The Man Who Fell to Earth (TV 1987)

An alien lands on earth, and decides that he needs to take a job in order to raise money to build a spaceship so he can get back to his home planet.

Director:

Bobby Roth

Writers:

Walter Tevis (novel), Richard Kletter (teleplay),

Stars:

Lewis Smith, James Laurenson, Robert Picardo

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lewis Smith	...	John Dory
James Laurenson	...	Felix Hawthorne
Robert Picardo	...	Agent Richard Morse
Bruce McGill	...	Vernon Gage
Wil Wheaton	...	Billy Milton
Annie Potts	...	Louise
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Eva Milton
Henry G. Sanders
Bobbi Jo Lathan
Carmen Argenziano
Chris DeRose	...	Record Clerk
Ritch Shydner	...	Video Clerk
Rob Leilson	...	Captain
Steve Natole	...	Soldier
Michael Fontaine	...	Guard

Storyline

An alien lands on earth, and decides that he needs to take a job in order to raise money to build a spaceship so he can get back to his home planet.

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Plot Keywords:

unsold tv series pilot | remake | based on novel

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Genres:

Action | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 August 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Mann, der auf die Erde fiel

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Gerber Productions, MGM Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 140 min (original cut) 94 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
John Dory: [to hitchhiker] Good morning! I was driving to New York city when, wouldn't you know it, my car broke down... I have no money so - there is no reason to mug me.

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Connections

References Mask (1985)

User Reviews

lost in adaptation

This movie is only interesting as a curiosity piece, if you've ever wondered what an 80's labotomized version of the sad and meaningful Walter Tevis novel would look like. Start by replacing Bowie's Thin White Duke with a Tom Hanks Busom Buddy knock-off, and throw in Beverly D'Angelo and Wesley Crusher as her troubled, but deep-down loving son. Don't bother coming up with any believable visual style for the movie, just re-use some of the old Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century sets off the studio backlot Finally, but most importantly, replace the actual theme of the book (how the Visitor falls to human faults and shortcomings) with positive pap about restoring the Beverly D'Angelo and Wil Wheaton relationship. I'm almost certain this movie was shot as a pilot for a TV series, where the Visitor brings his son back to Earth, and every week, they learn how troubled and illogical, yet ultimately redeeming mankind is. Kind of like My Favorite Martian, but a little more serious, like The Great American Hero. This would have been classic shlock had it been picked up.