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X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes

X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes

MGM/UA (1963)
AVI OR DVD
Science Fiction | Thriller
USA | English | Color | 01:19

Dr. Xavier develops eyedrops intended to increase the range of human vision, allowing one to see beyond the "visible" spectrum into the ultraviolet and x-ray wavelengths and beyond. Believing that testing on animals and volunteers will produce uselessly subjective observations, he begins testing the drops on himself.

Initially, Xavier discovers that he can see though people's clothing, and he uses his vision to save a young girl whose medical problem was misdiagnosed. Over time and with continued use of the drops, Xavier's visual capacity increases and his ability to control it decreases. Eventually he can no longer see the world in human terms, but only in forms of lights and textures that his brain is unable to fully comprehend. His behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and Xavier's associates assume that he is going insane.

After accidentally killing a friend, Xavier goes on the run, using his x-ray vision first to work in a carnival, and then to win at gambling in a casino. Xavier's eyes are altered along with his vision: first they become black and silver, and then entirely black. To hide his startling appearance, he wears dark wrap-around sunglasses at all times.

At the end of the movie, Xavier drives out to a desert and wanders into a religious tent revival. He tells the pastor that he is beginning to see things at the edges of the universe, including an "eye that sees us all" in the center of the universe. The pastor replies that what he sees is "sin and the devil," and declares the biblical quote of "If thine eye offends thee... pluck it out!" [1], and Xavier chooses to blind himself rather than see anything more.


Cast View all

Ray Milland Dr. James Xavier
Diana Van Der Vlis Dr. Diane Fairfax
Harold J. Stone Dr. Sam Brant
John Hoyt Dr. Willard Benson
Don Rickles Crane
Budd Albright Dance sequence
Leon Alton Casino Patron
Morris Ankrum Mr. Bowhead
Benjie Bancroft Dealer
George DeNormand Medical Board Member
John Dierkes Preacher
Bobby Gilbert Man Outside Office
Stuart Hall Casino Patron
Kathryn Hart Mrs. Mart
Ed Haskett Casino Patron
Jonathan Haze Heckler
Harvey Jacobson Casino Boss
Vicki Lee Young Girl Patient
Mathew McCue Patient
Cathie Merchant Carnival Dancer
Dick Miller Heckler
Hans Moebus Casino Patron
Barboura Morris Nurse with Young Patient
Cosmo Sardo Medical Board Member
Jeffrey Sayre Assistant Croupier

Trailer

Edition details

Nr Discs 1
Regions Region 1

Personal

Owner MLZ MEMBERS
Location MLZ ARCHIVES
Watched
Condition Excellent
Index 4265
Added Date Oct 06, 2014 12:42:07
Modified Date Aug 22, 2022 20:17:23

Notes

Alternate Ending:

There have long been rumors about an alternate ending for the movie, in which Dr. Xavier removes his eyes, and afterwards screams "I can still see!"

Writer and horror film buff Stephen King related these rumors in his book Danse Macabre. This footage has never turned up, but in the DVD audio commentary for X in the 2001 "Midnite Movies" series from MGM, Corman claimed shooting the scene on a whim (the "I can still see!" line was not in the script), but -- being dissatisfied with the results -- he retained the original script's ending.

Awards, Analysis and Adaptations:

The film won the 1963 Best Film Award, The Silver Spaceship, at the First International Festival of Science Fiction Films.

In his book Danse Macabre, Stephen King notes a strong H. P. Lovecraftian quality to X, based on Xavier's near-insanity when he cannot comprehend the god-like being he sees at the center of the universe.

Rock band Pere Ubu composed an original underscore for the film in 2004, which they have performed live at various concerts and film festivals. Bauhaus (band) used the film as inspiration for the song "The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" on their second album Mask.