‘He walks through walls of solid steel and stone!’
4D Man is a 1959 sci-fi horror film about a scientist who discovers a formula enabling him to pass through solid surfaces. However, he also rapidly ages, which forces him to kill humans to reverse the ageing process by absorbing his victims’ energies.
Directed by Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. (Dinosaurus!; The Blob, 1958) from a screenplay by Theodore Simonson and Cy Chermak. The movie was produced by Jack H. Harris (The Blob franchise; Schlock; Equinox). Also known as The Evil Force (UK) and Master of Terror (US reissue).
The Fairview production stars Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether (Catwoman in the ’60s Batman TV series) and James Congdon. The fun jazzy score was composed by Ralph Carmichael (The Blob) whose later career became bogged down with Christian-themed tunes.
Plot:
Brilliant but irresponsible scientist Tony Nelson (James Congdon) develops an electronic amplifier that he hopes will allow any object to achieve a 4th dimensional (4D) state. While in this state any object can pass freely through any other object.
Tony, however, fails to pay attention to the overload, which sparks an electrical fire that burns down his lab. This results in the university terminating his contract. Now unemployed, Tony seeks out his brother Scott (Robert Lansing) to help him with his experiment…
“This is a plausible bit of scientific hocus, and the compact story has enough to please the majority.” Kine Weekly“Rather too much of an emphasis on a hackneyed romance tends to hold up the proceedings but the film moves briskly enough, the idea is well used and the special effects effective.” Alan Franks, The Science Fiction and Fantasy Handbook book
Cast and characters:
Robert Lansing … Doctor Scott Nelson – The Nest; Monsters TV series; Island Claws; Empire of the Ants; The Evil Touch TV series; Journey to the Unknown TV series
Lee Meriwether … Linda Davis – The Munsters Today TV Series; Batman: The Movie (1966)
James Congdon … Dr Tony Nelson – When Worlds Collide
Robert Strauss … Roy Parker – The Munsters TV series
Edgar Stehli … Dr Theodore W. Carson
Patty Duke … Marjorie Sutherland – Grave Secrets: The Legacy of HilltopDrive; Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes; The Swarm; Curse of the Black Widow; Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby?; Night Gallery TV series; Guy Raymond … Fred; Chic James … B-girl; Elbert Smith … Captain Rogers; George Karas … Sgt Todaman; Jasper Deeter … Doctor Welles; Dean Newman … Doctor Brian Schwartz; John Benson … Reporter
Technical specs:
1 hour 25 minutes
Aspect ratio: 1.85 : 1
Trailer:
Free to watch online on YouTube [1080p HD]:
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