Few filmmakers embraced imagination with the determination of Bert I Gordon. When I think about the golden age of low budget science fiction and horror, his name stands out as one of the most inventive creators of the era. His films transformed ordinary insects into towering monsters, made people shrink to impossible sizes, and turned simple practical effects into unforgettable cinematic moments. Across a career that stretched from the 1950s into the 2010s, he built a unique place in film history through persistence, creativity, and an unwavering belief that entertaining audiences mattered more than having a massive budget.
Early Life and Childhood Inspiration
Bert Ira Gordon was born on September 24, 1922, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Sadeline Gordon, whose maiden name was Barnett, and Charles Abraham Gordon. From an early age, curiosity shaped his future. As a child, he received a 16mm camera from an aunt, and that simple gift opened the door to a lifelong passion for filmmaking.
I find it remarkable that while many children played games, Gordon experimented with disappearing acts, ghostly images, and homemade visual tricks. Those childhood experiments became the seeds of techniques he would later use professionally. Even before reaching his teenage years, he had already begun learning how editing and camera placement could create convincing illusions.
He later attended the University of Wisconsin Madison, earning academic credentials before leaving to serve in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Military service interrupted his education, but it did not diminish his determination to become a filmmaker.
Building a Career After World War II
Following the war, Gordon entered the growing television industry. He worked on commercials, industrial films, and television editing while steadily gaining technical experience. His work included editing British feature films for television, serving as a production assistant on Racket Squad, and working as cameraman on Serpent Island in 1954.
His directorial breakthrough arrived with King Dinosaur in 1955. Produced on an extremely small budget estimated between $15,000 and $18,000, the film demonstrated his ability to stretch every dollar. Rather than seeing financial limitations as barriers, he treated them like puzzles waiting to be solved.
That mindset became the foundation of his career.
Becoming Mister BIG
Film fandom eventually gave Gordon the nickname Mr. B.I.G., a title inspired by his initials and his fascination with oversized creatures. The nickname perfectly captured his filmmaking identity.
His stories repeatedly explored enormous insects, gigantic humans, shrinking victims, and unusual scientific experiments. While many directors specialized in polished productions, Gordon specialized in ambition. His movies often felt like giant dreams squeezed into modest budgets.
During the late 1950s and the following decades, he produced more than 25 feature films, frequently serving as director, producer, writer, and visual effects artist on the same project.
Some of his most recognizable films include the following.
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1955 | King Dinosaur |
| 1957 | The Cyclops |
| 1957 | The Amazing Colossal Man |
| 1957 | Beginning of the End |
| 1958 | War of the Colossal Beast |
| 1958 | Earth vs. the Spider |
| 1958 | Attack of the Puppet People |
| 1960 | Tormented |
| 1960 | The Boy and the Pirates |
| 1965 | Village of the Giants |
| 1976 | The Food of the Gods |
| 1977 | Empire of the Ants |
| 2014 | Secrets of a Psychopath |
His directing career ultimately spanned almost six decades, an extraordinary achievement for any independent filmmaker.
Creative Special Effects on Small Budgets
Gordon’s ability to generate spectacle without a lot of resources is one of his most admirable traits. His special effects were clearly hands-on, creative, and realistic.
Rear projection, split screens, matte photography, miniatures, forced perspective, and practical makeup were all common tools he used. He created illusions that viewers accepted by using meticulous editing and deft camera positions instead of costly technologies.
Gordon famously added real grasshoppers to pictures of Chicago sites that had been magnified for Beginning of the End. Despite the method’s simplicity, the insects seemed to climb across skyscrapers.
An average actor was transformed into a towering behemoth in The Amazing Colossal Man thanks to split screen effects, practical explosives, and blue screen photography.
Miniature sets for Empire of the Ants were built in a hotel room, demonstrating once more that creativity frequently triumphed over pricey equipment.
Even while his effects now seem endearingly flawed, they are nevertheless remarkable instances of invention under duress. Gordon frequently turned constraints into unforgettable amusement, much like a magician using commonplace objects to unveil difficult tricks.
A Career That Earned Cult Status
Although Gordon rarely worked with blockbuster budgets, many of his films enjoyed successful runs in drive in theaters and later found new audiences through television broadcasts and home video.
Years later, many of his productions were featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000, introducing his work to younger generations. Rather than fading into obscurity, his films gained fresh appreciation because viewers recognized the enthusiasm behind every scene.
