X (1963)

Director:

Roger Corman

Writers:

Robert Dillon (screenplay) and
Ray Russell (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 September 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Suddenly he could see through clothes, flesh... and walls!

Plot:

Dr. Xaviers experiments with X-Ray vision start to go wrong.

Plot Keywords:

X Ray Vision | Eye | Experiment | Animal Research | Psychotronic

Cast

Ray Milland	...	Dr. James Xavier
Diana Van der Vlis	...	Dr. Diane Fairfax
Harold J. Stone	...	Dr. Sam Brant
John Hoyt	...	Dr. Willard Benson
Don Rickles	...	Crane
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Morris Ankrum	...	Mr. Bowhead (uncredited)
John Dierkes	...	Preacher (uncredited)
Kathryn Hart	...	Mrs. Mart (uncredited)
Jonathan Haze	...	Heckler (uncredited)
Vicki Lee	...	Young Girl Patient (uncredited)
Dick Miller	...	Heckler (uncredited)
Barboura Morris	...	Nurse (in attendance of Young patient) (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Assistant Croupier (uncredited)
Lorrie Summers	...	Party Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Corman

Writing credits
Robert Dillon		(screenplay) and
Ray Russell		(screenplay)
Ray Russell		(story)

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	executive producer
Bartlett A. Carre	....	associate producer (as Bartlett A. Carré)
Roger Corman	....	producer
James H. Nicholson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Les Baxter

Cinematography by
Floyd Crosby

Film Editing by
Anthony Carras

Production Design by
Daniel Haller

Set Decoration by
Harry Reif

Costume Design by
Marjorie Corso

Makeup Department
Ted Coodley	....	makeup supervisor
Betty Pedretti	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Robert Agnew	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Bohrer	....	assistant director

Art Department
Karl Brainard	....	property master

Sound Department
Alfred R. Bird	....	sound editor (as Al Bird)

Visual Effects by
John Howard	....	consultant: Spectarama

Music Department
Eve Newman	....	music editor
Al Simms	....	music coordinator

Production Companies

• Alta Vista Productions

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1963) (USA) (theatrical)
• ClassicLine (Brazil) (DVD)
• World Beyond Video

Special Effects

• Butler-Glouner

Also Known As:

Man with the X-Ray Eyes
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:Approved (PCA #20529)

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Alta Vista Productions

Trivia:

It has long been rumored that a final scene, in which Dr. Xavier screams "I can still see!" was cut by censors. No footage of this is known. However, the movie does end rather abruptly just as Dr. Xavier seems about to say something, and those words would provide a chilling climax to the story. This rumor is false according to Corman - In a Q&A with Corman he said this idea was discussed but never filmed.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the casino, when he sees through the cards, the hand of the croupier should be a hand of a skeleton.

Quotes:

Dr. James Xavier: I'm blind to all but a tenth of the universe.
Dr. Sam Brant: My dear friend, only the gods see everything.
Dr. James Xavier: My dear doctor, I'm closing in on the gods.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

Do You See What I See?

A very thoughtful, engrossing, flawed film from superhuman director/producer Roger Corman. Yep, it has some problems, most primarily dealing with a limited budget. But what it lacks in dollars it has in heart and its ability to make you think about what we are missing out seeing with our vision. I am not sure that much, or even any, scientific creedence can be given to the idea behind the experiments of Dr. Xavier James and his search to see beyond what normal vision allows. Ray Milland gives a fine performance as the obsessed man out to continue his experiments even if they involve using himself as the human guinea pig. Some of the scenes and dialogue are a bit hokey by today's standards but most fit the film very nicely. The scene with Milland at a party is a real hoot and great comedic relief. I also loved the end to the film but thought it could have been plucked out a little longer. The effects are very sparse and the only ones I really thought were any good were the ones used to highlight Milland's eyes through the film. The film boasts a fine cast of stalwart sci-fi/Corman people such as Morris Ankrum, Dick Miller, Jonathan Haze, and Barboura Morris, as well as a young(and obviously talented) Don Rickles. Definitely try to see your way to seeing this film.