The Invisible Boy (1957)

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

Director:

Herman Hoffman

Writers:

Cyril Hume (screenplay), Edmund Cooper (story)

Stars:

Richard Eyer, Philip Abbott, Diane Brewster

Cast

Complete credited 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
Gage Clarke	...	Dr. Bannerman
Than Wyenn	...	Prof. Zeller
Jefferson Searles	...	Prof. Foster (as Jefferson Dudley Searles)
Alfred Linder	...	Martin / Computer
Ralph Votrian	...	1st Gate Sergeant
Michael Miller	...	2nd Gate Sergeant

Storyline

Timmie is a typical ten-year-old boy: he loves fun and mischief and hates to study. When his scientist father, in an attempt to improve Timmie's mind, plops him in front of the Super Computer, the boy learns more than how to beat his dad at chess. With designs on world domination, the computer has Timmie reactivate Robbie the Robot and directs the metal hulk to do his bidding. But while Robbie is an efficient minion, can he be made to harm the boy who gave him life?

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Plot Keywords:

computer | robot | satellite | chess | world domination | 

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Taglines:

See Timmie and his friend Robby the Robot combat the Super Computer

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

S.O.S. Spaceship

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although shot in academy 1.37:1 aspect ratio (for later television airing) the theatrical--or *intended* (by the studio, producer, director and/or cinematographer)--aspect ratio of this film is 1.85:1 widescreen. Most modern 16x9 (1.78:1) televisions have a "zoom to width" picture option, essentially allowing the viewer to see the film as the director and cinematographer originally planned. It is easy to spot films shot this way, since all the titles and credits will still fit when properly cropped (they stay in the "middle" of the frame), and there is an unusual amount of "headroom" above the actors in medium and close-up shots when viewed uncropped. Quite often "mistakes"--like seeing equipment in the top or bottom of the uncropped frame--would never have been seen by a theater audience.

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Goofs

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.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown over an entry gate to someone's lovely, expensive home, and towards the end of it, we hear and see a motorcade enter the property.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Horror: Phantoms (1996)

User Reviews

Robot-aficionados will love the hardware...but the script is a loss

Human players take a rightful backseat to incredible Robby the Robot, first introduced in 1956's "Forbidden Planet". Scene-stealing Robby is cast as a mechanical playmate to Richard Eyer's young Timmie, but soon begins receiving diabolical orders from a power-crazed computer. Long outdated science-fiction nonsense will astound contemporary viewers with its naiveté. Some see it as camp, some give it cult value. Production values just OK, dialogue and scenario wooden. If it weren't for Robby (and the film's dynamic advertising campaign--which matches nothing in the finished product), the film would not be remembered fondly today--if at all. *1/2 from ****