The Amazing Colossal Man
| The Amazing Colossal Man | |
|---|---|
 film poster by Albert Kallis |
|
| Directed by | Bert I. Gordon |
| Produced by | Bert I. Gordon Samuel Z. Arkoff James H. Nicholson |
| Written by | Mark Hanna Bert I. Gordon George Worthing Yates (uncredited) |
| Based on | novel The Nth Man |
| Starring | Glenn Langan Cathy Downs William Hudson |
| Music by | Albert Glasser |
| Cinematography | Joseph F. Biroc |
| Studio | American International Pictures |
| Release date(s) | October 25, 1957 |
| Running time | 80 mins |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $848,000 (US)[1][2] |
The Amazing Colossal Man is a 1957 black-and-white science fiction film, directed by Bert I. Gordon and starring Glenn Langan. The film revolves around a 60 foot mutant man produced as the result of an atomic accident.
Distributed by American International Pictures (AIP) at the top of a program double-bill with The Cat Girl, the film was followed by a sequel, War of the Colossal Beast, which appeared in 1958. The film and its sequel appeared on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
During the 1960s the title was syndicated to television by American International Television.
Contents |
Plot [edit]
Langan plays Lt. Col. Glenn Manning, an officer in the U.S. Army who suffers serious burns to over 90% of his body [and hair loss] following an inadvertent exposure to plutonium radiation from a bomb blast. He miraculously survives the explosion and his burns completely heal, but the radiation causes him to abnormally grow into a 60-foot-tall giant. At this size, his heart is unable to supply sufficient blood to his brain and he gradually goes insane.
Army doctors attempt to halt and reverse his growth with a formula, but after getting injected with the cure, he grabs the needle and spears one of the doctors with it, killing him on the spot. He then escapes from confinement, "kidnaps" his girlfriend, Carol Forrest (played by Cathy Downs), and wreaks havoc in Las Vegas before being cornered by the Army at the Boulder Dam. After releasing Carol he is shot and appears to fall to his death in the Colorado River.
Cast [edit]
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Glenn Langan | Lt. Col. Glenn Manning |
| Cathy Downs | Carol Forrest |
| William Hudson | Dr. Paul Linstrom |
| Larry Thor | Maj. Eric Coulter, MD |
| James Seay | Col. Hallock |
| Frank Jenks | Truck Driver |
| Russ Bender | Richard Kingman |
| Hank Patterson | Henry |
| Jimmy Cross | Sergeant at reception desk |
| June Jocelyn | Nurse Wilson |
| Stanley Lachman | Lt. Cline |
| Harry Raybould | MP at Main Gate |
| Jean Moorhead | Woman in Bathtub |
| Scott Peters | Sgt. Lee Carter |
| Myron Cook | Capt. Thomas |
| Michael Harris | Police Lt. Keller |
| Bill Cassady | Lt. Peterson |
| Dick Nelson | Sgt. Hansen |
| Edmund Cobb | Dr. McDermott |
| Paul Hahn | Attendant |
| Diana Darrin | Hospital Receptionist |
| Lyn Osborn | Sgt. Taylor |
| Jack Kosslyn | Lieutenant in briefing room |
| William Hughes | Bombsite Control Officer |
| Keith Hetherington | Newscaster |
| John Daheim | Soldier (uncredited) |
| Judd Holdren | Robert Allen (uncredited) |
| Harold Miller | Official (uncredited) |
Production [edit]
Jim Nicholson of American International Pictures had the rights to a 1920s novel, The Nth Man about a man who was ten miles high. Nicholson thought it could be adapted to cash in on the success of The Incredible Shrinking Man (released six months earlier in 1957) and originally announced Roger Corman 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 last a day before Griffith quit. Griffith's regular writing partner Mark Hanna stepped in instead.[1]
References in popular culture [edit]
The film was parodied on an episode of Robot Chicken when a large bald giant, wearing a sarong as a diaper, is struck in the crotch with a wrecking ball as he terrorizes a city, as part of the "Ode To The Nut Shot" sketch.
Home media [edit]
- RCA Columbia Home Video released the film on VHS on June 21, 1994.
- The Mst3k version was released on VHS by Rhino Home Video on April 30, 1996.
Notes [edit]
Other reading [edit]
- Wingrove, David. Science Fiction Film Source Book (Longman Group Limited, 1985)
See also [edit]
- The Incredible Shrinking Man, a 1957 film
- Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, a 1958 film
- The Incredible Melting Man, a 1977 film
External links [edit]
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