Fiend Without a Face (1958)

Invisible atomic monsters attack a U.S. Armed Forces base and the local residents.

Director:

Arthur Crabtree

Writers:

Herbert J. Leder (screenplay), Amelia Reynolds Long (original story "The Thought Monster")

Stars:

Marshall Thompson, Kynaston Reeves, Kim Parker

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Marshall Thompson	...	Maj. Cummings
Kynaston Reeves	...	Prof. R.E. Walgate
Kim Parker	...	Barbara Griselle
Stanley Maxted	...	Col. Butler
Terry Kilburn	...	Capt. Al Chester (as Terence Kilburn)
James Dyrenforth	...	Mayor
Robert MacKenzie	...	Const. Gibbons
Peter Madden	...	Dr. Bradley
Gil Winfield	...	Dr. Warren
Michael Balfour	...	Sgt. Kasper
Launce Maraschal	...	Melville
Meadows White	...	Ben Adams (as R. Meadows White)
E. Kerrigan Prescott	...	Atomic Engineer (as Kerrigan Prescott)
Lala Lloyd	...	Amelia Adams
Shane Cordell	...	Nurse

Storyline

A Scientist, experimenting with telekinetic powers enhanced by a nearby nuclear power plant succeeds in creating a new form of life. This new creature grows in intelligence until it finally escapes his laboratory. Once outside the lab, and closer to its nuclear power source it multiplies. The creature is also invisible, so no one knows what it looks like...

---

Plot Keywords:

american | nuclear power | military | brain | monster | 

---

Taglines:

New Horrors! Mad Science Spawns Evil Fiends! ...Taking form before your horrified eyes!

---

Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

December 1958 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ungeheuer ohne Gesicht

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£50,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Associates, Amalgamated Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Fiend Without a Face" created a public uproar after its premiere at the Ritz Theater in Leicester Square. The British Board of Film Censors has already demanded a number of cuts before granting it the "X" certificate.

---

Goofs

In the scientist's library, a book on cybernetics has a misspelled title "Sibornetics."

---

Quotes

Maj. Cummings: It's as if some mental vampire were at work.

---

Connections

Featured in Bloody New Year (1987)

User Reviews

Fiendish Fun

I just picked up the Criterion Collection of this film - and as usual CC does a wonderful job.

This film - when taken in context and time period - is pretty groundbreaking. Sure, the acting is stilted at times and the dialogue is a bit laughable - and the FX are dated. But the claymation/stop motion technique championed by Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen is used to great effect and the film works remarkably well. The monster sounds are utilized well and reinforces an overall sense of creepiness - especially in the twilight forest scene. And the violent finale cannot be overlooked as an inspiration for "Night Of The Living Dead"