Science Fiction Movie: The Fly (1958)

Director Kurt Neumann and Twentieth Century-Fox brought The Fly to movie theaters in 1958. Starring Al (David) Hedison, Vincent Price and Patricia Owens, The Fly went on to spawn two sequels and a 1986 remake. The horror of it all!

Based on George Langelaan Story

The Fly was based on the short story of the same name by British author George Langelaan (1908-1969). "The Fly" first appeared in the June 1957 issue of Playboy.

Screenplay, Director, Music

James Clavell (King Rat, Shogun) wrote the screenplay in his first cinematic effort.

Directing was German-born Kurt Neumann (1908-1958), who later committed suicide on August 21, 1958 -- a month after The Fly's premiere.

Paul Sawtell created the film's original music.

The Fly Cast

Al (David) Hedison plays Canadian scientist Andre Delambre. Other cast members include Patricia Owens (Helene Delambre), Vincent Price (Francois Delambre), Herbert Marshall (Inspector Charas), Kathleen Freeman (Emma), Betty Lou Gerson (Nurse Andersone) and Charles Herbert (Philippe Delambre).

Budget, Filming

The Fly was budgeted at a respectable $700,000, with $28,000 being spent on the lab set.

David Hedison performed his own "stunt work," allowing himself to be made up like a fly for the movie's big unmasking.

The Fly had a short production life, with filming completed in a scant 18 days.

The Fly in the Movie Theater

The Fly centers on scientist Andre Delambre, who is experimenting in material transference. His goal is to eventually transfer a human being from one chamber of his teleportation device to the other.

Following a series of setbacks, one of which involves a missing cat used as a guinea pig, Delambre decides to enter the chamber himself. He succeeds in his experiment, but later discovers that a fly had also entered the cabin during the process.

Delambre and the fly have interchanged atoms, with the scientist now sporting an insect's head and a clawed left hand. Conversely, the bluebottle fly is now in possession of Delambre's head and one of his arms.

Helene Delambre learns of her husband's plight and later performs a mercy killing following a failed attempt to reverse the process. She then phones her brother-in-law, Francois, who with police Inspector Charas try to unravel the truth.

Release, Reviews, Box Office

The Fly was released on August 29, 1958.

"It flew in yesterday, The Fly did -- and folks, hang on to your hair...This is quite a little picture...It holds an interesting philosophy about man's tampering with the unknown," reported Howard Thompson of The New York Times (8/30/58).

The Fly did big business at the box office, grossing $3 million.

Movie Analysis

The Fly is one of the best sci-fi/horror thrillers to come out of the 1950s. It compares favorably to such iconic films as The Thing (1951) and Them! (1954).

Al (David) Hedison shines as the man of science caught up in an experiment gone awry. Scary Vincent Price is equally good, as is Patricia Owens who screams herself into film immortality during the horrific unmasking scene of her hybrid husband.

The jokes are always here for this kind of film -- i.e., bring your own fly swatter and flypaper, or maybe a can of Raid -- but most viewers will find The Fly both intriguing and entertaining.

Sequels, Remake

The Fly produced two sequels, Return of the Fly (1959) and The Curse of the Fly (1965).

Jeff Goldblum starred in the graphic 1986 remake The Fly, which in turn hatched The Fly II (1989).

Sure a lot of flies around here...

The Fly (1958) movie theater standee

The Fly (1958) British quad movie poster

The Fly (1958) insert movie poster

The Fly (1958) title lobby card

David Hedison, Brett Halsey, The Fly I & II actors

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