Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

The best monster suit of the decade, and the underwater photography makes it. Ricou Browning plays the Gill-man in the swimming scenes, gliding beneath the cast in shots that are beautiful and creepy at once. Milicent Patrick designed the creature's head and face, a credit that went mostly to Bud Westmore for about fifty years. Jack Arnold shot it in 3D, though many first audiences saw it flat. It sits closer to horror than ideas, so choose it for atmosphere rather than science.