The Illustrated Man

[Lino]

I'm very curious about this title but so far, no reviews are up yet. Has anyone bought it and would like to share some thoughts?

[Gordon]

I was looking for reviews today, but so far - nothing. I have not seen this film, though I came close to buying the VHS in the late 90s. Cinematography (2.35:1 Panavision) was by the brilliant Philip Lathrop, who had shot Finian's Rainbow, Point Blank, Experiment in Terror and later Wild Rovers, The Travelling Executioner, They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and The Driver, Hard Times for Walter Hill, as well as being the camera operator on Touch of Evil - great DP! So I have always wondered how The Illustrated Man looks. Also, this was ace Star Trek set decorator Marvin March's first feature film. Director Jack Smight was usually very reliable and I recently saw Frankenstein: The True Story via the new DVD and he isn't a name that is bandied about too often, but he made some good films. Anchor Bay were set to release his 70s cheez-fest, Damnation Alley, but apparently, Fox themselves will be releasing it in 2007. The Travelling Executioner features a fine performance from Stacey Keach and I am surprised that Warner have yet to release it. The Paul Newman WWII comedy, The Secret War of Harry Frigg is also conspicuously absent. The Third Day (shot by Robert Surtees) is also very intriguing and also with Warner.

Steiger made some pretty bad movies throughout his career and the reputation of The Illustrated Man isn't very high, but I'd be interested in seeing it in what will surely be a gorgeous 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer (the Laserdisc was soft and murky). Tidy score by Goldsmith, too, apparently.

Post a review, if you find one, brother!

[Lino]

Well, the trailer is very mysterious and suitably cryptic. In fact, this is the kind of story that would have made for a perfectly engaging TV mini-series back in the early 70's: each episode would've centered on one of his tattoos until there were no more left to tell. Hey, I would watch this show!

[skuhn8]

Damnation Alley? Finally. I saw this in the drive-in when I was a kid and had nightmares for months. It didn't seem cheezy then though in hindsight it must've been. Would love to get my hands on this!

Sorry; off topic, but there's no way we're ever going to see a Damnation Alley thread.

[tryavna]

You know, I had the same reaction when I first saw this as a kid. The big scorpion scene in particular haunted me. But it comes on Fox Movie Channel here in America, and I must say it hasn't held up very well over the years. As a matter of fact, I found that I couldn't sit through it all the way through.

[skuhn8]

I have no doubt that I will be utterly disappointed. These things are inevitable. But so necessary. Tackle those childhood demons.

[davebert]

I watched this at work a couple of days ago, so I can't profess that I was playing extremely close attention (the book is a favorite high school read of mine). Steiger gives a great performance, and the various short stories that the "illustrations" reveals are full of futuristic set pieces that seemed almost too cheesy, but probably right for the tone of something like "The Veldt," where a virtual chamber of the future summons not so virtual lions to do some human eating.

The print was nice and clean and apart from a "vintage featurette" that I didn't watch, it's barebones. I'd be more comfortable recommending it if it was a $9-10 range title, but it's certainly not a trainwreck of a film nor a DVD.

[ByMarkClark.com]

I haven't seen the DVD, but I've seen the movie. The kindest words I can muster regarding the experience is that I was able to stay awake through the whole thing. Somehow.

[davebert]

Ah yes, it was a bit dull. Except for the lions.

[Ashirg]

DVD Beaver review

[Lino]

DVD Savant