The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

An alien must pose as a human to save his dying planet, but a woman and greed of other men create complications.

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writers:

Paul Mayersberg (screenplay), Walter Tevis (from the novel by)

Stars:

David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Bowie	...	Thomas Jerome Newton
Rip Torn	...	Nathan Bryce
Candy Clark	...	Mary-Lou
Buck Henry	...	Oliver Farnsworth
Bernie Casey	...	Peters
Jackson D. Kane	...	Professor Canutti
Rick Riccardo	...	Trevor
Tony Mascia	...	Arthur
Linda Hutton	...	Elaine
Hilary Holland	...	Jill
Adrienne Larussa	...	Helen
Lilybelle Crawford	...	Jewelery Store Owner
Richard Breeding	...	Receptionist
Albert Nelson	...	Waiter
Peter Prouse	...	Peters' Associate

Storyline

Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet. He starts a high technology company to get the billions of dollars he needs to build a return spacecraft, and meets Mary-Lou, a girl who falls in love with him. He does not count on the greed and ruthlessness of business here on Earth, however.

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Plot Keywords:

sex scene | female nudity | based on novel | alien | dying planet | 

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Taglines:

Power, space, time and a visitor.

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 1976 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Der Mann, der vom Himmel fiel

Filming Locations:

Willcox Playa, Willcox, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,343, 15 July 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$100,072

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Lion Film Corporation, Cinema 5

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min 119 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of two 1970s movies where David Bowie plays an alien / an extraterrestrial. The other picture was as Ziggy Stardust in the concert film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973).

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Goofs

During the last scene, as Newton talks to Bryce, the crew can be seen reflected in Newton's sunglasses.

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Quotes

Nathan Bryce: Per ardua ad astra... That's Latin.
Thomas Jerome Newton: Latin?
Nathan Bryce: You must know that in England? The Royal Air Force, their motto.
Thomas Jerome Newton: Yes.
Nathan Bryce: Per ardua ad astra. Through difficulties to the stars.

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Connections

Featured in 1,001 Movies You Must See (Before You Die) (2014)

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Soundtracks

Liar, Liar
Written & Performed by John Phillips
Song is used during the swimming pool scene as Peters (Bernie Casey) has an informal meeting with his associates under a cabana.

User Reviews

Moody, Understated, Strange

Of all the movies I saw as a teenager (I am now middle aged) this is the one that has remained with me the most, more so even than the highly acclaimed "Deerhunter," which came out 2 years later in 1978. I have not seen it since 1980, so if my memory fails me, please excuse. This eerie, moody movie encapsulated for me -- an alienated kid, I'll grant you -- the perils of living in, and partaking of, the modern world. An alien falls to earth in search of water for his planet, and somehow loses his way, corrupted by materialism, sex, alcohol, the physical world.

I recall Candy Clark's cool, almost southern voice (just saw her in a cameo performance tonight, playing Christopher Walken's girlfriend in the 1986 "At Close Range, another great) purring at Bowie after he has built a little house for her at the end of a dock, "You're such a nice man," and there is something so unsettled about the cinematography -- cloudy and dark and too still -- in the scene that you know he is definitely NOT a nice man, but deeply troubled and unable to respond to human emotions. The other reviewers noted the somewhat disturbing sex scene towards the end of the movie, but for me, at least, that was not needed. I didn't need slime or removed eyeballs (although that is a great scene) to tell me the man is a freak who is human enough to lament his own inability to connect with these creatures from Earth. For the most part the movie was understated, unfolding in its own, detached time.