Moviedrome Introduction
Film Details
Release Date: 1958
Stars:
Patricia Owens as Helene Delambre
Vincent Price as François Delambre
Plot Summary:
The story revolves around a scientist named Andre Delambre (played by David Hedison), who is working on a teleportation device. Unfortunately, during an experiment, a housefly accidentally gets into the teleportation chamber with him, resulting in a fusion of their atoms. This leads to a grotesque transformation, as Andre starts to exhibit fly-like characteristics, both physically and mentally.As the plot unfolds, Andre's wife, Helene (played by Patricia Owens), becomes involved in the investigation into her husband's strange behavior. Vincent Price plays the role of François Delambre, Andre's brother, and Herbert Marshall plays Inspector Charas, who becomes suspicious of the bizarre events surrounding the Delambre family.
Personal History
Only a momentary view of the films climax made me realise that of course, I have seen this film before.
Current Review
Another Moviedrome theme - the flashback story. Similar to "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" - we start at the end. A "man" crushed to death in an industrial press, much to the horror of the night watchman.
An impossibly rich couple, lab in the cellar, servants above stairs and their precocious insect catching sun. The professor in his cellar perfects the art of teleportation. The impact is discussed. A profoundly moral film, word famine can be eliminated but they must never experiment on animals. In goes the family cat to forever meow from the ether. A final experiment goes badly wrong and the unusual fly that has been buzzing around the house since the beginning of the film must be caught.
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| Prof has been on the milk laced with rum |
In a truly shocking finale, the pesky white headed fly is.
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| Help Me.... |
A brilliant film, where the tension builds nicely. I loved the bit where the web is first introduced, without notice from the people in the film and you think "will no one save him?" The unfazable detective eventually does. With a boulder, followed by some more moral ruminating.
The Vincent Price character doesn't get enough attention in other reviews. He says early in the film how he loved Helene, his brothers wife, bit she never noticed him. The closing credits shows him taking his brothers place as the head of the family. Creepy old Vincent delivering a happy ending.
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| Meet your new dad |
Quirky Facts
- How sad. This film became the biggest box office hit of director Kurt Neumann's career, but he never knew it or even found out about it. He died one month after the film's premiere and only one week before it went into general release. At the tender age of 50.
- In the first scene of the film, when the night watchman walks through the factory, he stops for a moment in front of a generator and the camera zooms in on him slightly. The generator is marked with the letters O.C. 230 115V 400 AMP SP1O R, with a red handle covering the space between the O and the R in the phrase. The typeface of the lettering used and the red handle placed where it is makes it look like the word SPIDER is printed on the generator that powered the hydraulic press.
- The buzzing sound of the fly in the film was created using a blend of various animal sounds, including bees and a kazoo. The unique combination contributed to the eerie and memorable fly noise in the movie.
Quotes
Sustenance
The only drink I saw consumed was milk laced with rum, which was slurped with a towel over the prof's head. I like a drink, but I don't think I will recreating this one.
Future Inspiration
I hadn't realised that the original spawned two black and white sequels. I doubt these have the grace, beauty and intelligence of the original.
The 1986 Cronenbourg remake is included in Season 8 of Moviedrome. I hope to make it to the end of this challenge.
AI made an interesting recommendation;
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