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Sunday, December 23, 2018

The Hideous Sun Demon (1958)

Starring Robert Clarke, Patricia Manning, Nan Peterson, Patrick Whyte, Fred La Porta
Directed by Robert Clarke & Tom Boutross
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

After a laboratory accident, an atomic scientist survives but finds the sun's rays transform him into a reptilian monster.

I've read in interviews with Robert Clarke, that he was inspired to make this independent film after seeing some of the films he'd been cast in as an actor, that quite frankly weren't very good.  To his credit, and that of his cast and crew, he's made a solid entertaining picture.  I've also read that Clarke fashioned his story after Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, with two romantic interests well embodied by his character's purer lab assistant (Manning) and Peterson's voluptuous torch singer (boy, is she ever).  Although the low budget trappings are evident, the screenplay is at times too derivative, and a number of scenes would have benefitted from more accomplished actors or some studio polish, the creature makeup is quite good, and the stock music assembled brings excitement, particularly to the climax.

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