of 1943, Mike Clifford came from a family with a musical background. Mike took voice lessons at a young age, and was soon performing around Los Angeles, before signing with Liberty Records in 1959. Mike recorded a number of singles in the early 60's, his most popular being the song Close to Cathy. In the 1970's, Mike became part of the first national touring company of Grease. His talents would also appear in the Ralph Bakshi-directed Lord of the Rings, and the live-action film Sextette. Mike is still performing in nightclubs and concert venues.

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THE CREW

Director, Producer, Screen Story, Special Visual Effects

Bert I Gordon (Born: Sept 24, 1922 | Died: Mar 8, 2023) - Born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Gordon first started making films with a 16mm camera. After serving in the Armed Forces during WWII, he married his first wife Flora. Gordon worked in TV commercials, and soon got into film with his feature debut, 1955's King Dinosaur. Over the years, he has worked in the capacity of writer, producer, director, and did the special effects on a number of films. His most recent credit was as screenwriter on the 2014 film, Secrets of a Psychopath.

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Special Visual Effects

Flora M Gordon (Born: Mar 24, 1925 | Died: Jan 26, 2016) - Born Flora M Lang in St Paul, Minnesota, she married Bert I Gordon in 1945, and began working with him starting with the film, King Dinosaur. They worked together for over 20 years, before divorcing in the late 70's. She then changed her name back to Flora Lang, and spent the remainder of her film career working as a Unit Production Manager and was also an original member of the Director's Guild of America's (DGA) Women's Committee.

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Original Source Material - The Food of the Gods

H.G. Wells (Born: Sept 21, 1866 | Died: Aug 13, 1946) - Born in 1866, H G Wells apprenticed for much of his young life, before going to The Normal School of Science in London. Though he studied biology, Wells did not finish his education at Normal. He made his writing debut in 1895 with The Time Machine, and his fictional story The Food of the Gods and how it Came to Earth was published in 1904. Well's novels on both fact and fiction would continue on for the next 40 years, until his passing.

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Screenplay

Alan Caillou (Born: Nov 9, 1914 | Died: Oct 1, 2006) - Born in 1914, Caillou first love was acting. He then served with the Palestinian Police in the 30's, before joining the British Army during World War II. At the end of the 50's, Alan moved to Hollywood where he would write for film and television. He also continued to act as well, before he retired in the mid-80's. He also wrote a number of paperback thrillers, and magazine stories.

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Presenter

Joseph E Levine (Born: Sept 9, 1905 | Died: Jul 31, 1987) - Born in Boston Massachusetts, Joseph E Levine founded Embassy Pictures in 1942. The studio found success distributing foreign and art films, and produced award-winning films like The Graduate and The Lion in Winter. Joseph sold his company to Avco in 1967, and remained it's president until 1974, when he resigned from the company and formed the Joseph E Levine Presents Company.

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Composer/Conductor, Songwriter - Marianne, Nothing Can Stand in my Way

Jack Nitzsche (Born: Apr 22, 1937 | Died: Aug 25, 2000) - Jack moved to Los Angeles in 1955, where his dreams of being a jazz saxophonist gave way to a career in composition and conducting. His first big hit was the song The Lonely Surfer, with Village of the Giants being his first foray into film composing. Film compositions would be his focus over the remainder of his career, with work on films like The Exorcist and An Officer and a Gentlemen, which would get him an Academy Award for Best Song.

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Songwriter - Marianne, Nothing Can Stand in my Way

Russ Titelman (Born: Aug 16, 1944) - Russ Titelman's musical career began in the 1960's. He later joined Warner Bros Records in the late 70's, where he worked for 20 years. He later became an independent record producer. He has worked with a number of musicians over the years, including Nancy Sinatra, The Monkees, and The Allman Brothers Band to name a few.

