IMDb > The Fly (1958)
The Fly
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The Fly (1958) -- A scientist has a horrific accident when he tries to use his newly invented teleportation device.
The Fly (1958) -- The fly transports itself to reverse the effects from the previous transport.
The Fly (1958) -- The cat is lost in a failed teleportation experiment.
The Fly (1958) -- The fly is crushed by his wife.

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   5,036 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
George Langelaan (story)
James Clavell (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Fly on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1958 (Norway) more
Genre:
Tagline:
If she looked upon the horror her husband had become... she would scream for the rest of her life! more
Plot:
A scientist has a horrific accident when he tries to use his newly invented teleportation device. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
Gigerbrick: Remaking horror, one brick at a time.
 (From Fangoria. 13 November 2008, 12:05 PM, PST)

User Comments:
A very entertaining 50's sci-fi classic. more (78 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

David Hedison ... Andre Delambre (as Al Hedison)
Patricia Owens ... Helene Delambre

Vincent Price ... François Delambre
Herbert Marshall ... Insp. Charas
Kathleen Freeman ... Emma (Delambre maid)
Betty Lou Gerson ... Nurse Andersone
Charles Herbert ... Philippe Delambre
more
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Additional Details

Runtime:
94 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Iceland:16 | West Germany:12 (f) (re-rated) | West Germany:16 (nf) (original rating) | USA:TV-PG (tv rating) | UK:15 (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) | UK:PG (video re-rating) (2001) | USA:Unrated

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
That is actually David Hedison, not a stuntman, inside the Fly makeup. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When the fly is first revealed in the spider's web, when Vincent Price's character is unaware, you see the fly struggling in the web. The string used to make the fly shake is visible. more
Quotes:
Police doctor: I shall never forget that scream as long as I live... more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.39)" (2005) more

FAQ

Is it possible to read Langelaan's short story online?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
How does the movie end?
more
10 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
A very entertaining 50's sci-fi classic., 27 September 2007
9/10
Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada

Canadian scientist Andre Delambre (Al/David Hedison) is intently working on teleportation. However, when he experiments on himself, he gets his genetic material swapped with that of a fly - the result is a humanoid, man-sized thing with an enormous fly head, and an elusive fly with a teeny-tiny human head and arm.

Although I've seen the David Cronenberg remake first (itself an excellent film, and one of its directors' finest moments), this classic science fiction drama deals with loss and tragedy just as well if not better. It's intelligent, and deeply affecting. Patricia Owens does a good job of drawing me in with her performance, successfully conveying the helplessness of a wife who desperately wants to help her husband but cannot.

Hedison is good in an engaging performance, and continues to elicit sympathy after encased in the unwieldy fly head. Vincent Price is solid in support, playing the loyal and concerned brother who is determined to get to the bottom of his brothers' demise. Also doing good work are Herbert Marshall as the inspector and Kathleen Freeman as the maid.

The film-makers hold off the big reveal as long as possible, so it's all the more effective when it finally does happen. Also helping this film to stick in the memory is its creepy climax ("Help me! Help me!"), and its brief "fly vision" scene. It's deliberately paced, but is worth sticking with. It's got some good sets, a fine music score, and very nice CinemaScope photography. It's a truly remarkable picture that belies its B level nature every step of the way.

A big financial success back in its day, it led to the sequels "Return of the Fly" and "Curse of the Fly", followed many years later by Cronenbergs' remake, itself followed by a sequel.

9/10

Was the above comment useful to you?
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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Fly (1958)
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Who's the voice of 'Help Me, Help Meeeee!!'? Kanamit99
am I crazy? pcontrol-1
Montreal? malpodian
Was this an X film? jellyjeremy
One of the creepiest scenes in horror film history rfgraham
Was that Hedison in the web? shandy8
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