Sh! The Octopus

Sh! The Octopus
Promotional release poster
Directed by	William McGann
Screenplay by	George Bricker
Based on	The Gorilla (1925 play) by Ralph Spence and Sh! The Octopus (1928 play) by Ralph Spence Ralph Murphy Donald Gallaher
Produced by	Jack L. Warner
Starring	Hugh Herbert Allen Jenkins Marcia Ralston
Cinematography	Arthur Todd
Edited by	Clarence Kolster
Music by	Heinz Roemheld (uncredited)
Production company	Warner Bros.
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	December 11, 1937 (1937-12-11)
Running time	54 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Sh! The Octopus is a 1937 American comedy mystery film produced by Warner Bros., directed by William McGann, and starring Hugh Herbert, Allen Jenkins and Marcia Ralston. While contract players Herbert and Jenkins frequently appeared in the same picture, this is the only film to present them as an actual team.

In 2022, the film garnered attention on social media for a character transformation scene that was accomplished using practical effects with a combination of makeup and graduated filters. ^{[1] [2]}

Plot

Two bumbling detectives are in pursuit of a master criminal, The Octopus. They find themselves inside a haunted lighthouse full of suspicious characters, including the titular character, who appears to be an actual octopus.

Cast

• Hugh Herbert as Kelly
• Allen Jenkins as Dempsey
• Marcia Ralston as Vesta Vernoff
• John Eldredge as Paul Morgan
• George Rosener as Captain Hook
• Margaret Irving as Polly Crane
• Elspeth Dudgeon as Nanny
• Lew Harvey as Sinister plotter
• Frank Hagney as Sinister plotter
• Ed Biby as Sinister plotter
• Molly Doyle as Nurse
• Jack Jorgensen as Sinister plotter

Other media

In 2010, the film was released by Warner Archive as part of the six-film DVD-R collection Warner Bros. Horror/Mystery Double Features. ^[3]

It also airs occasionally on Turner Classic Movies.

References

1. "How the 1937 'Witch' Movie Visual Effect Shot Was Achieved". Snopes. 18 February 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
2. "How They Shot That Transformation Scene in 'Sh! The Octopus'". Film School Rejects. 13 June 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
3. "Warner Horror Mystery Double Features". DVD Beaver. Retrieved August 15, 2019.

External links

• Sh! The Octopus at IMDb
• Sh! The Octopus at the TCM Movie Database