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Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam

  • 19851985
  • PGPG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
621
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (1985)
  • Comedy
  • Sci-Fi
Dr. Otto grows a hand out of the top of his head and tries to destroy the world.Dr. Otto grows a hand out of the top of his head and tries to destroy the world.Dr. Otto grows a hand out of the top of his head and tries to destroy the world.
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
621
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John R. Cherry III
  • Writers
    • Daniel Butler(additional dialogue)
    • John R. Cherry III
    • Steve Leasure(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jim Varney
    • Glenn Petach
    • Myke R. Mueller
Top credits
  • Director
    • John R. Cherry III
  • Writers
    • Daniel Butler(additional dialogue)
    • John R. Cherry III
    • Steve Leasure(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jim Varney
    • Glenn Petach
    • Myke R. Mueller
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Jim Varney, Mac Bennett, Daniel Butler, Bill Byrge, Myke R. Mueller, Glenn Petach, and Jackie Welch in Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (1985)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Varney
    Jim Varney
    • Dr. Ottoas Dr. Otto…
    Glenn Petach
    • Otto's Head Handas Otto's Head Hand
    Myke R. Mueller
    • Lanceas Lance
    Jackie Welch
    Jackie Welch
    • Dorisas Doris
    Daniel Butler
    • Slave Willieas Slave Willie…
    Esther Huston
    • Tinaas Tina
    Tina Goetze
    • Rhonda Sueas Rhonda Sue
    Jennifer Wood
    • Moniqueas Monique
    David Landon
    • Bank Pres. Rutherfordas Bank Pres. Rutherford
    Mac Bennett
    Mac Bennett
    • V.P. #1as V.P. #1
    Winslow Stillman
    • Lance's Dadas Lance's Dad
    Mary Jane Harvill
    • Lance's Momas Lance's Mom
    Irv Kane
    • Herr Vonschnickas Herr Vonschnick
    Leslie Potter
    • Mme. Vonschnickas Mme. Vonschnick
    Bill Middleton
    • Man at Autotelleras Man at Autoteller
    Nancy Alderson
    • Woman at Autotelleras Woman at Autoteller
    Bonnie Keen
    • Checkout Girlas Checkout Girl
    Shauree Crooks
    • Shopperas Shopper
    • Director
      • John R. Cherry III
    • Writers
      • Daniel Butler(additional dialogue)
      • John R. Cherry III
      • Steve Leasure(additional dialogue)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Ernest P. Worrel tries out a strange contraption he bought cheaply called the Changing Coffin. The machine turns him into his opposite - a mad scientist and supervillain bent on world domination called Dr. Otto. He plans to use his Gloom Beam to render all the computers that keep people's financial records and bank accounts useless which would make him the only one with access to all this dough. Bumbling hero Lance Sterling and his cautious sidekick Doris are sent to Dr. Otto's lair to stop him. There, they must face various scary alter egos of Dr. Otto as well as his manservant, Willie the Robot.
    • cult film
    • robot
    • madness
    • madman
    • insanity
    • 87 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is the only film featuring Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) in which he is not the title character.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Otto: [the Riddle] When the money is scrambled to the very last cent,riots and hatred soon will commence.When all the world's commerce will be put in a bind,from the evil that lurks where the sun never shines.It is I,Dr.Otto von Schnick -ick-ick-ick,who has played on you this trick-ick-ick-ick. "But who's Dr.Otto?" you may well ponder,while all your magnetic cash is squandered.It's he who had an eye,and yet couldn't see.It's he who served bouillabaisse,when he was a she.It's he who gambled with brains,and a gun.It's he who had all,and yet had none.And to stop this horrible twisted trick,just exchange the poles of old Saint Nick.And if that doesn't do to save the day,put another quarter in and try another play.

    • Crazy credits
      Any resemblance to anyone living or otherwise is purely coincidental. The events and characters portrayed are purely fictional. Honest.
    • Connections
      Followed by The Ernest Film Festival (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      If I Were A Carpenter
      Written by Tim Hardin

      Published by Faithful Virtue Music ©1967

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    That was odd
    This is officially the first film in the long running Ernest series. It was based on a series of commercials. Ernest himself actually only has two minutes of screen time in the entire movie. He turns into this supervillain named Dr. Otto. At least I think that's him or does he turn into Ernest? He tries to take over the world by destroying the economy.

    A lot of this seems to be filmed in the dark, but it also surprisingly has a lot of color. My favorite part is when there's a newspaper that says "Francs Collapse", only for a guy named Frank to literally collapse. I thought this was a compilation film at first. It kind of was, as we got to see Jim Varney in all these different personas that did seem like separate parts. The film isn't memorable, but is completely harmless. It's the highest rated Ernest movie here, but I'd probably say "Ernest Saves Christmas" is the best, not that any of them are technically good. **1/2
    helpful•1
    1
    • ericstevenson
    • Jul 29, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 19, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dr. Otto
    • Filming locations
      • Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer, Tennessee, USA
    • Production companies
      • Carden & Cherry
      • Studio Productions
      • Sweet Equities
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (1985)
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