''The Amazing Colossal Man'' (also known as ''The Colossal Man'') is a 1957 American
black-and-white
Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white to produce a range of achromatic brightnesses of grey. It is also known as greyscale in technical settings.
Media
The history of various visual media began with black and white, ...
science fiction film
Science fiction (or sci-fi) is a film genre that uses Speculative fiction, speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as Extraterrestrial life in fiction, extraterrestria ...
from
American International Pictures
American International Pictures, LLC (AIP or American International Productions) is an American film production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution c ...
. Produced and directed by
Bert I. Gordon, it stars
Glenn Langan,
Cathy Downs,
William Hudson, and
Larry Thor. It is an uncredited adaptation of
Homer Eon Flint's 1928 short science fiction novel ''The Nth Man''.
AIP theatrically released it as a
double feature
The double feature is a Film, motion picture industry phenomenon in which theaters would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which the presentation of one feature film would be followed by various short subjec ...
with ''
Cat Girl''.
The film's storyline concerns U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Glenn Manning who survives a plutonium explosion and grows 8 to 10 feet a day, ultimately reaching 60 feet tall, but loses his mind in the process.
During the 1960s, American International Television syndicated the film to television. It and its sequel, ''
War of the Colossal Beast'' (1958), were mocked on ''
Mystery Science Theater 3000
''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on WUCW, KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. It then ...
''.
[Ranking Every MST3K Episode, From Worst to Best - Paste](_blank)
/ref>
Plot
At a military site in Desert Rock, Nevada, a test explosion of the first atomic plutonium bomb does not detonate as expected. When an unidentified civilian aircraft crash lands near the site, Lt. Colonel Glenn Manning runs into the detonation area to rescue the pilot. Once in the detonation area, the bomb goes off, and Glenn gets caught in the radioactive blast.
Surviving the blast but suffering from third-degree burns over almost his whole body, Glenn is treated by specialist Dr. Paul Linstrom and military scientist Dr. Eric Coulter. Glenn's fiancée, Carol Forrest, anxiously awaits a prognosis
Prognosis ( Greek: πρόγνωσις "fore-knowing, foreseeing"; : prognoses) is a medical term for predicting the likelihood or expected development of a disease, including whether the signs and symptoms will improve or worsen (and how quickly) ...
, but Linstrom refrains from telling her that Glenn is extremely unlikely to survive. The following day, Linstrom and Coulter are stunned to discover that Glenn's burns have completely healed. That evening, Carol is not allowed to see him and learns the military moved Glenn to an army rehabilitation and research center in Summit, Nevada. She drives there and gets admitted entry. Upon entering his room, Carol faints in horror as Glenn has mutated into a giant about 16 feet tall.
The next day, Linstrom tells Carol that Glenn's exposure to the plutonium blast caused his body's cells to multiply at an accelerated rate, resulting in his abnormal growth. Linstrom admits that he and Coulter do not know if they can stop it and that if they do not, Glenn will keep growing until he dies. Awakening the day after, Glenn is initially frightened, then greatly disturbed. Carol sees him the following day to comfort him, but Glenn is now roughly 22 feet tall, distant, and depressed. While the public knows he survived the explosion, the military has kept the truth of his condition secret.
As Glenn reaches 30 feet tall, Linstrom recommends that Carol spend time with him. Despite her encouragement, Glenn is angry and bitter. Linstrom reveals that Glenn's heart is growing at only half the rate of his body, and soon it will not be able to support his enormous size and weight. He warns Carol that Glenn's sanity will decline before his heart finally explodes. That night, Carol tries to console Glenn, but he loses his temper and shouts at Carol to leave him alone.
The following morning, Glenn disappears as Coulter reports to Linstrom that he may have found a solution to Glenn's growth. Led by Colonel Hallock, the military conducts a 10-mile-wide search for the now 50-foot-tall Glenn, but with no results. When Carol asks Linstrom if she can help in their search, he cautions Carol that Glenn may no longer recognize her. Coulter reveals that he has created a special syringe
A syringe is a simple reciprocating pump consisting of a plunger (though in modern syringes, it is actually a piston) that fits tightly within a cylindrical tube called a barrel. The plunger can be linearly pulled and pushed along the inside ...
filled with a serum that will stop his growth.
Meanwhile, the local news relays that a "giant man" was spotted approaching Las Vegas. As the military heads there, Glenn, now over 60 feet tall and confused, is drawn to the Vegas Strip. He wreaks havoc on various casinos. When his behavior alarms the police, they begin firing at Glenn, enraging him. He destroys the Pioneer Club's Vegas Vic sign, then heads toward Boulder Dam as army helicopters track his movements.
Linstrom, Carol, and Coulter attempt to intercept Hallock's troops. After landing at the dam, Lindstrom uses a bullhorn to try reasoning with Glenn, who seems to listen. Coulter and Linstrom take the enormous syringe and plunge it into Glenn's ankle. He removes it and angrily spears Coulter with it, killing him. Then Glenn grabs Carol and starts across the dam. Linstrom stops Hallock from attacking prematurely before he and Carol implore Glenn to release her. Though Glenn is disoriented, he complies. Once she's free, Hallock orders his men to open fire, causing Glenn to tumble into the Colorado River
The Colorado River () is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The river, the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), 5th longest in the United St ...
to his apparent death.
