The Cosmic Man (1959) by #HerbertSGreene
w/#JohnCarradine #BruceBennett #AngelaGreene
An alien with the power of invisibility arrives on Earth to discourage mankind’s misuse of nuclear energy.
“Ghost creature from space!”
“Is it True? Are Creatures from Space watching us NOW?”
#SciFi
#NotQuiteClassicCinema
#FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn
The first thing I noticed about The Cosmic Man (1959) is that it stars John Carradine, who is legendary among genre fans. He has over three hundred and fifty acting credits in film and television, including classics made by the likes of John Ford and Cecil B. DeMille. But in his later years, he appeared in a whole slew of horror, science fiction, and other B-movies. And this is probably what he is most revered for (at least by people like me).
I’ve mentioned John Carradine in this blog before, because he was in a few of the movies I’ve featured, like: Blood of Dracula’s Castle (1969), Blood of Ghastly Horror (1971), Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972), The Astro-Zombies (1968), The Fiend with the Electronic Brain (1967), Psycho a Go Go (1965), Satan’s Cheerleaders (1977), Evils of the Night (1985), The Bees (1978), and more!
Needless to say, his name is seen as a seal of approval by some, and a strong deterrent by others. I guess I lean closer to the seal of approval side of things…
But oddly enough, I don’t think I’ve ever seen The Cosmic Man (1959) before… although it’s possible…
So what is The Cosmic Man about?
Strange UFO sightings have everyone baffled. A giant white sphere is found in the middle of the desert, hovering over the ground. It’s perfectly smooth, with no doors or windows. The experts gather around and try to figure out what it is.
A shadow figure appears. It’s spotted by a few people, but generally it seems to move around without being detected. Is he some sort of alien agent, spying on Earth? He makes changes on some blueprints, which turn out to be a very good thing for the scientists. So, he’s not a saboteur… Who is he?
Sure, but what’s it really about?
The Cosmic Man (1959) becomes a battle of wills between the military and the scientists. The military sees potential to weaponize the technology of the sphere, but the scientists have more noble ideas, like simply learning things. Imagine that!
Of course, there is the inevitable scene in which the military attempts to move or get into the sphere, but nothing is able to affect it in any way.
But who is The Cosmic Man?
Played by the aforementioned legendary actor, John Carradine, The Cosmic Man is a highly intelligent alien being (wearing thick eyeglasses, a fedora and an anorak, which is “a type of coat with a hood, often lined with fur” according to Wikipedia). He has come to Earth to deliver an important message along the lines of:
“Scientists are the hope for the world now that Earthlings are about to begin exploring outer space. But the human race must adopt a new philosophy and learn to live with others who are different than them before they can become successful members of interplanetary society…”
… or something like that.
And that’s it for The Cosmic Man. Once his message is spoken, in a spurt of Seinfeldian showmanship (years before it existed) he announces that he will be on his way in the morning.
So is the movie worth watching?
The Cosmic Man (1959) is an understated example of #NotQuiteClassicCinema It has some intriguing moments, especially in the first half, and it also features some likeable characters – including John Carradine’s. It’s not really a slam bang action movie. There are no monsters, or terrifying scenes. There aren’t really any terrifyingly BAD scenes, either. Although it may have a few moments of inadvertent humour…
If you’re a fan of John Carradine, or movies about aliens coming to Earth to deliver messages/warnings (and there do seem to be a lot of them), you will probably want to check this one out. Just don’t expect the cream of the crop, and you may well enjoy relaxing in front of it on some #FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn.
#FridayNightAtTheHomeDriveIn
The Cosmic Man (1959) by #HerbertSGreene
w/#JohnCarradine #BruceBennett #AngelaGreene
An alien with the power of invisibility arrives on Earth to discourage mankind's misuse of nuclear energy.
“Ghost creature from space!”#SciFi #NotQuiteClassicCinema pic.twitter.com/cnUc4gmzzL— Angus Kohm (@AngusKohm) July 27, 2024
