ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

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Mari Blanchard ("Abbott and Costello go to Mars") is given a serum to cure her of TB, but it also turns her into an chameleon-like killer. She can change her appearance, at will in subtle ways. Jack Kelly ("Forbidden Planet") and Albert Dekker ("Dr. Cyclops") are the scientists who concoct the serum based on an extract from fruit flies, an insect which supposedly has amazing adaptive and recuperative powers.

The film contains only two special effects scenes -- very suitable effects that use the same technique employed in films like "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" to cause colors painted on the actor's face to slowly appear when special lighting is raised gradually in brightness.

The chameleon-woman stands in front of a mirror and consciously "wills" her hair to change from blond to black. The effect does not not appear to be a simple "dissolve" from one shot to another (the way the Wolf Man's face was done), because Ms. Blanchard moves around while it occurs. Her hair just slowly. . . changes. Amazing.

The plot was based on an episode of "Science Fiction Theatre" called "Beyond Return", which in turn was based on a short story called "The Adaptive Ultimate" by Stanley Weinbaum (under the pen name of John Jessel). The movie version was co-written by Carroll Young and director Kurt Neumann.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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The DVD I have contains the movie itself, the Science Fiction Theater version, and the radio adaption. What a deal, eh?
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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Here's the full movie, but the print is not in good shape and the image is poor.

I like the sexy title theme that sets us up for the slinky Miss Blanchard's smoldering on-screen presence.

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________________________She Devil (1957)


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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Here's the Science Fiction Theatre espisode called Beyond Return, which was based on the short story called The Adaptive Ultimate by Stanley G. Weinbaum.

It's episode 32 from season 1, which were all filmed in color. Season 2 was filmed in b&w.

___ Science Fiction Theatre Ep 32 - Beyond Return


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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)