One-Shot Wednesday
On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot.
Beginning of the End
Beginning of the End (1957) centers on a scientist who uses radiation to grow gigantic vegetables, which are then eaten by locusts that transform into enormous creatures and attack Chicago. The movie was produced during the early boom years of American science-fiction cinema.
In this screenshot, giant locusts (actually male grasshoppers from Waco, Texas) begin their attack by crawling up Chicago’s Wrigley Building.
For this scene, the movie’s director/producer/special effects coordinator, Bert I. Gordon, planned to build miniatures of Chicago landmarks for the grasshoppers to climb on. But he found it too costly. Instead, Gordon used still photographs, filming the grasshoppers moving across these images.
Despite being criticized for its poor special effects, Beginning of the End, some critics argue, has a certain charm that makes it watchable. Check out the full film below.
Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday!
Think you’re a Chicago screen buff?
On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title!
You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling.