THE INVISIBLE BOY
US, 1957, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Eyer, Philip Abbott, Harold J. Stone, Diane, Brewster.
Directed by Herman Hoffman.
The Invisible Boy is a short black and white science fiction supporting feature of the mid-'50s. Successful enough in its day, it was aimed at a young audience with its use of Robbie the Robot who starred in The Forbidden Planet. There is technological background for the adult audience. There is no star cast and a little-known director - although M.G.M. production values are strong.
However, the film stands up well in later decades. From being a novelty in the '50s, science fiction gained respectability, especially after 2001: A Space Odyssey and then into the '70s with Star Wars and Close Encounters etc. The film seems quite topical with its computer gone berserk trying to control humankind - anticipating 2001 and such films as Colossus: the Forbin Project and Demon Seed. The film also raises critical questions about machines controlling humankind, questions which were much more popular a quarter of a century later. The film was made at the time the first Sputnik was put into space - and so the film again anticipates the future.
Brief, not aimed at being sophisticated entertainment, the film nevertheless has some insight into issues of the second part of the 20th. century laced with some broad comedy, especially of the 'invisible man' variety. More than a curiosity item.
1. 'Fifties science fiction and its tendency to be B-budget and B-grade? The quality of this film? Production, ideas? Audience aimed at? Children, adults? '50s impact? Now?
2. Small budget, little reputation? Realism of the '50s? Science fiction in the '50s, what if ....
3. The social comment of the film: U.S. involvement in computers, technology, occupation of space? The cold war and the references to the power across the Pole? Technological developments? Reliance on computers - admiration for their ability and speed, underestimation of their cunning and control of their own making with possible control of humankind? The symbolism and realism of the computers controlling mankind? The core computer, the aim for takeover? Human reaction to destroy the computer - with reluctance as humans are mesmerised by the capacities of computers? The film as a critique of technological development ?
4. Black and white photography, production values, special effects? Quality of performances - especially for Tom having to act with the computer and the invisible Tim? The blend of reality and fantasy?
5. The basic situation: the computer, the time for the launching of the rocket, the answers needed, the computer after answers, Russia, sabotage, the launching of the rocket? The computer as enemy and controlling mankind - in comparisons with later more sophisticated versions of this plot?
6. The computer giving answers, impressing the military? The control of Tim and hypnotising him? Gaining control of him? Making Tom the victim? Taking over the General and the other officials? Using Robbie the Robot as its instrument? Its dependence on getting answers from Tom for its future? Its kidnapping Tim, threats? Its being controlled by Robbie after the human-machine showdown?
7. The technology of the 1950s: computers, rockets? The topicality of the film?
8. Tom and the ordinary sequences of family? Meals, his pompous lecture on computers, teaching Tim maths? Parenting and domestic sequences? The reaction to the invisible Timmy - slurping his soup, in the bedroom, the spanking? Tom and his skills with the computer? Taking Tim (against security)? The chess game and his losing? Tom and his suspicions? involving the president? His being helpless at axe to the computer - but ~the computer (like Hal in 2001) trying to mesmerise him to preserve his life? The character of the wife - wife and mother?
9. Tim as an ordinary bog of the time, bored by maths, hypnotised by the computer, winning at chess, fixing Robbie, the special effects with the pencils and cigarettes of the officials in the library, playing with the kite, becoming invisible: the meals, the fight, the spanking? His being kidnapped and used? His escape?
10. The attraction of Robbie the Robot: robots and the future, the vision of the future, Tim fixing him, the tricks, making him invisible, his being used by the computer, the attack on the launching pad, rescuing Tim, rebelling against the computer and destroying him?
11. The sketch of the scientists, Generals, guards? Their being taken over - and the ironic symbolism of machines taking over military men and making their decisions?
12. The wonder and dangers of technology? An enjoyable science fiction feature: modest yet topical?
