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Movie: The Illustrated Man (1969)Rod Steiger, Claire Bloom, Robert Drivas Star in Ray Bradbury Film
Rod Steiger is The Illustrated Man, the 1969 sci-fi movie classic based on the story by Ray Bradbury. Claire Bloom, Robert Drivas and Jason Evers also appear.
Director Jack Smight brought The Illustrated Man to movie theaters in 1969. Menacing Rod Steiger had the title role, with Claire Bloom, Robert Drivas, Jason Evers and Don Dubbins in inked support. Don't dare stare at the illustrated man! Based on the Story by Ray BradburyThe Illustrated Man was based on the story of the same name by Illinois-born science fiction master Ray Bradbury. A collection of 18 short stories, The Illustrated Man was published in 1951 by Doubleday. Screenplay, Director, MusicHoward B. Kreitsek wrote The Illustrated Man for Warner Bros./Seven Arts. Directing was Jack Smight, who had been able to purchase the book's movie rights only on the author's condition that either Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster or Rod Steiger star as the title character. Jerry Goldsmith created the spooky music score. The Illustrated Man CastRod Steiger (1925-2002) plays Carl, the stocky guy with all the tatts. Other cast members are Claire Bloom (Felicia), Robert Drivas (Willie), Don Dubbins (Pickard), Jason Evers (Simmons), Tim Weldon (John), Christine Matchett (Anna) and Pogo (Peke, the dog). Steiger and Claire Bloom were then-man and wife in real life. They were married from 1959-69. Rod Steiger's TattoosOne of the most demanding aspects of filming The Illustrated Man was the application of Rod Steiger's tattoos, which were designed by James E. Reynolds. It was a laborious process undertaken by makeup director Gordon Bau and his eight assistants, as they worked some 20 hours a day applying the temporary tatts to Steiger's body. The Illustrated Man: Three Stories in OneThe film version of The Illustrated Man is actually comprised of three different stories from Bradbury's 1951 book: "The Veldt," "The Long Rain" and "The Last Night of the World." The Illustrated Man opens at a lakeside campsite in Depression-era 1933. There, a young California-bound drifter named Willie meets Carl, an ex-carninval worker whose body is decorated with skin illustrations. Carl is looking for a woman named Felicia, the instigator of his body art, whom he plans to murder. Willie learns that each of Carl's tattoos tells a story. Three tales eventually unfold as he nervously eyes several illustrations: The VeldtCarl, Felicia and their two children live in a futuristic society where people can create their own artificial environment. An African veldt populated by lions has been chosen as the children's playground -- a bad choice it turns out when the kids get angry and sick the animated beasts on their too-strict parents. The Long RainOn Venus, where the rain never ceases, a group of stranded astronauts search for an artificial sun dome. One by one they are driven mad by the unrelenting downpour, with only a single member of their party reaching the shelter. The Last Night of the WorldIn the 40th century, the world government announces that the end of the planet is nigh. All children, they decree, must be given poison pills in order to spare them the final agony. Carl carries out the order, only to discover the next morning that the planet has survived. The Illustrated Man Release, ReviewsThe Illustrated Man opened on March 26, 1969. "The Illustrated Man has going for it two major aspects: a derivative Ray Bradbury story and an obtuse, time-fragmented, humanistic, allegorical morality play," said Variety. Okay, but after viewing the segment "The Long Rain," be forewarned that one may never want to hear B.J. Thomas singing "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" again...
The copyright of the article Movie: The Illustrated Man (1969) in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films is owned by William J. Felchner. Permission to republish Movie: The Illustrated Man (1969) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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