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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Paddy Chayefsky (novel)
Paddy Chayefsky (writer)
Release Date:
25 December 1980 (USA) more
Tagline:
When he heard his cry for help it wasn't human more
Plot:
A Harvard scientist conducts experiments on himself with a hallucinatory drug and an isolation chamber that may be causing him to regress genetically. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(12 articles)
Former MGM Chief Daniel Melnick Dead At 77; Many Classic Films To His Credit
(From CinemaRetro. 16 October 2009, 9:58 AM, PDT)
The Planting of Dan Melnick and the Death of Hollywood Cool
(From Huffington Post. 15 October 2009, 3:36 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Great Material, Artistically Handled more (99 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| William Hurt | ... | Eddie Jessup | |
| Blair Brown | ... | Emily Jessup | |
| Bob Balaban | ... | Arthur Rosenberg | |
| Charles Haid | ... | Mason Parrish | |
| Thaao Penghlis | ... | Echeverria | |
| Miguel Godreau | ... | Primal Man | |
| Dori Brenner | ... | Sylvia Rosenberg | |
| Peter Brandon | ... | Hobart | |
| Charles White-Eagle | ... | The Brujo | |
| Drew Barrymore | ... | Margaret Jessup | |
| Megan Jeffers | ... | Grace Jessup | |
| Jack Murdock | ... | Hector Orteco | |
| Francis X. McCarthy | ... | Obispo (as Frank McCarthy) | |
| Deborah Baltzell | ... | Schizophrenic Patient | |
| Evan Richards | ... | Young Rosenberg |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
102 min
Country:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby | 70 mm 6-Track (MegaSound encoding)
Certification:
Singapore:M18 | Italy:VM14 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 (1982) | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The book was partially based on dolphin researcher John Lilly, who invented the isolation tank, and first started taking drugs while "tanking". more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The introductory story is set in 1967, but exterior shots of the streets shows a VW Rabbit and a Plymouth Volare, both 1970s cars. more
Quotes:
[First line]
Arthur Rosenberg:
The tank itself was unusual in that it was vertical, and looked like an old boiler.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "South Park: Tsst (#10.7)" (2006) more
Soundtrack:
Light My Fire more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (99 total)
Message Boards
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If you are a thinker now, or grew up looking up at the stars and trying to figure out how the universe could just go on and on forever, this film is for you.
If you like boundaries, and the familiar you will not understand why this film was made, or why this film was made the way it was.
Chayefsky's material is brilliant, and challenging. Russell's approach is startling; more like abstract expressionism than any kind of realism. The performances, especially by Blair Brown and William Hurt are raw and completely authentic.
From start to finish, this film is fascinating, original and consistently realized.