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The Hellstrom Chronicle

  • 19711971
  • GG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
858
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Hellstrom Chronicle (1971)
  • Documentary
  • Drama
A scientist explains how the savagery and efficiency of the insect world could result in their taking over the world.A scientist explains how the savagery and efficiency of the insect world could result in their taking over the world.A scientist explains how the savagery and efficiency of the insect world could result in their taking over the world.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
858
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Walon Green
    • Ed Spiegel(Hellstrom Sequence)
  • Writer
    • David Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Lawrence Pressman
    • Conlan Carter(uncredited)
    • Ian McShane(archive footage)
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Walon Green
    • Ed Spiegel(Hellstrom Sequence)
  • Writer
    • David Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Lawrence Pressman
    • Conlan Carter(uncredited)
    • Ian McShane(archive footage)
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination total

    Photos

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    Top cast

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    Lawrence Pressman
    Lawrence Pressman
    • Dr. Hellstromas Dr. Hellstrom
    Conlan Carter
    Conlan Carter
    • Farmeras Farmer
    • (uncredited)
    Ian McShane
    Ian McShane
    • Self - Actor in Film Clip from If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgiumas Self - Actor in Film Clip from If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Suzanne Pleshette
    Suzanne Pleshette
    • Self - Actress in Film Clip from If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgiumas Self - Actress in Film Clip from If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Walon Green
      • Ed Spiegel(Hellstrom Sequence)
    • Writer
      • David Seltzer
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This unique and quirky offering combines elements of documentary films and horror movies to illustrate the potential threat posed by the world's insects. With their collective intelligence, high capacity for work and sharp instincts, the film argues, they are waging a struggle against humans for supremacy of our planet. Expert cinematography captures footage of the small creatures, some quite tiny and elusive, interspersed with clips from horror films to achieve dramatic effects. —Jwelch5742
    • insect
    • driver ant
    • termite mound
    • locust
    • termite
    • 13 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Shocking. Beautiful. Brilliant. Sensual. Deadly... and in the end only they will survive.
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was released on a double-bill with the original "Willy Wonka" movie (also a Wolper production) in the summer of 1971.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Hellstrom: Compared with Man, we have to admit that the insect does not display what we can describe as intelligence. But don't feel too proud about that, because where there is no intelligence, there is also no stupidity.

    • Crazy credits
      End Credits: Nils Hellstrom, M.S., Ph.D., is a fictional character who was portrayed by Lawrance Pressman. His statements relating to the impermanence of the human species have been synthesized from contemporary opinions. All statements about the insect world are factual and have been reviewed by Roy Snelling and Charles Hogue, Ph.D., of the Entomology Department, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.
    • Connections
      Features The Naked Jungle (1954)

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Microcosmos for paranoids
    The Hellstrom Chronicle is a documentary about insects wrapped within a fiction. Visually it's incredibly stunning, very similar to Microcosmos in its "how did they get that shot?" camerawork. The film is narrated by a fictional scientist who claims that the final two lifeforms on earth will be man and insect, and when they face off man will lose. This places a very ominous slant on the action, and instead of Microcosmos's wonderment at nature we are treated with Hellstrom's dire dissertation on the various advantages insects have over humans. The voiceovers are hilariously over the top, and the musical accompaniment is splendid in its portent of doom. The movie does tip its hand with an obviously set up hidden camera segment 3/4 of the way through, though the knowledge that Hellstrom is a fiction doesn't diminish the drama. By the end I actually appreciated the kooky construction, which gave the filmmakers a rationalization to deal with some of the harsher aspects of insect life.
    helpful•10
    2
    • zaxxon25
    • Mar 15, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 23, 1971 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Hellstrom-Chronik
    • Filming locations
      • Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
    • Production company
      • Wolper Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross US & Canada
      • $39,767
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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