The Amazing Colossal Man

The Amazing Colossal Man is a 1957 black-and-white science fiction film, directed by Bert I. Gordon and starring Glenn Langan. The film revolves around a 60 foot mutant man produced as the result of an atomic accident. Distributed by American International Pictures (AIP) at the top of a program double-bill with The Cat Girl, the film was followed by a sequel, War of the Colossal Beast, which appeared in 1958. The film and its sequel appeared on Mystery Science Theater 3000. During the 1960s the title was syndicated to television by American International Television. == Plot ==Glen Langan plays Lt. Col. Glenn Manning, an officer in the U.S. Army,witnessesa plane crashes in the test area. Colonel Glen Manningfearing that someone may still be alive runs to the plane, but before he getsto the pilot who is inadvertently exposed to a plutonium bomb blast at CampDesert Rock. suffers serious burns to over 90% of his body [and hair loss]following an inadvertent exposure to plutonium radiation from a bomb blast. He isthen brought to the base hospital, but is not expected to survive the night. .The next morning, Manning not only is still alive, but the burned tissue iscompletely healed. When his fiancée Carol Forrest arrives to visit she findsout that he as been moved as well as the physicians that have been working onhim, Dr. Paul Coulter and Major Eric Lindstrom, M.D. Manningmiraculously survives the explosion and his burns completely heal, Throughsome checking on her own, Carol soon finds out where they are keeping Glen andis horrified to find out that the radiation has affected his cells and causedhim to grow uncontrollably. The radiation causes him to abnormally grow into a 60-foot-tallgiant. At this size, his heart is unable to supply sufficient blood to hisbrain and he gradually goes insane.Army doctors attempt to halt and reverse his growth with aformula, but after getting injected with the cure, he grabs the  needle and spears one of the doctors with it,killing him on the spot. The doctors search find a cure, but before they can administerit to him, he goes mad, escapes and begins terrorizing Las Vegas. Manning  free from confinement,"kidnaps" his girlfriend, Carol Forrest (played by Cathy Downs), andwreaks havoc in LasVegasbefore being cornered by the Army at the BoulderDam. After releasing Carol Manning  is shot and appears to fall tohis death in the ColoradoRiver. == Cast == {| class="wikitable"! Actor! Role|-| Glenn Langan || Lt. Col. Glenn Manning|-| Cathy Downs || Carol Forrest|-| William Hudson || Dr. Paul Linstrom|-| Larry Thor || Maj. Eric Coulter, MD|-| James Seay || Col. Hallock|-| Frank Jenks || Truck Driver|-| Russ Bender || Richard Kingman|-| Hank Patterson || Henry|-| Jimmy Cross || Sergeant at reception desk|-| June Jocelyn || Nurse Wilson|-| Stanley Lachman || Lt. Cline|-| Harry Raybould || MP at Main Gate|-| Jean Moorhead || Woman in Bathtub|-| Scott Peters || Sgt. Lee Carter|-| Myron Cook || Capt. Thomas|-| Michael Harris || Police Lt. Keller|-| Bill Cassady || Lt. Peterson|-| Dick Nelson || Sgt. Hansen|-| Edmund Cobb || Dr. McDermott|-| Paul Hahn || Attendant|-| Diana Darrin || Hospital Receptionist|-| Lyn Osborn || Sgt. Taylor|-| Jack Kosslyn || Lieutenant in briefing room|-| William Hughes || Bombsite Control Officer|-| Keith Hetherington ||Newscaster|-| John Daheim || Soldier (uncredited)|-| Judd Holdren || Robert Allen (uncredited)|-| Harold Miller || Official (uncredited)|} ==Production==Jim Nicholson of American International Pictures had the rights to a 1920s novel, The Nth Man about a man who was ten miles high. Nicholson thought it could be adapted to cash in on the success of The Incredible Shrinking Man (released six months earlier in 1957) and originally announced Roger Corman as director. Charles B. Griffith was hired to adapt the novel and he turned it into a comedy. Then Corman dropped out and Bert I. Gordon was hired. Gordon worked on the script with Griffith but the collaboration only last a day before Griffith quit. Griffith's regular writing partner Mark Hanna stepped in instead. ==Influence on popular culture== Lt. Col. Glenn Manning is almost the same as the name of the Deathlok cyborg's true idenity of Colonel Luthor Manning,created by Rich Buckler,for Marvel Comics.The Deathlok cyborg,even has half hid disfigured,like Glenn Manning  has in the sequile. The origin of the incredible Hulk, is almost similar to Lt. Col. Glenn Manning's story. == References in popular culture == The film was parodied on an episode of Robot Chicken when a large bald giant, wearing a sarong as a diaper, is struck in the crotch with a wrecking ball as he terrorizes a city, as part of the "Ode To The Nut Shot" sketch. ==Home media==*RCA Columbia Home Video released the film on VHS on June 21, 1994. *The Mst3k version was released on VHS by Rhino Home Video on April 30, 1996. ==Notes== ==Other reading== * Wingrove, David. Science Fiction Film Source Book (Longman Group Limited, 1985) ==See also==* The Incredible Shrinking Man, a 1957 film* Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, a 1958 film* The Incredible Melting Man, a 1977 film == External links == * *