EMBRYO

US, 1976, 104 minutes, Colour.
Rock Hudson, Barbara Carrera, Diane Ladd, Roddy Mc Dowell.
Directed by Ralph Nelson.

Embryo is a 1970s version of the Frankenstein story. A scientist does experiments on a human foetus, finding a method to accelerate the foetus and its growth into a mature adult in only four days. However, as might be expected, the adult foetus turns into a psychotic murderer. The scientist has to look for a formula to prevent the killer from growing. This Frankenstein theme has always been a cautionary focus of films about science – with scientists trying to create life and “play God”.

Rock Hudson is the scientist – thirty years after he began his career at Universal Studios moving in the 1950s into being a significant leading man, Magnificent Obsession, Written On The Wind, Giant. In the 1970s he starred in Mc Millan and Wife and before his death in the mid-80s he made a number of films but appeared in Dynasty. The film is an early star role for Diane Ladd. The film was directed by Ralph Nelson who also began in television – but from 1962 with Requiem for a Heavyweight, followed by such films as Lilies of the Field, Soldier in the Rain, Once a Thief and, especially, Soldier Blue, he had a career in films until the late 70s.

1. The purpose of the film? Entertainment. message? Successful?

2. The appeal of science fiction, interest in medical science fiction? The style of science fiction, laboratories etc.? The horror overtones with the dog, the mutation?

3. The significance of the prologue and the emphasis on the possibilities of science technology? The warning? The indication of man playing God without warrant and the glimpse of Michelangelo’s 'Creation' painting? The ending?

4. How plausible was the plot? The Doctor, the experimentation, the drugs? The growth of the embryo? Learning, psychological difficulties, drug addiction and aging?

5. Audience interest in the plot with the episode of the dog, the crash, the operation, the saying of the pups? The deception about Number One as the young dog? The atmosphere of Paul, his operating, success? The
irony of the results in the dog's training and Paul not seeing the danger for example the killing of the small dog? Preparation for things going wrong with the human experiment?

6. Rock Hudson's style as Paul? The memory of his wife and her miscarriages? Bonds with his son and daughter-in-law and expecting the child? Martha and the rivalry? Her wanting to help? His motives for
The experimentation. ringing his son in the night etc.?

7. His response to the success with the dog, his decision as regards human experimentation? The motives. moral stances, the law? Persuading his friend for aid? The embryo that he took? The visual focus on
embryo from the credit sequence through these experiments to the end?

8. The impact of the sequences of the work, the tapes, the Expression of fears, the scientific dating? Fears, optimism? The continued growth of the dog?

9. The amazement at the growth of Victoria, the learning skills? Her appearance as a human being? The importance of having bypassed growth and childhood? Her skills and knowledge from books? The importance
of learning at home, her shrewdness in avoiding detection by Martha, protection by the dog? The holiday, the party and her referring to quotations. the chess game? People accepting her, suspicious?

10. Her personality and relating with people? Relating with Paul? The importance of sexuality for her own development and the repercussions at the end?

11. The sensuous scene after the love-making suddenly turning to pain, fear, drugs, deception of Paul? The questioning of the computer and the urge to kill?

12. The build-up to the melodramatic climax ? death of Martha, the encounter with Helen and the decision about her child? The laboratory sequences, the arrival of the police? Paul, arriving by plane? The car chase and the accident?

13. The irony of Paul wanting to kill Victoria? The police holding him back? The irony of the child being his and his prolonging his experiment? The final cry and the fears for the future?

14. How imaginative the plot? How valid the warnings? Fears of human experimentation and while there might be optimism, ultimate destruction? The influence of this kind of film on public opinion?