The Colossus of New York

The Colossus of New York is a 1958 science fiction film produced by William Alland and directed by Eugène Lourié. It stars Ross Martin, Otto Kruger, John Baragrey, Mala Powers, and Charles Herbert.^[1]

Following an accident, Jeremy Spensser's brain is transplanted by his scientist father into the huge body of an unattractive, frightening cyborg, this to save his brilliant son's mind so it can continue to serve mankind.

Plot

Jeremy Spensser (Ross Martin), the brilliant young scion of a New York family of scientists and humanitarians, is killed in an automobile accident. His death occurs on the eve of his winning the "International Peace Prize," and he leaves behind a wife (Marla Powers) and young son (Charles Herbert).

Jeremy's father, noted brain surgeon William Spensser (Otto Kruger), is distressed that his son's gifts will be denied to Mankind. He conceives a plan to give Jeremy's excellent mind another chance to benefit humanity by transplanting the brain (which he has revived and kept on life support) into an artificial, robotic body. William convinces Jeremy's brother, Henry, an expert in automation, to assist with the process in secret.

Because of its horrific appearance, the huge colossus (Ed Wolff) they've created is kept in seclusion for nearly a year, secretly continuing Jeremy's work on new food sources. However, deprived of normal human contact and possibly of its "soul," Jeremy's mind begins to lose its humanity. He kills his brother, who has fallen in love with Jeremy's wife, and then speaks to his father of the futility of providing food for "the slum people of the world," when it's "simpler and wiser to get rid of them." As Jeremy's mind loses control over his mechanical body, other unexplained powers suddenly emerge from the strictly mechanical body, including mind control of humans and a death ray emanating from both its eyes.

Finally, Jeremy's out-of-control body goes on a rampage in the United Nations building, killing several people. Only when Jeremy's young son confronts the cyborg is Jeremy able to restore his self-control long enough to tell the boy how to switch off and destroy the body of the "colossus."

Cast

• John Baragrey as Dr. Henry Spensser
• Mala Powers as Anne Spensser
• Otto Kruger as Dr. William Spensser
• Robert Hutton as Dr. John Robert Carrington
• Ross Martin as Dr. Jeremy 'Jerry' Spensser
• Charles Herbert as Billy Spensser
• Ed Wolff as The Colossus

Release

Home media

The DVD was released by Olive Films on June 19, 2012 in the USA.^[2]

Soundtrack

The film is noted for its haunting minimalistic piano score composed by Van Cleave.

See also

• Gigantor (1964)
• Frankenstein, Jr. (1966)

References

External links

• The Colossus of New York at the Internet Movie Database