The Satan Bug (1965)

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

Alistair MacLean (novel)
James Clavell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 March 1965 (West Germany)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The price for uncovering the secret of the satan bug comes high - YOUR LIFE!

Plot:

A germ warfare lab has had an accident. The first theory is that one of the nasty germs has gotten free and killed several scientists...

Plot Keywords:

Race Against Time | Biochemical Weapons Research | Robbery | Porton Down | Beautiful Woman

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

George Maharis	...	Lee Barrett
Richard Basehart	...	Dr. Gregor Hoffman
Anne Francis	...	Ann Williams
Dana Andrews	...	Gen. Williams
John Larkin	...	Dr. Leonard Michaelson
Richard Bull	...	Eric Cavanaugh
Frank Sutton	...	Donald
Edward Asner	...	Veretti
Simon Oakland	...	Tasserly
John Anderson	...	Agent Reagan
John Clarke	...	Lt. Raskin
Hari Rhodes	...	Lt. Johnson
Martin Blaine	...	Henchman Posing as Henry Martin
Henry Beckman	...	Dr. Baxter
Harry Lauter	...	Fake SDI Agent

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | UK:PG | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved | Norway:16 | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

In his memoirs, Charlton Heston says he was asked to play the lead.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the climax, some long shots of the helicopter show the right side's door missing before the fight between Barrett and the pilot knocks it off.

Quotes:

Lee Barrett: He's floating at the bottom of the pool.

Movie Connections:

References The Phantom Creeps (1939)

Filming Location?

A reference is made in the movie to Palmdale (north of Los Angeles) and this might be where the exterior views of the 'lab' were filmed. But many of the other scenes remind this commenter of the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area (east of the LA basin) in the Sixties before the influx of heavy population and housing. The beautiful purple mountains, the wide open peaceful vistas, the empty roads stretching off into the distance.

It's just a guess. Parts of Arizona could also have been involved. But that trailer park where the bad guy lives looks very much like one that's located near the base of the mountain on the back road out of Palm Desert (Hwy 111?).

Fun movie to watch for the scenery alone.

Too bad Ann Francis is once again only window dressing. She's capable, as many beautiful actresses are, of more. At least she gets to give one of the villains some grief.