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THE MAN WITH THE POWER
Donald
Pleasence, Edward
C. Platt, Priscilla Morrill, Fred Beir,
Frank Maxwell, John Marley, Paul Kent, Anne Loos, and Harry Ellerbe.
A man, with a special device implanted in his head, can control enormous
destructive forces.
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QUICK SCAN...
Anybody who has ever wanted to get even with someone, without
getting their hands dirty, (or nose bloody), will appreciate the
way Donald Pleasence (Escape from New York) gets back at those
who mess with him, via the incredible power of his mind. Check
out the simple but effective "mind cloud" Special Effects.
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SYNOPSIS...
A university teacher wants to leave his job to work for the space
program. It turns out that he had a special device placed in his brain
six months before, which allows him to channel tremendous energy.
The teacher begins to work full time for the space agency. The university
dean, who didn't want the teacher to leave, is killed by a strange
energy cloud.
The teacher discovers he is killing people with his unconscious mind.
He chooses to destroy himself, rather than murder anymore.
REVIEW...
Director Laslo Benedek's, THE MAN WITH THE
POWER, is a powerful and memorable "Outer Limits" episode.
Donald Pleasence is a mild-mannered university professor, who has
had a special device implanted into his head. As Pleasence explains
it, "I have developed a link gate complex enough to regulate
the forces, the field energy, surrounding us."
Pleasence seems to have been born to play this role of a quiet, mousy
type who wants to do something important. As the episode proceeds,
Director of Photography, Conrad Hall, by the use of ever more, frequent,
close shots of an unsettling brain surgery scar ,on Pleasence's forehead,
as well as shots of his large, staring eyes, helps sell Pleasence's
transformation from an insignificant teacher to a frightening bringer
of destruction.
Priscilla Morrill is well cast as Pleasence's wife, who seems to enjoy
belittling him and keeping him down. A scene where she savagely trims
a hedge while chatting with him seems to have intentional symbolic
meaning.
Edward C. Platt is credible as a college dean ,who wants Pleasence
to keep teaching and not run off to take part in space experiments.
"Get Smart" fans may fondly remember him as "The Chief"
on that show.
The episode's central effect, a silent, rolling dark cloud with lightning
coming out of it, is surprisingly good. It was designed and created
by Ray Mercer and Company.
My favorite scene is when Pleasence levitates a half ton space boulder.
While the FX involved are simple, the results are impressive.
The music, by Dominic Frontiere, builds well, effectively underscoring
the action.
THE MAN WITH THE POWER should be highly watchable for most Sci-Fi
viewers. "Get Smart" fans will get an extra kick out of
this show. THE MAN WITH THE POWER offers powerful Sci-Fi entertainment!
 
 
 
 
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