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Songwriter - Woman, When It Comes To Your Love

Ron Elliott (Born: Oct 21, 1943) - One of the original members of The Beau Brummels, the San Francisco-based band had success with their single Laugh, Laugh. Elliot suffered seizures related to due to diabetes in 1966, and struggled to maintain control of the band through the 60's. The band eventually split up, but reunited briefly in the mid-70's.

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Songwriter - Little Bitty Corrine

Frank Slay (Born: Jul 8, 1940 | Died: Sept 30, 2017) - Moving to New York in 1951, Frank was interested in becoming a songwriter. He moved to Philadelphia a decade later, where he became associated with Freddy Cannon, producing a number of his songs. He remained active in the music industry up until his death in 2017.

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Cinematographer

Paul C Vogel (Born: Aug 22, 1899 | Died: Nov 24, 1975) - Paul C. Vogel's career behind the camera, spans nearly 40 years, and over 120 films. He also won the Oscar for black and white cinematography for his work on the 1950 film, Battleground. Paul was also the cinematographer for George Pal's adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. It was after this film, that Mr. Vogel came to the attention of Bert I. Gordon, who made Vogel cinematographer on The Magic Sword and Village of the Giants. In 1967, he retired from the film industry.

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Process Photographer

Farciot Edouart (Born: Nov 5, 1894 | Died: Mar 17, 1980) - Born the son of a portrait photographer, Farciot eventually ended up at Paramount Pictures in the 1920's. It ws here that he would hone his skills in special effects, and process photography. He received over 10 Academy Awards many of which were for scientific and technical achievements in the film industry. Over his career, he did process work for films such as Dr Cyclops, Vertigo, and Rosemary's Baby.

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Production Manager

Frank Caffey (Born: Apr 30, 1902 | Died: Oct 3, 1983) - Born in Georgia, Frank would work in Hollywood under the title of production manager, for close to three decades. He worked on films such as The War of the Worlds, and The Ten Commandments. In the early 70's, he served as associate producer on several films, including Patton.

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Assistant Production Manager

Curtis Mick (Born: Jul 18, 1902 | Died: Apr 9, 1992) - Born in 1902, Curtis worked production and unit manager roles for over 40 years. Just like in Village of the Giants, he would be the assistant to production manager Frank Caffey on several films, such as Funny Face and Vertigo. His last screen credit was in 1970, when he served as a unit production manager for the film Darling Lili.

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Assistant Director

Jim Rosenberger (Born: Aug 16, 1902 | Died: Apr 19, 1992) - Beginning in 1946, James A Rosenberger would have a hand in over 50 film and television productions. His film work included such titles as The Blue Dahlia, Li'l Abner, and even the Elvis Presley film Girls! Girls! Girls!. His television work included shows like T.H.E. Cat and Medical Center.

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Script Supervisor

Dorothy Yutzi (Born: Jun 24, 1904 | Died: Nov 9, 1972) - Born in New York, Dorothy's work as a script supervisor began in 1948. While her career encompassed the role of a script supervisor, she also did set continuity, and script clerk roles on several occasions. Some of the more noteworthy films she worked on were several of Jerry Lewis' comedies. Village of the Giants was the last film she worked on.

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Camera Operator

Tom Morris (Born: Aug 1, 1910 | Died: Apr 17, 1985) - Over the course of 40 years, Thomas Morris would spend much of his career as a camera operator. After his work on Village of the Giants, his final credit was for the 1972 film, The Poseidon Adventure.

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Art Director

Franz Bachelin (Born: Nov 10, 1895 | Died: May 26, 1980) - Born in Germany in 1895, Franz entered into Hollywood in 1937 where his career as an Art Director would span over 63 films, with such stand-outs as Stalag 17, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and even episodes of the Batman TV Series (1966-68), and Star Trek. He also served as Production Designer on Bert I Gordon's The Magic Sword.

