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IMDb > The Man Who Fell to Earth (1987) (TV)

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1987) (TV) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
5.7/10   118 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Walter Tevis (novel) and
Richard Kletter (teleplay)
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Contact:
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Release Date:
23 August 1987 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
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. | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
lost in adaptation more (3 total)

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
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Additional Details

Runtime:
100 min | USA:140 min (original cut) | West Germany:94 min (video)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
[The man is practicing how he will greet the first Earthling he meets.]
John Dory: I have no money, so there is no reason to mug me.
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Movie Connections:
References Mask (1985) more

FAQ

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3 out of 4 people found the following review useful.
lost in adaptation, 18 May 2009
4/10
Author: stephenhow from California, USA

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.

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