The Colossus of New York [Blu-ray]

Director: Eugene Lourie Eugene Lourie

Overview

This low-budget, Frankenstein-flavored sci-fi flick involves the transplantation of a dead scientist's brain into the body of a hulking, glowing-eyed, caped robot by the man's lunatic brother. Though initially a success, the operation soon goes horribly wrong as the robot begins to display increasingly homicidal behavior, zapping people with its gamma-ray eyes. The climax comes when the robot begins a murderous rampage in the United Nations. The only hope for stopping the monster comes from the late scientist's young son, who manages to reach what little of the scientist's identity still remains and calms the robot down. This is actually a well-written film with a strong emotional core and a fairly sympathetic monster, but it loses some ground thanks to the rather silly rivet-headed robot costume.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/19/2012
UPC:	0887090030700
Original Release:	1958
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Presentation:	[B&W, Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:10:00
Sales rank:	12,770

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Baragrey	Henry
Otto Kruger	William
Mala Powers	Anne
Robert Hutton	Carrington
Ross Martin	Jeremy
Charles Herbert	Billy Spensser
Ed Wolff	The Colossus

Technical Credits

Eugene Lourie	Director
William Alland	Producer

Editorial Reviews

The Colossus of New York is an enjoyably cheesy science fiction thriller. Make no mistake about it: Colussus is a far cry from a great movie. But as with so many of its sci fi brethren from the period, there's something about its earnestness and its intentions that makes it hard to resist, even as one is groaning at the cheap special effects or laughing at the absurdity of its plot. Certainly the plot could only happen in science fiction, but at least the set-up is here for a reason: to explore, however superficially, the idea of man's soul and its importance in defining his humanity. The discussion of this issue is handled in ludicrously simple terms, yet there's something appealing about the far-from-deft way in which it is handled. Eugene Lourie's direction is not especially inventive, but he does manage an interesting moment or two. Of the cast, Ross Martin and Mala Powers acquit themselves reasonably well; Otto Kruger is enjoyably if embarrassingly hammy, and Charles Herbert is annoying. The special effects, most notably the robot that gives the film its title, are laughable.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler