13 facts about the film “One Million Years BC” (5 photos + 1 video)

We are talking about the classic film "One Million Years BC" from 1966, which became a remake of the 1940 film of the same name. The main female role was played by the luxurious Raquel Welch.





When the Shellfish tribe is attacked by a giant sea turtle, Loana (Raquel Welch) names it "Archelon." This is the real scientific name of the animal. This name is Greek and means "royal turtle."

Raquel Welch called the film one of the most popular "silly dinosaur movies."

The poster featuring Raquel Welch's character Loana from this film has been used in many other films and TV series. One of the most famous examples is the film "The Shawshank Redemption":



Ursula Andress was offered the role of Loana in this film, but she refused due to the low fee.

Early in the film, Tumak (John Richardson) at various points encounters a giant iguana and a giant tarantula, which, unlike other creatures in the film, are living animals and not dummies. This is an homage to the original version of One Million Years BC, which used the same method to depict dinosaurs.

The film's exterior scenes were filmed in the Canary Islands in late 1965. Principal photography wrapped in January 1966, and by spring Ray Harryhausen had completed special effects work.



Loana uses the word "Akita" in the film, which was then used several times in the later film with a similar theme, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth.

To partially offset the ₤140,000 (other sources say ₤420,000) cost of making the film, its costumes and sets were subsequently sold for use in the film Slaves, which also starred Martin Beswick and Yvonne Horner.

The fur bikinis used in the film were very uncomfortable. The actresses were often in the water, so the bikinis leaked, stuck to the body and were very heavy.



The film was advertised as Hammer Films' 100th production.

Stock footage from this film has been used in other films. Among the most famous examples:

- the scene in which the cavemen are crushed by boulders was used during Alex's nap in the film "A Clockwork Orange";

- the scene of the fight between a ceratosaurus and a triceratops, which Professor Stephen Falken shows to David Lightman and Jennifer Mack in the film "War Games".

Martine Beswick said she didn't even have to audition for the film. Starring in the Thunderball films opened doors for her and Hammer Films decided she should join their family and offered her the role of cave girl Nupondi.



Regarding criticism of historical inaccuracies (in the film, dinosaurs, which disappeared about 66 million years ago, and people who look like ordinary modern people (that is, appeared about 300 thousand years ago), are shown as co-existing in the same era), Ray Hurricane stated that he “didn’t create the film for professors, who wouldn’t go see such films anyway.”