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:

You have to believe it to see it

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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

Candy Clark also played the wife on the other planet.

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Goofs

When the professor played by Rip Torn is in bed with young co-ed, the bra comes off then reappears and then goes through a series of out of sequence appearance.

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Quotes

Thomas Jerome Newton: We'd have probably done the same to you, if you'd come 'round our place.

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Connections

Referenced in The Social Network (2010)

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Soundtracks

Memory Of Hiroshima
Written & Performed by Stomu Yamashta

User Reviews

Don't bother seeing this film unless it is the director's cut

I first saw "The Man Who Fell to Earth" when it was first released, and found it to be a jumbled mess. There were plot holes galore, and scenes that went nowhere or had no connection to anything.

A few years back, I saw the director's cut, and it was an entirely different film. The plot holes were filled and all the scenes fit together perfectly. As bad as the original release version was, the director's cut is great and worth seeing.