Cast
Production
Jim Nicholson of American International Pictures
American International Pictures, LLC (AIP or American International Productions) is an American film production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution c ...
had the rights to Homer Eon Flint's novel ''The Nth Man'' (1928), about a man who was 10 miles high. Nicholson thought it could be adapted to cash in on the success of ''The Incredible Shrinking Man
''The Incredible Shrinking Man'' is a 1957 American science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold (director), Jack Arnold, based on Richard Matheson's 1956 novel, ''The Shrinking Man''. The film stars Grant Williams (actor), Grant Williams as Sc ...
'' (released six months earlier in 1957) and originally announced Roger Corman
Roger William Corman (April 5, 1926 – May 9, 2024) was an American film director, producer, and actor. Known under various monikers such as "The Pope of Pop Cinema", "The Spiritual Godfather of the New Hollywood", and "The King of Cult", he w ...
as director. Charles B. Griffith was hired to adapt the novel, and he turned it into a comedy. Then Corman dropped out, and Bert I. Gordon was hired. Gordon worked on the script with Griffith, but the collaboration only lasted a day before Griffith quit. Instead, Griffith's regular writing partner Mark Hanna stepped in.
Before Gordon became involved, the film was conceived with Dick Miller in mind for the lead. It was Gordon's first film for AIP.[Smith 2009, p. 11.] Principal photography began late in June 1957. AIP's special effects technician Paul Blaisdell designed and built all of the tiny-sized props used in the film. These props later appeared again in the film's 1958 sequel '' War of the Colossal Beast'' via flashback footage.
Reception and legacy
Distributed by American International Pictures (AIP) in 1957, the film appeared at the top of a double bill with '' Cat Girl''. Critical reviews were generally positive, with film reviewer Richard W. Nason at ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' commenting: "... imaginative story premise". A similar review in '' Variety'', noted: "... Glenn Langan delivers persuasively ... Technical departments are well handled".[Holston and Winchester 1997, p. 30.]
At the film review aggregator
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...
website Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, the film holds an approval rating of 38% based on , with a weighted average
The weighted arithmetic mean is similar to an ordinary arithmetic mean (the most common type of average), except that instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others. The ...
rating of 5.4/10.
The film and its sequel were featured and riffed on the cult classic mocking series ''Mystery Science Theater 3000
''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on WUCW, KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. It then ...
''; actor Mike Nelson portrayed the title character twice in the mid-movie host sections of the series' third season episodes 9 and 19, in which the film and its sequel ''War of the Colossal Beast'' were shown. In episode 9, the character seems more aggressive to Joel Robinson ( Joel Hodgson) and the bots when the Satellite of Love hit him and nearly proceeds to attack the trio after Tom Servo ( Kevin Murphy) unintentionally insulted Glenn before leaving when suffering from a brief heart attack, as portrayed in the film.
The film was parodied in "Nutcracker Sweet", season 1, episode 2 of ''Robot Chicken
''Robot Chicken'' is an American adult animation, adult stop motion, stop-motion animated sketch comedy television series created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich for Cartoon Network's nighttime programming block Adult Swim. The twelve-minute ...
'' in 2005 when a large bald giant, wearing a sarong as a diaper, is struck in the crotch with a wrecking ball
A wrecking ball is a heavy steel ball, usually hung from a Crane (machine), crane, that is used for Demolition, demolishing large buildings. It was most commonly in use during the 1940s and 1950s. Several wrecking companies claim to have inve ...
as he terrorizes a city, as part of the "Ode to the Nut Shot" sketch.
The trailer has also been shown in the film projected at the Disney's Hollywood Studios restaurant, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater.
See also
* List of American films of 1957
This is a list of American films released in 1957.
'' The Bridge on the River Kwai'' won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
A-B
C-H
I-N
O-Q
R-T
U-Z
Documentary
See also
* 1957 in the United States
References
External lin ...
* List of films set in Las Vegas
* ''The Incredible Shrinking Man
''The Incredible Shrinking Man'' is a 1957 American science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold (director), Jack Arnold, based on Richard Matheson's 1956 novel, ''The Shrinking Man''. The film stars Grant Williams (actor), Grant Williams as Sc ...
'', a 1957 film
* '' The Cyclops'', a 1957 film
* '' Attack of the 50 Foot Woman'', a 1958 film
* '' War of the Colossal Beast'', the 1958 sequel
References
Notes
Bibliography
* Holston, Kim R. and Tom Winchester. ''Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Film Sequels, Series and Remakes: An Illustrated Filmography''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1997. .
* McGee, Mark. ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and fattened Fable of American International Pictures''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 1996. .
* Smith, Gary A. ''The American International Pictures Video Guide''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2009. .
* Warren, Bill. ''Keep Watching the Skies! American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties'' (covers films released through 1962), 21st Century Edition. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2009 (First Edition 1982). .
* Wingrove, David. '' Science Fiction Film Source Book''. London: Longman Group Limited, 1985. .
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amazing Colossal Man, The
1957 films
1950s monster movies
1950s science fiction films
American black-and-white films
American International Pictures films
American science fiction films
American mockbuster films
American monster movies
1950s English-language films
Films about size change
Films about giants
Films directed by Bert I. Gordon
Films scored by Albert Glasser
Films set in the Las Vegas Valley
Films set in Nevada
Giant monster films
1950s American films
English-language science fiction films
English-language science fiction horror films
Mystery Science Theater 3000