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Set Decorator

Robert R Benton (Born: Apr 10, 1924 | Died: Dec 7, 2003) - With a career spanning over 40 years, Mr Benton has been involved in both film and television. He would provide set decoration for such classic shows as The Twilight Zone and Bonanza. He also worked on Bert I Gordon's Picture Mommy Dead, as well as the films Soylent Green, Being There, Top Gun, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

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Costume Designer

Leah Rhodes (Born: Jul 21, 1902 | Died: Oct 17, 1986) - Starting out as a window dresser in Texas, Leah moved to California in 1926, where she joined the wardrobe department at Warner Brothers. Later on, she would work in the same departments at Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures. In 1950, she won an Academy Award for her work on The Adventures of Don Juan.

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Hairstyle Supervisor

Nellie Manley (Born: Jul 3, 1894 | Died: Dec 27, 1976) - with a career spanning over 30 years and 170 films, Nellie Manley has styled a lot of hair. She worked on such films as Sunset Boulevard, The Ten Commandments, Vertigo, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. She would also work on the Bert I Gordon film, Picture Mommy Dead.

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Makeup Supervisor

Wally Westmore (Born: Feb 13, 1906 | Died: Jul 3, 1973) - Walter James Westmore, was born into the famed Westmore family, whose 6 sons all worked as makeup artists for the Hollywood studios. He did makeup work on over 400 projects in his lifetime. Like several other members of the Village of the Giants crew, he'd also find work on Bert I Gordon's follow-up film, Picture Mommy Dead.

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Film Editor

John Bushelman (Born: May 3, 1915 | Died: Aug 30, 2013) - Throughout his career, John Bushelman would wear the hat of not just editor, but director, producer, writer and sound editor. By the time he worked on Village of the Giants, John was already a veteran of the filmmaker's work, having been producer on King Dinosaur, and done editing work on the 1960 film, Tormented.

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Music Editor

Charles Paley (Born: N/A) - Getting his start as a music editor in television, Village of the Giants was his first feature film work. Beginning in the mid-80's, much of his career has been focused on being the music editor on animated features. He has worked on such films as Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and The Princess and the Frog.

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Talent Coordinator

Marvin Paige (Born: Jan 26, 1927 | Died: Nov 13, 2013) - Marvin Paige's career in talent and casting began in 1961, with an uncredited part casting for the Audrey Hepburn film Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). His casting talents would be put to use on television series such as The Planet of the Apes (1974), and Charlie's Angels (1976).

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Sound Recording

John Carter (Born: Oct 22, 1907 | Died: Feb 22, 1982) - John R Carter's career would encompass over 130 projects. His work in television and film would lead to him working on the show The Night Gallery, and eventually to work filmmaker Steven Spielberg, when Carter would work on the films The Sugarland Express and Jaws, which he won a Best Sound Oscar for.

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Sound Recording

Charles Grenzbach (Born: Dec 29, 1923 | Died: Mar 29, 2004) - Beginning with the film The Search for Bridey Murphy (1956), Grenzbach's career would go on to include work on such popular films as The Godfater, Chinatown, and Platoon, which he would win a Best Sound Oscar for his work.

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Sound Effects

Jack Cornall (Born: Dec 23, 1913 | Died: Feb 20, 2001) - Also known as Arthur, Mr Cornall's work would encompass both editing film, and sound work. Prior to his work on Village of the Giants, he worked on Bert I Gordon's King Dinosaur as an editor. His last work was as a sound editor on the 1970 film, MASH.

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Effects

Herman Townsley (Born: Jun 22, 1913 | Died: Mar 15, 1986) - Herman's career in effects work would encompass over 20 productions, including The House on Haunted Hill. Along with Village of the Giants, Townsley would also work with Bert I Gordon on the films The Boy and the Pirates, and Tormented.

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Special Prop Construction

Ross Wheat (Born: N/A | Died: N/A) - Not much is known about Village of the Giant's prop constructor. His credits also include Bert I Gordon's The Magic Sword (credited as dragon trainer), and doing costume work for the 1972 TV movie, Gargoyles.

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