One Million B.C.
[a.k.a. "Battle of the Giants", "Cave Man" (US reissue title), "Man and His Mate" (UK), "The Cave Dwellers", "Tumak: Der Herr des Urwalds" -- GER]

US (1940): Adventure/Science Fiction

A group of hikers take shelter in a cave during a storm in the mountains. In the cave, they discover an anthropologist who tells them the meaning of paintings on the walls of the cave, the story of a young hunter from one tribe and a young girl from another. It becomes a look at prehistoric sociology as Victor Mature, as Tumak (an outcast from the warrior Rock people), finds a home with the peace-loving Shell people along with pretty Neanderthal Loana (Carole Landis). The romance lifts eyebrows in the tribe, but the warring clans join together at the end for survival. The film also features Lon Chaney Jr. and Conrad Nagel.

Producer Hal Roach used pioneer director D.W. Griffith's 1912 silent, Man's Genesis, for inspiration the film, which Roach and Roach Jr. helmed. Griffith, who helped with the direction, served as a consultant on the film. However, according to an article in the New York Times on 21 April 1940, Griffith had his name removed from the credits because of a disagreement with Roach Sr. He said "Mr. Roach did not feel that it was necessary to give the characters as much individuality as I thought was needed, and so I did not wish to appear responsible for the picture by having my name on it."

Remade by Hammer Studios in 1967 with Ray Harryhausen effects and Raquel Welch in a bikini. (amctv.com)

 Use this link to view the feature film One Million, B.C. on TCM.com.