Tim Burton’s Ed Wood concludes with the statement that no animals were harmed during the making of his reverential, if fanciful, biopic, apparently because of some adventures with a rubber octopus during the shooting of this grade-Z 1955 Wood opus. This stupid and inept but unwaveringly personal horror effort stars Bela Lugosi, in his last speaking role, as a scientist who uses atomic energy to create superbeings in a swamp, including Tor Johnson, Tony McCoy (whose father supplied the film’s budget), and Loretta King. Incidentally, contrary to the Burton film, a stunt double wrestles here with the rubber octopus, not Lugosi, proving that Wood was more considerate of his ailing friend than legend would have it. Also known as Bride of the Atom. 69 min. (JR)