The Power *** (1968, George Hamilton, Suzanne Pleshette, Michael Rennie, Earl Holliman, Nehemiah Persoff, Arthur O’Connell, Aldo Ray, Barbara Nichols, Yvonne De Carlo, Richard Carlson, Gary Merrill) – Classic Movie Review 12,005

Suzanne Pleshette (January 31, 1937 – January 19, 2008).

A dastardly superbrain runs amok at a research institute. The powerful 1968 sci-fi thriller film The Power stars George Hamilton and Suzanne Pleshette, along with Michael Rennie and Earl Holliman.

Director Byron Haskin’s powerful 1968 American sci-fi thriller film The Power is based on the 1956 novel by Frank M Robinson, and stars George Hamilton and Suzanne Pleshette, along with Michael Rennie, Earl Holliman, Nehemiah Persoff, Arthur O’Connell, Aldo Ray, Barbara Nichols, Yvonne De Carlo, Richard Carlson, Gary Merrill, and Ken Murray.

A dastardly superbrain runs amok at a research institute, threatening Professor Jim Tanner (George Hamilton), Professor Talbot Scott (Earl Holliman) and other sitting targets. Hamilton has the power of telekinesis, but then so does the evil superbrain who wants to kill him, and he doesn’t know who it is. Suzanne Pleshette plays Tanner’s teammate and romantic interest Margery Lansing and Michael Rennie plays new government liaison Mr Arthur Nordlund.

The hokey horror-sci-fi yarn plot is riddled with holes, but producer George Pal’s film romps home to victory anyway thanks to some interesting ideas, a good cast, several bizarre thrills and Miklos Rozsa’s effective music.

Also in the cast are Miiko Taka, Celia Lovsky, Barbara Nichols, Vaughn Taylor, Laurence Montaigne, Beverly Powers, and Forrest J Ackerman.

John Gay’s screenplay changes the novel’s plot, moves the location to San Marino, California, alters most character names, and drops subplots and characters.

It is Byron Haskin’s final film. He is best known for directing The War of the Worlds (1953), one of several films he made with producer George Pal, including The Naked Jungle (1954) and Conquest of Space (1955). He also made the sci-fi adventure Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964).

The film was shot at Culver City and Santa Monica, starting in April 1967.

Release date: February 21, 1968.

Running time: 108 minutes.

The cast are George Hamilton as Professor Jim Tanner, Suzanne Pleshette as Professor Margery Lansing, Michael Rennie as Arthur Nordlund (alias Adam Hart), Arthur O’Connell as Professor Henry Hallson, Earl Holliman as Professor Talbot Scott, Nehemiah Persoff as Professor Carl Melnicker, Richard Carlson as Professor Norman E. Van Zandt, Gary Merrill as Policeman Mark Corlane, Yvonne De Carlo as Mrs. Sally Hallson, Barbara Nichols as Flora, Aldo Ray as Bruce, Celia Lovsky as Mrs. Hallson, Vaughn Taylor as Mr. Hallson, Ken Murray as Fred Grover, Beverly Powers as Sylvia, Miiko Taka as Mrs. Van Zandt, Lawrence Montaigne as Briggs, Forrest J Ackerman as Hotel Clerk, Timothy Smith as Elevator Man #1, and Paul Lyttle as Elevator Man #2.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,005

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