His dedication also earned formal recognition. In 2003, he received a retrospective honoring his contributions to giant insect cinema at the Insect Fear Film Festival.
Even in his nineties, Gordon continued creating films. His final directorial effort, Secrets of a Psychopath, premiered in 2014, demonstrating remarkable longevity and commitment to filmmaking.
Family Life Behind the Camera
Family played a central role throughout Gordon’s personal and professional life.
He married Flora M. Lang on June 3, 1945. Their marriage lasted more than 34 years before ending in divorce on July 28, 1979.
Flora contributed directly to Gordon’s productions by assisting with practical special effects. Their partnership extended beyond marriage into filmmaking, making many productions genuine family efforts.
In 1980, Gordon married Eva Marie Marklstorfer, often known as Eva Gordon. They remained together until his death in 2023.
The Gordon household became deeply connected to filmmaking, with family members contributing both on screen and behind the scenes.
His Children and Growing Family
Bert I Gordon was the father of four daughters.
His best known child was Susan Gordon, an actress who appeared in several of her father’s productions, including The Boy and the Pirates. She also built an acting career beyond her father’s films, appearing in productions such as The Five Pennies, The Twilight Zone, and My Three Sons. Sadly, Susan died from cancer in 2011 at the age of 62, many years before her father.
His other daughters include Patricia Gordon, who confirmed his passing to the media in 2023, Carol Gordon, and Christina Gordon, his daughter with Eva.
By the end of his life, Gordon’s family had grown to include six grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren, reflecting a legacy that extended far beyond cinema.
Challenges and Lesser Known Stories
Gordon has both successes and setbacks, just like many independent filmmakers.
He apparently ran some legal issues and was temporarily detained while filming The Cyclops in Tijuana. Parts of the recorded material were lost even though the situation was rectified.
Additionally, he got embroiled in legal battles with distributors, including one involving American International Pictures.
Gordon persisted in his dedication to filmmaking in spite of these challenges. One of his defining traits was his perseverance. Every obstacle appeared to be a new scene in his lengthy professional narrative.
The Amazing Colossal Worlds of Mr. B.I.G., his autobiography, gave readers a close-up view of the successes and setbacks that influenced his career.
Final Years
Gordon remained active well into his nineties, something very few directors accomplish.
He continued attending festivals, meeting fans, discussing filmmaking, and celebrating the creativity that had fueled his career since childhood.
On March 8, 2023, Bert I Gordon died in Los Angeles at the age of 100 after complications resulting from a fall at his Beverly Hills home.
His century long life reflected remarkable endurance, with filmmaking serving as the thread connecting childhood curiosity to his final years.
FAQ
Who was Bert I Gordon?
Bert I Gordon was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and special effects artist best known for low budget science fiction and horror films featuring giant monsters, shrinking people, and imaginative visual effects.
Why was he called Mr. B.I.G.?
The nickname came from his initials, Bert I Gordon, and his reputation for making films centered on enormous creatures and oversized characters.
When did Bert I Gordon begin directing films?
His feature directorial debut was King Dinosaur, released in 1955, which established the creative style he would develop throughout his career.
What special effects techniques did he commonly use?
He frequently employed rear projection, matte photography, split screens, miniatures, forced perspective, practical makeup, and creative editing to produce convincing visual illusions on limited budgets.
Who were Bert I Gordon’s parents?
His parents were Sadeline Gordon, whose maiden name was Barnett, and Charles Abraham Gordon, who raised him in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
How many times was Bert I Gordon married?
He married Flora M. Lang in 1945, divorced in 1979, and married Eva Marie Marklstorfer in 1980, remaining together until his death.
How many children did Bert I Gordon have?
He had four daughters: Susan, Patricia, Carol, and Christina Gordon.
Which daughter became an actress?
Susan Gordon became an actress and appeared in several of her father’s films, along with television programs and other feature films during her career.
Did Bert I Gordon continue working late in life?
Yes. He directed Secrets of a Psychopath in 2014, when he was in his nineties, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to filmmaking.
What is Bert I Gordon’s lasting legacy?
His legacy rests on proving that imagination can outweigh budget. Through inventive practical effects, determination, and family collaboration, he inspired generations of filmmakers and earned lasting recognition as one of the defining figures of classic independent science fiction cinema.
