The Invisible Boy (1957)

Director:

Herman Hoffman

Writers:

Cyril Hume (screenplay)
Edmund Cooper (story)

Release Date:

October 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The science-monster who would destroy the world!

Plot:

A ten-year-old boy and Robby the Robot team up to prevent a Super Computer from controlling the Earth from a satellite.

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Robot | Satellite | World Domination | Robby The Robot

Cast

Richard Eyer	...	Timmie Merrinoe
Philip Abbott	...	Dr. Tom Merrinoe
Diane Brewster	...	Mary Merrinoe
Harold J. Stone	...	Gen. Swayne
Robert H. Harris	...	Prof. Frank Allerton
Dennis McCarthy	...	Col. Macklin
Alexander Lockwood	...	Arthur Kelvaney
John O'Malley	...	Prof. Baine
Robby the Robot	...	Robby
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rayford Barnes	...	Capt. McLaren (uncredited)
Gage Clarke	...	Dr. Bannerman (uncredited)
Helen Kleeb	...	Miss Vandergrift (uncredited)
Alfred Linder	...	Martin / Computer (uncredited) (voice)
Marvin Miller	...	Robby the Robot (voice) (uncredited)
Michael Miller	...	MP at gate (uncredited)
Alvy Moore	...	Scientist #4 (pranks scene) (uncredited)
Jefferson Dudley Searles	...	Prof. Foster (uncredited)
Gary Vinson	...	Young soldier (uncredited)
Ralph Votrian	...	MP at gate (uncredited)
Than Wyenn	...	Prof. Zeller (uncredited)

Directed by
Herman Hoffman

Writing credits
Cyril Hume		(screenplay)
Edmund Cooper		(story)

Produced by
Nicholas Nayfack	....	producer

Original Music by
Les Baxter

Cinematography by
Harold E. Wellman		(as Harold Wellman)

Film Editing by
John Faure		(as John D. Faure)

Art Direction by
Merrill Pye

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera

Production Management
Gus Schroeder	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bert Chervin	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Fred Lau	....	recording supervisor
Cathey Burrow	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Irving Block	....	special effects
Louis DeWitt	....	special effects
Jack Rabin	....	special effects

Casting Department
Lynn Stalmaster	....	casting supervisor

Music Department
Les Baxter	....	conductor
Albert Harris	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1975) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (Finland) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:PG (DVD rating) | UK:U (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1973) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #18712)

Filming Locations:

Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Robby the Robot's appearance in the film was partly because it was so expensive to build him for Forbidden Planet (1956) that MGM felt obliged to use him in another project.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Dr. Bannerman pronounces Colonel Macklin dead, tape marks denoting the actors' positions are clearly visible on the floor as the camera pulls out and the cast members obligingly stand up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Tom Merrinoe:General Swayne! Certainly didn't expect to see you in person.
Gen. Swayne:Thought I'd be my own messenger boy this time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Troldspejlet: Episode #1.3" (1989)

Invisible Boy vs. Invisible Monster From The Id

As others have said, this movie is definitely weird. If you're in the right mood, that's great. Otherwise you might just find it ridiculous and unrealistic.

Although I can't deny that "Forbidden Planet" is a superior film when it comes to acting, set design, visual effects, a more consistent tone & clearer message - I think I kinda enjoyed it's low-budget follow-up, "The Invisible Boy"...more. For one thing, I prefer this brand of humour - the spoofing of 50's sitcom families, the parents' deadpan reaction/nonchalant acceptance of amazing events such as their son's invisibility, etc - much funnier than the booze-seeking shenanigans of the Cook, whose eye-rollingly lame scenes pass for comedy relief on "Forbidden Planet".

The bizarre shifts in tone and plot absurdities/illogic in "The Invisible Boy", can be seen as weaknesses, but at least they make the movie less predictable. One can argue that "Forbidden Planet"'s script ties everything up *too* neatly, that there is too much foreshadowing, and the clues a bit too obvious, as to the origin of the monster. I figured out what was going on there, long before the climax (and I didn't need a brain-boost!) "The Invisible Boy" had more surprises.

Another point in this film's favour - Robby The Robot gets to show more personality, express a wider range of emotions (I'm not kidding!), and is even more lovable than in the first film. It probably helps that Robby didn't have to compete with any great actors like Walter Pidgeon here. But I do think he has more screen time and more opportunities to shine in "The Invisible Boy". He tugs on the ol' heartstrings and really steals the show.

This film loses a few points for it's irritatingly-voiced child star, and some plot holes/contrivances that strain credibility (such as the scientist deducing the Evil SuperComputer's master plan out of...nowhere) Of course, I had to dock "Forbidden Planet" as well, for different reasons (predictability and rampant 50's chauvinism)...so, somehow, they end up with the same rating. Keep in mind my how-much-was-I-entertained rating is more like 7/10 for both...this is my harsh-brutal-analysis rating. 5/10 implies they're only average movies, but they're really above-average entries in the sci-fi genre.