The Hellstrom Chronicle (1971)

A scientist explains how the savagery and efficiency of the insect world could result in their taking over the world.

Directors:

Walon Green, Ed Spiegel

Writer:

David Seltzer

Stars:

Lawrence Pressman, Conlan Carter, Ian McShane

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Lawrence Pressman	...	Dr. Hellstrom

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

insect | driver ant | termite mound | locust | termite | 

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Taglines:

Shocking. Beautiful. Brilliant. Sensual. Deadly... and in the end only they will survive.

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 1971 (France)

Also Known As:

A Crônica de Hellstrom

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolper Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was the inspiration for the 1973 novel Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert.

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Quotes

Dr. Hellstrom: We earlier demonstrated that the insect has only a semblance of heart; let it now be known he has no soul. Free from the concept of romance, the act of procreation occurs as simply, naturally and obliviously as eating. Neither does beauty play a part, for the only requisite between consenting adults is that they be of the same species.

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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.

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Connections

Features Them! (1954)

User Reviews

"I have been called everything from a Fanatic to a Lunatic"

In 1971 a film arrived at our campus and our school was privileged to see it. Witness, would be a better word as what we learned was so fantastic. To ignore what was being shown and investigated, would be to doom our existence to the fact, we were warned of the impending doom and did nothing. The star of this film is the incredible and versatile insect as illustrated by a narrator/biologist Dr. Neil Hellstrom (Lawrence Pressman). His research takes the audience around the world in a desperate attempt to awaken our poor understanding of the mightiest creatures on the planet. Despite the fact man has the potential to destroy the world and its populations with his awesome weapons, it is the Insect who will eventually reclaim what's left. The film is informative and insightful as well as incredible with it special cameras going where only the mind can venture. Want to learn who our greatest enemy is? See this film and then guess which species will inherit the Earth. ****