The Colossus of New York

The Colossus of New York is a 1958 science fiction film from Paramount Pictures, produced by William Alland, directed by Eugène Lourié, that stars Ross Martin, Otto Kruger, John Baragrey, Mala Powers, Robert Hutton, and Charles Herbert.[2] The screenplay was written by Thelma Schnee, the maiden name of Thelma Moss, who later became a famous parapsychologist.[3] The film's storyline is credited to Willis Goldbeck, while John P. Fulton handled the special photographic effects, and Wally Westmore handled the makeup. Paramount Pictures theatrically released Colossus in June 1958 as a double feature with The Space Children.[1] (Note: Certainly not in Los Angeles, where this film opened on November 19, 1958, as the bottom half of a double bill - top half was From the Earth to the Moon.)

The Colossus of New York
Directed byEugène Lourié
Written byWillis Goldbeck (story)
Thelma Schnee (screenplay)
Produced byWilliam Alland[1]
StarringRoss Martin
Otto Kruger
John Baragrey
Mala Powers
Charles Herbert
CinematographyJohn F. Warren
Edited byFloyd Knudtson
Music byVan Cleave
Color processBlack and white
Production
company
William Alland Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • November 19, 1958 (1958-11-19)
[1]
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Following an accident, Jeremy Spensser's brain is transplanted by his scientist father into the huge body of an unattractive, frightening cyborg, to save his brilliant son's mind so that it can continue to serve mankind. Soon, his son's brain becomes transformed by the experimental procedure, losing key attributes that make him human and define his personality.

Plot

Jeremy Spensser (Ross Martin), the brilliant young son of a New York family of scientists and humanitarians, is killed when hit by a truck as he chases his son's toy airplane. His death occurs on the eve of his winning the "International Peace Prize", and he leaves behind a wife (Mala Powers) and young son (Charles Herbert).

Drive-in advertisement from 1958 for The Colossus of New York and co-feature, From the Earth to the Moon.

Jeremy's father, noted brain surgeon William Spensser (Otto Kruger), is distressed that his son's gifts will be denied to mankind. He devises a plan to give Jeremy's mind another chance to benefit humanity by transplanting the brain (which he has revived and kept on life support) into an artificial, robotic body. William convinces Jeremy's brother, Henry, an expert in automation, to assist with the process in secret.

Because of its horrific appearance, the huge colossus (Ed Wolff) they have created is kept in seclusion for nearly a year, secretly continuing Jeremy's work on new food sources. Deprived of normal human contact and possibly of its "soul", Jeremy's mind slowly begins to lose its humanity. He kills his brother, who has fallen in love with Jeremy's wife, and then speaks to his father of the futility of providing food for "the slum people of the world", when it is "simpler and wiser to get rid of them". As Jeremy's mind loses control of his mechanical body, other unexplained powers suddenly emerge from the strictly mechanical body, including mind control of humans and a death ray emanating from both its eyes.

Finally, Jeremy's out-of-control body goes on a rampage in the United Nations building, killing several people. Only when Jeremy's young son confronts the cyborg is Jeremy able to restore his self-control long enough to tell the boy how to switch off and destroy the body of the "colossus".

Cast

Release

Home media

Olive Films released Colossus of New York on Blu-ray June 19, 2012.[4]

Soundtrack

The film is noted for its haunting, minimalistic piano score composed by Van Cleave.

In other media

The film's theatrical release poster appears in the 38th episode, titled "Sight", of the UK natural history TV series Eyewitness, when the narrator is discussing the concept of the Evil Eye.

See also

References
  1. Warren, Bill (1986). "Keep Watching The Skies Volume 2". McFarland & Co., Inc. ISBN 0-89950-170-2. Page 736
  2. Cavett Binion (2008). "The New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 2008-10-21. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  3. Taff, Barry (July 18, 2012). "Legacy's End". barrytaff.net. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  4. Olive Films Brings the Original Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Colossus of New York, and The Boogens to Blu-ray this Summer
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