THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES (1963)
Label: Second Sight Films
Rating: PG
Duration: 79 Minutes
Region: B
Audio: English DTS-HD MA Mono 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)
Director: Roger Corman
Cast: Ray Milland, Harold J. Stone, Diana Van Der Vlis
In Roger Corman's sci-fi gem The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (a.k.a. X, a.k.a. X - The Man with the X-Ray Eyes) we have Dr. James Xavier (Ray Milland, Dial M for Murder) a former surgeon and current optical research scientist experimenting with a serum administered through eye-drops that could potentially allow humans to see beyond the visible spectrum and into the realm of ultraviolet and into the unknown. His experimentation in the lab on primates has only gotten him so far, and with human trials to far out for his satisfaction, he ill-advisedly chooses to experiment on himself. Dripping the experimental yellow droplets into his own eyes he immediately begins experiencing the effects, able to see through things, and later glimpsing beneath party goers clothing at a swinging get-together, and then saving a young woman's life by seeing into her organs to diagnose a illness.
Despite this initial success his colleagues advising him to discontinue experimenting on himself, and defund his research, but fueled by his own hubris and his quest for knowledge, he keeps at it secretly. Not long after a mishap at the lab ends with the death of his colleague Dr. Sam Brant (Harold J. Stone, The Invisible Boy), and correctly fearing that he will be blamed for the accidental death he flees the scene.
Now being hunted by the authorities he goes off the grid, using his enhanced vision to get a job as a mentalist at a carnival, working with a sketchy barker named Crane, played by legendary insult comic Don Rickles (Innocent Blood), who plays it surprisingly straight. As Xavier's eyes continue to evolve he has to continuously wear a pair of dark, lead-lined sunglasses to not only conceal the bizarre color-changes happening to his eyes, but to not be overwhelmed by his new vision. Eventually Crane gets wise to Xavier's extra-sensory gifts, convincing him that they should go into business together, abandoning the carnival gig and setting up shop as a healer of sorts, using his extrasensory sight to scan their organs for illness, before eventually abandoning that and making his way to Las Vegas. In Vegas he uses his x-ray vision takes wing big at the black jack table, before it all comes crashing down around him.
Eventually all the eye-dosing gets out of control, Xavier's quest to see beyond what man should see drives him mad, and he ends up wandering the desert after a car chase, eventually he winds up at a church revival tent where he confesses to the preacher that with is eyes he is now seeing the all-knowing eyes of the cosmos, not sure of it's good or evil, to which the man of God offers some sage biblical advice, leading to an open-ended finale that worked for me. Despite the exploitative titling this Roger Corman directed slice of sci-fi, which also dips it's toes into the realm of body-horror, is surprisingly thoughtful in it's examination of how science sometimes extends beyond where it was meant to stray. This is all anchored by Ray Milland's strong performance as the knowledge-addicted scientist driven mad by his quest for knowledge, sort of being both the protaganist and his own antagonist, not a bad guy, just a man driven mad in the pursuit of science.
Audio/Video: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (1963) arrives on region-B locked Blu-ray from UK distributor Second Sight Films framed in 1.85:1 widescreen and presented in 1080p HD. This is not advertised as a new scan so I will assume this is the same HD scan as used by Kino Lorber for their U.S. release. Whatever the source it's solid, being mostly clean and free of blemishes with only a few minor dings along the way. Colors are warm and vibrant, back levels are pleasing, and there's some good depth and clarity tot he image, the amount of fine detail was a bit surprising. A few of the FX shots are a bit grainy but it's nothing that's ruinous to the experience, this is a very pleasing HD presentation.
Audio on the disc comes by way of an English DTS-HD MA Mono 2.0 presentation, it's clean and crisp, if sounding a bit dated, but it sounds authentic for the vintage, and the score from exotica-lounge pioneer Les Baxter (House of Usher) sounds quite nice, optional English subtitles are provided.
Second Sight do it up right by licensing all the previously existing extras that appeared on the Kino Lorber release in the U.S. and sweetening the deal by commissioning a few new ones to make this the most comprehensive release of the film on disc to date. We start off with a pair of audio commentaries, the first is an archival track with director Roger Corman that first appeared on MGM's Midnite Movies DVD version, the legendary director/producer is always a pleasant listen, it holds up. We also get a new commentary with author Tim Lucas (Video Watchdog) who gives an exhaustive accounting of the film, full of facts about the cast and crew, making-of anecdotes, and script-to-screen comparisons. Honestly, whenever I see Tim Lucas listed as an extras contributor on a genre film I am inclined to say it's an easy upgrade. We also get the original 5-min prologue with a cool melting paint title sequence that brought to mind one of Corman's Poe adaptations, though which one eludes me at this moment. We also get a new 14-min interview with Roger Corman, a brand new 23-min appreciation by journalist Kat Ellinger, a 6-min appreciation by director Joe Dante (Piranha), who himself comes from the Roger Corman school of making movies. The disc is nicely buttoned-up with a 2-min Trailers from Hell commentary with director Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers), and the original 2-min theatrical trailer.
The single disc release arrives in a cool looking black keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork featuring a new Graham Humphreys illustration, I love it, though I do wish it had a reversible art option with the original theatrical illustrated artwork, if only because it's one of my favorite movie posters ever. The same artwork is also featured on the disc itself, this coming housed within a sturdy slipbox with the same artwork, and it looks great sitting on the shelf. Inside there's a 20"x16" fold-out poster with both the new and original artwork, plus a 36-page softcover book with cast and crew information, lots of stills, posters and lobby cards, plus brand new appreciations from authors Jon Towlson and Allan Bryce.
Special Features:
- New interview with Director Roger Corman (14 min)
- Interview with Author and Diabolique Editor Kat Ellinger (23 min) HD
- Audio Commentary by Roger Corman
- Audio Commentary by Tim Lucas
- Original Prologue (5 min) HD
- Joe Dante on The Man With X-Ray Eyes (6 min) HD
- ‘Trailers from Hell’ Commentary with Mick Garris (3 min) HD
- Theatrical Trailer (2 min) HD
Limited Edition Contents:
- Rigid slipcase featuring new artwork by Graham Humphreys
- Reversible poster with new and original artwork
- Soft cover book with new writing by Jon Towlson and Allan Bryce
The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (1963) is a bit of a hidden gem in the catalog of Roger Corman I think, it's not as well regarded as it should be, maybe because it's not the slice of exploitation that the title implies, and it's not part of the Poe cycle, but it's a cool sci-fi film with big ideas, anchored by a fantastic performance by Ray Milland. It's also got some vintage, trippy special effects that pre-date the psychedelic film cycle that arrived just a few years later, they are endearingly retro and cheap-looking. Second Sight's limited edition Blu-ray is a thing of beauty, it's got premium packaging, and artwork, loads of extras, and a solid HD presentation, this comes highly recommended.
More screenshots from the Blu-ray:
