It Happened in Sweden

 

 (imdb)

REPTILICUS-1961-In Copenhagen, some scientists discover a frozen piece of a prehistoric dinosaur. When one of them falls asleep leaving the freezer door open, the piece thaws. The guys put it in some kind of incubator to keep it alive. Grouchy American General Mark Grayson (Carl Ottosen) goes on a tour of the city with some comedic UNESCO scientist. Reptilicus grows and kills the scientists and some cows. 

It could be the worst monster in giant monster history. An obvious puppet, it's scaly and slimy and shoots green slime (described as “burning acid slime”). One victim is a cut out! Although it was usually said that the US version of REPTILICUS was just a dubbed version with a few added scenes, there were actually two separate films made. One for Danish audiences directed by Poul Bang and the other for US moviegoers directed by Sid Pink (JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET).

There was a model too!

 (thedoctorsmodelmansion)

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Silent From Sweden

THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE-1921-This haunting silent film from Sweden involves a legend that if the last person to die at the end of the year is a great sinner he will have to drive the title vehicle and pick up the souls of the dead.

An alcoholic named David (the director Victor Sjostrum) becomes the driver and later his “sinful” life is examined. The direction, photography and acting make this one of the best silent movies ever made and I’m sure influenced Ingamar Bergman and other Euro-directors.

Director Sjostrum was a highly respected director in his homeland and came to Hollywood (using the name Seastrom) soon after he made TPC, directing around 10 movies including THE SCARLET LETTER and THE WIND (both starring Lillian Gish) and Lon Chaney in HE WHO GETS SLAPPED. He returned to Sweden in the early 30’s to act and stage and in film and gave his last performance in 1959 as the aging doctor looking back on his life in Bergman’s WILD STRAWBERRIES. He died in 1960.

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