The Fly (1958) is an exercise in sheer atomic age brilliance. Certainly, it lacks the next-generation special effects or the visual impact of Cronenberg’s 1986 body horror remake, but wow, this film really packs a punch. Directed by Kurt Neumann and based on the short-story by George Langelaan, The Fly pushes the boundaries of science fiction to explore the horrors of recklessness in the pursuit of science.
Watch The Fly (1958)
The Fly, Andre Delambre
The film features a familiar plot, although this time, instead of Seth Brundle, the inventor of the “disintegrator-integrator”. Andre Delambre (David Hedison) shares the intensity with his counterpart, and the same reckless desire for the pursuit of knowledge at any cost. Key aspect of Andre Delambre’s life concerns his loving wife Helen (Patricia Owens). This key difference makes all the difference in how Neumann approaches his telling of the tale.
Although Andre’s work consumes him, he loves his family dearly. His wife, Helen and son Phillipe live in the affluent suburbs of Montreal. Thought Andre struggles to tear himself from his work, his love for Helen and Phillipe is unquestionable. This love drives this film to its horrifying conclusion.
The White Headed Fly and Other Delights
The reveal of Kurt Neumann’s monster stands as one of the classic moments in all of science fiction horror. At the time, make-up artist Bill Nye, shocked audiences with his Human/Fly hybrid design. The costume involved a 20 pound sculpted fly head with quivering mouth parts a large clawed fly arm.
The design concept, while scientifically questionable, fully displays the films 50’s SciFi magic.
While a true human fly hybrid would likely share more similarities with Cronenberg’s 1986 body-horror progression, the simple body part swap raised an interesting conundrum. What happened to the human head and arm? Rather quickly, Neumann reveals that Andre’s human head and arm has been transplanted onto the tiny body of a fly.
This all leads to one of the most iconic scenes in all of horror when Inspector Charas and Francois find the tiny white headed fly trapped in the web of a hungry spider. The tiny, terrified screams of “HELP ME!, HELPME!” ring out in a truly unforgettable genre moment.
A Story for the Times
The Atomic Age was defined by rapid scientific advancement. That advancement came the fear that scientists scientific hubris might charge forth without fully contemplating the consequences. Andre Delambre’s obsession with his experiment causes him to throw caution to the wind. Much like the atomic scientists who, despite their best intentions, unleashed a potentially world-ending force, The Fly reminded audiences of the time that total destruction might only be a button press away.
While the 50’s seethed with stories like these, yet The Fly offers one of the most thought provoking narratives on the dangers of science. Not only could technology create giant ants and mushroom clouds, but it could literally ripple the fabric of biology to create grotesque human hybrids.
Brilliant Filmmaking
Just about every aspect of this film is perfect in execution. It starts with a tight script that efficiently sets-up the plot while simultaneously expounding on the love between the Delambres. The pace moves swiftly, but also seamlessly and completely. Newman doesn’t waste a single moment.
The cinematography of Karl Struss competently confidently tracks the action throughout the film. More outstanding is the brilliance of 20th Century Fox’s CinemaScope and Deluxe color treatment. The frames jump off of the screen. This especially becomes relevant during the neon flashed of the laboratory teleportation scenes.
Speaking of teleporters, on one hand the laboratory setup could be considered cliché. On the other, the laboratory provides a time capsule that describes what American’s the future might look like. It takes Frankenstein (1932) gothic sensibilities and updates them to the idyllic polyester fabric of the 50’s.
Finally, this tour de force culminates into a truly tragic and painfully emotional climax as Helen must choose between her bottomless devotion and optimism and her love for Andre and inability to watch him suffer. I can’t say that an industrial hydraulic press ever held such a pivotal role in the outcome of a film up and until that point. Although, James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger simultaneously exclaimed , “Hold my beer!”
But Wait, There’s More
Lest we forget, The Fly stars one of the greatest horror personalities of ALL-TIME, Vincent Price. Price plays Andre’s brother, Francois Delambre. His role is slight, yet his mere presence enhances every scene that he graces. He brings only his impeccable charm and disarming smile as he tries to uncover the events that occurred in Andre’s laboratory.
Vincent Price provides a vehicle for driving the story forward. He acts as a facilitator for teasing the truth of these events from Helen. In parallel, he does his best to work with the inspectors to secure the best outcome for Helen. In an interesting twist, his character Francois also harbors deeper feeling for his brother wife. Francois never officially makes a move, but one wonders what come next for he and Helen after the credits roll.
The Fly would serve as the tipping point of Vincent Price’s horror career.