The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet. He starts a high technology company to get the billions of dollars he needs to build a return ... See full summary »

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writers:

Paul Mayersberg (screenplay), Walter Tevis (from the novel by)

Stars:

David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Bowie	...	Thomas Jerome Newton
Rip Torn	...	Nathan Bryce
Candy Clark	...	Mary-Lou
Buck Henry	...	Oliver Farnsworth
Bernie Casey	...	Peters
Jackson D. Kane	...	Professor Canutti
Rick Riccardo	...	Trevor
Tony Mascia	...	Arthur
Linda Hutton	...	Elaine
Hilary Holland	...	Jill
Adrienne Larussa	...	Helen
Lilybelle Crawford	...	Jewelery Store Owner
Richard Breeding	...	Receptionist
Albert Nelson	...	Waiter
Peter Prouse	...	Peters' Associate

Storyline

Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet. He starts a high technology company to get the billions of dollars he needs to build a return spacecraft, and meets Mary-Lou, a girl who falls in love with him. He does not count on the greed and ruthlessness of business here on Earth, however.

---

Plot Keywords:

sex scene | female nudity | female frontal nudity | alien | urinating in fear | 

---

Taglines:

You have to believe it to see it

---

Genres:

Sci-Fi | Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 August 1976 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Der Mann, der vom Himmel fiel

Filming Locations:

Willcox Playa, Willcox, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,343 (USA) (15 July 2011)

Gross:

$83,547 (USA) (23 September 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Lion Film Corporation, Cinema 5

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min 119 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Coburn was approached about playing Bryce but ultimately the production simply couldn't afford such a name actor.

---

Goofs

During the first sex scene between Nathan Bryce and his student, her bra keeps changing from partially off to on to completely off to on again.

---

Quotes

Thomas Jerome Newton: My interest is energy - transference of energy.

---

Connections

Referenced in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

---

Soundtracks

A Fool Such as I
Written by William M. Trader
Performed by Hank Snow

User Reviews

Don't bother seeing this film unless it is the director's cut

I first saw "The Man Who Fell to Earth" when it was first released, and found it to be a jumbled mess. There were plot holes galore, and scenes that went nowhere or had no connection to anything.

A few years back, I saw the director's cut, and it was an entirely different film. The plot holes were filled and all the scenes fit together perfectly. As bad as the original release version was, the director's cut is great and worth seeing.