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The Gamma People

  • 1956
  • Passed
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
739
YOUR RATING
Paul Douglas and Eva Bartok in The Gamma People (1956)
An American reporter smells a story when he is stranded in an Iron Curtain country where the local dictator is using gamma rays to transform children into mutated henchmen.
Play trailer2:34
1 Video
13 Photos
DramaHorrorSci-Fi

An American reporter smells a story when he is stranded in an Iron Curtain country where the local dictator is using gamma rays to transform children into mutated henchmen.An American reporter smells a story when he is stranded in an Iron Curtain country where the local dictator is using gamma rays to transform children into mutated henchmen.An American reporter smells a story when he is stranded in an Iron Curtain country where the local dictator is using gamma rays to transform children into mutated henchmen.

  • Director
    • John Gilling
  • Writers
    • John W. Gossage
    • John Gilling
    • Louis Pollock
  • Stars
    • Paul Douglas
    • Eva Bartok
    • Leslie Phillips
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    739
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Gilling
    • Writers
      • John W. Gossage
      • John Gilling
      • Louis Pollock
    • Stars
      • Paul Douglas
      • Eva Bartok
      • Leslie Phillips
    • 25User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos13

    The Gamma People (1956)
    Paul Douglas, Jocelyn Lane, and Leslie Phillips in The Gamma People (1956)
    The Gamma People (1956)
    Eva Bartok in The Gamma People (1956)
    The Gamma People (1956)
    The Gamma People (1956)
    Paul Douglas and Eva Bartok in The Gamma People (1956)
    The Gamma People (1956)
    The Gamma People (1956)
    The Gamma People (1956)
    Paul Douglas and Eva Bartok in The Gamma People (1956)
    The Gamma People (1956)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Douglas
    Paul Douglas
    • Mike Wilson
    Eva Bartok
    Eva Bartok
    • Paula Wendt
    Leslie Phillips
    Leslie Phillips
    • Howard Meade
    Walter Rilla
    Walter Rilla
    • Boronski
    Philip Leaver
    Philip Leaver
    • Koerner
    Martin Miller
    Martin Miller
    • Lochner
    Michael Caridia
    • Hugo Wendt
    Pauline Drewett
    • Hedda Lochner
    Jocelyn Lane
    Jocelyn Lane
    • Anna
    • (as Jackie Lane)
    Olaf Pooley
    • Bikstein
    Rosalie Crutchley
    Rosalie Crutchley
    • Frau Bikstein
    Leonard Sachs
    Leonard Sachs
    • Telegraph Clerk
    Paul Hardtmuth
    Paul Hardtmuth
    • Hans
    • (as Paul Hardmuth)
    Cyril Chamberlain
    • Graf
    St. John Stuart
    • 1st Goon
    David Barry
    • Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Alan Coleshill
    • Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Howard Garstka
    • Extra
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Gilling
    • Writers
      • John W. Gossage
      • John Gilling
      • Louis Pollock
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      Although the two men stay in their private berth and are oblivious to what is going on as the decoupled passenger car rolls down the side track into Gudavia, multiple exterior shots of the rolling car show different sets of windows either open or closed from shot-to-shot, although there was no one else on the car to open or close the windows.
    • Quotes

      [looking at the castle]

      Mike Wilson: Sinister looking dump isn't it.

    • Alternate versions
      In the 1980s Columbia Pictures replaced their slightly abridged U.S. version with a version restored to its original British length of 79 minutes. It is this version that has been used for pay-tv showings and video release.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Daria: Psycho Therapy (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Traumerei
      (uncredited)

      Music by Robert Schumann

    User reviews25

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    How did they get Paul Douglas into acting in this film?!
    Although he looked like a VERY ordinary man, in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s Paul Douglas was an actor highly in demand--particularly at 20th Century-Fox. He's appeared in lots of big-budget prestige films such as "A Letter to Three Wives", "We're Not Married", "Executive Suite", "The Solid Gold Cadillac" and "Clash By Night". In addition, he was a very frequent guest star on television. In light of this, I have no idea why he would ever agree to star in a silly film like "Gamma People". When I tell you the plot, you'll understand what I mean.

    Two reporters are traveling through Europe by train. One is an American (Douglas) and the other is a Brit (Leslie Phillips). However, in a hard to believe twist, the train car they are on (and no one else) become uncoupled from the train and drifts into a tiny fictional communist country. Once there, they are initially arrested but they soon let them go--for fear of an international incident. And, while they are waiting to get out of this country that seem stuck in the 19th century, the authorities give them the run of the country--but they also are careful NOT to let them learn about the 'Gamma People'. What, exactly, are Gamma People? Well, it seems these evil commies are using gamma rays in order to turn the people into obedient little pawns of the State! In a way, this combines two B-movie genres--sci-fi and Red Scare films. Can Douglas and Phillips learn the truth AND manage to make it out of this dictatorship alive?

    In addition to being an odd plot, this film is odd because of its tone. Often it's played for laughs--yet other times it's deadly serious. This is often a bit jarring and I really think the comedic elements should have been excised--or at least toned down quite a bit. I think the paranoid deadly serious stuff was a lot more entertaining and in keeping with the story idea.

    All in all, this is a film you watch less for the film's quality and more because of its historical value. It certainly is an odd little curio from the 1950s! Not great but enjoyable...if that makes any sense. Plus, I learned an invaluable lesson. If I am ever stuck in a repressive country, I should do what Douglas does--loudly complain and start sluggin' folks!
    helpful•11
    12
    • planktonrules
    • Oct 22, 2011

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1956 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Гамма люди
    • Filming locations
      • Imst, Austria(filming location)
    • Production company
      • Warwick Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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