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Thursday, November 29, 2018

4D Man (1959)

Starring Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether, James Congdon, Robert Strauss, Edgar Stehli
Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

A scientist gains the ability to pass his atoms through solid objects, giving him the power to walk through walls, but if he touches anyone while in this state, he drains their life and youth.

An interesting follow-up from the creators of The Blob, the picture boasts good special effects and an appearance by a young Patty Duke a few years before her acclaimed role in The Miracle Worker.  I've always thought that Lansing was a bit too low-key in his turn as scientist Scott Nelson, making it difficult to read him or understand his motivations, but maybe part of that's a deficiency in the screenplay.  I liked the rest of the cast, with Strauss entertaining as an assistant making a play to take over the lab, although the springing up of the relationship between brother Tony Nelson (Congdon) and Linda Davis (Meriwether) seems a little too quick.  The use of a jazz score by Ralph Carmichael is striking, although I'm not sure it really fits, but the eerie musical tone he employs when Lansing uses his abilities is first rate.  All in all, it's a solid science fiction thriller, but think the script could have used a little more work.

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