4D MAN

(vt The Evil Force UK; vt Master of Terror US)

   Film (1959). Fairview/Universal. Coproduced and dir Irwin Shortess Yeaworth Jr, starring Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether, James Congdon. Screenplay Theodore Simonson, Cy Chermak, from an idea by Jack H. Harris. 85 mins.Colour.

   A small, interesting film made by the same producer/director team, Jack H. Harris and Yeaworth, that had already made The BLOB (1958). Lansing plays a scientist who uses his brother's research on the amplification of brainwaves and finds that as a result he can interpenetrate with solid matter - walk through walls, etc. The unfortunate side-effect is that he draws on the lifeforce of others (an idea used again in LIFEFORCE (1985)), which renders them instantly dead of old age. There is a love triangle, and some brooding angst from Lansing, who oscillates between delight in his new power and guilt.

   PN