The Fly backdrop
The Fly poster

THE FLY

1958 • US HMDB
July 16, 1958

Industrialist François Delambre is called late at night by his sister-in-law, Helene, who tells him that she has just killed her husband. Reluctant at first, she eventually explains to the police that he invented a matter transportation apparatus and, while experimenting on himself, a fly entered the chamber.

Directors

Kurt Neumann

Cast

David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price, Herbert Marshall, Kathleen Freeman, Betty Lou Gerson, Charles Herbert, Eugene Borden, George Calliga, Harry Carter
Dramma Horror Fantascienza

REVIEWS (1)

MC

Marco Castellini

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A scientist manages to invent two teleportation cabins, but during testing, he is involved in an accident: a fly enters the capsule with him and, at the moment of cellular recomposition in the other cabin, the two bodies mix; thus, the doctor comes out with the head of a fly and the fly with the head of the doctor. After attempting various attempts to return to normal, the scientist gets himself killed by his wife while the fly ends up as prey for a spider. An excellent sci-fi horror film with an original plot and absolutely groundbreaking special effects for the time. Neumann's film does not rely solely on the excellent effects (which may seem a bit dated to the modern viewer) to create suspense and fear: the director skillfully balances the moments of "horror" (the appearance of the two monsters) interspersed within a well-crafted story where the characters, with their anxieties, fears, but also their dreams and ideals, play a primary role. In the cast, the genre specialist Vincent Price. The reason why Italian translators "invented" this title remains a mystery: "The Fly" becomes "The Experiment of Dr. K"; but the most curious thing is that this mysterious Dr. K is never mentioned in the film (the scientist victim of the experiment is actually named André Delambre)!