The Colossus of New York
| The Colossus of New York | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Eugène Lourié |
| Written by |
Willis Goldbeck Thelma Schnee |
| Starring |
Ross Martin Otto Kruger John Baragrey Mala Powers Charles Herbert |
| Music by | Van Cleave |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates | 1958 |
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Language | English |
The Colossus of New York is a 1958 black-and-white science fiction film from Paramount Pictures that was produced by William Alland and directed by Eugène Lourié. It stars Ross Martin, Otto Kruger, John Baragrey, Mala Powers, and Charles Herbert.[1] The film was released in 1958 on a double bill with The Space Children in most areas. John P. Fulton handled the special photographic effects.
Following an accident, Jeremy Spensser's brain is transplanted by his scientist father into the huge body of an unattractive, frightening cyborg, this to save his brilliant son's mind so it can continue to serve mankind.
Plot
Jeremy Spensser (Ross Martin), the brilliant young son of a New York family of scientists and humanitarians, is killed in an automobile accident. His death occurs on the eve of his winning the "International Peace Prize", and he leaves behind a wife (Mala Powers) and young son (Charles Herbert).
Jeremy's father, noted brain surgeon William Spensser (Otto Kruger), is distressed that his son's gifts will be denied to mankind. He conceives a plan to give Jeremy's excellent mind another chance to benefit humanity by transplanting the brain (which he has revived and kept on life support) into an artificial, robotic body. William convinces Jeremy's brother, Henry, an expert in automation, to assist with the process in secret.
Because of its horrific appearance, the huge colossus (Ed Wolff) they've created is kept in seclusion for nearly a year, secretly continuing Jeremy's work on new food sources. However, deprived of normal human contact and possibly of its "soul", Jeremy's mind slowly begins to lose its humanity. He kills his brother, who has fallen in love with Jeremy's wife, and then speaks to his father of the futility of providing food for "the slum people of the world", when it's "simpler and wiser to get rid of them". As Jeremy's mind loses control of his mechanical body, other unexplained powers suddenly emerge from the strictly mechanical body, including mind control of humans and a death ray emanating from both its eyes.
Finally, Jeremy's out-of-control body goes on a rampage in the United Nations building, killing several people. Only when Jeremy's young son confronts the cyborg is Jeremy able to restore his self-control just long enough to tell the boy how to switch off and destroy the body of the "colossus".
Cast
- John Baragrey as Dr. Henry Spensser
- Mala Powers as Anne Spensser
- Otto Kruger as Dr. William Spensser
- Robert Hutton as Dr. John Robert Carrington
- Ross Martin as Dr. Jeremy 'Jerry' Spensser
- Charles Herbert as Billy Spensser
- Ed Wolff as The Colossus
Release
Home media
The Colossus of New York DVD was released by Olive Films on a double bill with The Space Children on June 19, 2012.[2]
Soundtrack
The film is noted for its haunting minimalistic piano score composed by Van Cleave.
See also
- Gigantor (1964)
- Frankenstein, Jr. (1966)
References
- ↑ "The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
- ↑ Olive Films Brings the Original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Colossus of New York, and The Boogens to Blu-ray this Summer