The Power

Director: Byron Haskin

Overview

The subjects of space-program experiments in human endurance begin to die in increasingly improbable ways in this sci-fi thriller. A sharp detective soon realizes the culprit is a telekinetic, and must be one of the scientists on the research team -- only problem is, he doesn't know which one.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/14/2010
UPC:	0883316280522
Original Release:	1968
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:49:00
Sales rank:	53,535

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

George Hamilton	Jim Tanner
Suzanne Pleshette	Margery Lansing
Michael Rennie	Arthur Nordlund
Yvonne DeCarlo	Sally Hallson
Richard Carlson	N.E. Van Zandt
Earl Holliman	Talbot Scott
Gary Merrill	Inspector Mark Corlane
Ken Murray	Grover
Barbara Nichols	Flora
Arthur O'Connell	Henry Hallson
Nehemiah Persoff	Carl Melniker
Aldo Ray	Bruce
Miiko Taka	Mrs. Van Zandt
Celia Lovsky	Mrs. Hallson
Vaughn Taylor	Mr. Hallson
Lawrence Montaigne	Briggs
Beverly Hills	Sylvia

Technical Credits

Wah Chang	Special Effects
J. McMillan Johnson	Special Effects
Lowell Norman	Special Effects
George Pal	Producer
Gene Warren	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

At times, The Power seems like a science fiction film created by a huge fan of Alfred Hitchcock movies. Indeed, the main body of the film is about an innocent man escaping pursuers while trying to sort out who the real enemy is, a situation frequently exploited by Hitchcock. Along the way there are several other plot points that echo the master (a carousel sequence that recalls Strangers on a Train, the "hide in plain sight" ploy, etc.) Unfortunately, these sequences don't have the impact that they want to; they form the main body of the film rather than being important components in a larger scheme. Still, Power is reasonably entertaining, and it features some genuine chills and enough plot twists to keep viewers interested. Director Byron Haskin keeps things moving, and there is an occasional small visual flourish. George Hamilton is adequate in the lead role, although he is not totally believable as a brilliant scientist (nor, for that matter, is most of the cast). Suzanne Phleshette brings some life and character to her underwritten role and Michael Rennie is good in a small part. Very much a product of the 1960s, Power is okay but nothing more.