The satan bug is a firstperson narrative thriller novel written by scottish author alistair maclean. Its a typically solid sturges production with prime work from cinematographer robert surtees and composer jerry goldsmith. The satan bug, screenplay by james clavell and edward anhalt, based on the novel by ian stuart. The satan bug 1965 viruses of mass destruction feb 21, 2018 feb 24, 2018 wolfmans cult film club 16 comments head of security agent reagan john anderson knows something aint just right, he can feel it in his bones. With george maharis, richard basehart, anne francis, dana andrews. The big fear is that a more virulent strain, named the satan bug because all life can be killed off by it should it escape, may have been stolen. The satan bug 1965 is one of the first science fiction scores in jerry goldsmiths career, the predecessor of such landmarks as planet of the apes, the illustrated man, the mephisto waltz, capricorn one and alien it is also a recording long thought to be lost, and that is in some ways still. There is no talent in the satan bug and there is a place for a clear mediocrity that tarnishes the entire film. A germ that could destroy life on earth is stolen from a biological warfare lab and the thief threatens to release it into the open, prompting a security officer to act. Notes about the satan bug, 1965, directed by john sturges, with george maharis, richard basehart, anne francis, available from turner classic movies. The satan bug concerns the theft of a synthetic plague codenamed the satan bug from the mordon microbiological research establishment, a. The satan bug 1965 is a science fiction film in which a us government germ warfare lab has had an accident. The satan bug 1965 special agent lee barrett george maharis joins forces with ann williams anne francis, a generals daughter, to recover a biological weapon stolen from a secret government lab.
Alarms start flashing all the way from california to washington when station 3, a topsecret, ultrahighsecurity research facility, is broken into and a group of flasks containing two deadly viruses, one of them nicknamed the satan bug possibly unstoppable, are stolen. Not one of director sturges better efforts, this science fiction thriller has maharis as a former government agent called in to investigate the mysterious murder of a scientist as. The satan bug is an intriguing mixture of random plot alterations and welltuned reproductions of scenes from the book. The original trailer in high definition of the satan bug directed by john sturges and starring george maharis, richard basehart, anne francis. Five strands of highvoltage wire, 200 yards of bare ground and double barbed wire fences patrolled by armed. Before kino lorbers new highdef bluray, home video audiences were stuck with mgms poor manufacturedupondemand dvd, enhanced for. Released 1965, the satan bug stars georgemaharis, richardbasehart, annefrancis, danaandrews the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 54 min, and received a. The satan bug is een amerikaanse thriller uit 1965 onder regie van john sturges. The satan bug is a superior suspense melodrama and should keep audiences on the edge of their seats despite certain unexplained, confusing elements which tend.
John sturges 1965 film flaunts cold war thrills and strangelovian plot turns worthy of an alistair maclean novel which is just where the story came from. Special government investigator lee barrett is sent to station three, a topsecret biological research installation in the desert, to investigate the disappearance of a flask which contains a newlydiscovered virus known as the satan bug and of several flasks of botulinus organism. To recover the satan bug before it can be used, the military calls on cavell, a private detective in london with a shabby little office and a big attitude. The satan bug 1965 original trailer hd 1080p youtube. Gripping and tense story of secret agents, even more secret government facilities, and a deadly virus, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense. Critics said that the satan bug was poorly paced and too talky, slams that would have been meaningless to us. The satan bug does indeed appear to lift the basic premise and more from the littleseen germ warfare thriller counterblast, a british film from 1948.
George maharis and anne francis search for the satan bug. The satan bug was a soft performer and has largely been forgotten over time, but its a natural watch for audiences in the mood for intelligent fare. Usn nuclear sub uss tigerfish must rush to the north pole to rescue the staff of drift ice station zebra weather station. At long last the satan bug 1965, director john sturgess film of ian stuarts a pseudonym used twice by alistair maclean 1962 novel, adapted by james clavell, can at last be appreciated as the aboveaverage science fiction thriller it is. The satan bug manufactured on demand, mono sound on tcm. The satan bug brings a talented cast the new york times. The satan bug is a 1965 american science fiction suspense film from united artists, produced and directed by john sturges, that stars george maharis, richard. The satan bug 1965 directed by john sturges genres action, science fiction subgenres action thriller, chase movie, scifi action release date apr 14, 1965 usa unknown run time 115 min. The satan bug is set set in the middle of the last century, so you have to come in to the read with that in mind. The satan bug 1965 stream and watch online moviefone. He learns from the general in charge of the investigation and from dr. Palm springs, joshua tree, yucca valley, desert hot.
It was originally published in 1962 under the pseudonym ian stuart, and later republished under macleans own name. The nature of the threat involved and the way media and communications work feels almost alien in this modern age of 24hour news channels and social networks. That is the situation in the satan bug, a 1962 thriller by alistair maclean, who wrote it under the pseudonym ian stuart. The satan bug 60s prime movie to watch bob shaw 20110703 this movie is great to watch, for the following reasons1. My favorite desert locations from john sturges mystery government thriller. That change is easy to digest, as the germwarfare research center at the center of this tale is believably depicted. But director john sturges works wonders with an implausible plot about a madman who steals a deadly virus from a chemical warfare research facility. With rock hudson, ernest borgnine, patrick mcgoohan, jim brown. The satan bug by alistair maclean is an old fashioned spy romp, with an agent sent, somewhat circuitously, to investigate and recover a deadly virus from a top secret chemical research establishment. I give the satan bug a respectable 3 stars the story. Its an easy read although theres a few too many characters and roles to remember, especially at the start of the book and the pace never lets. John sturgess science fiction suspense thriller the satan bug, previously available on home video in laserdisc, vhs, and mediocrequality mod dvd editions, finally makes its welcome debut on the bluray format in a beautiful, newly remastered transfer from kino lorber as part of their studio.
Dvd releases since then look like a conversion of that analogue master. Hell is about to be unleashed five strands of highvoltage wire, 200 yards of bare ground and double barbed. The similarities may be coincidental, but even ian fleming graded such things in steps. One such killer bacteria, dubbed the satan bug by its creators, is so deadly that just a few drops in our atmosphere would wipe out all life on earth within. The satan bug is a 1965 american science fiction suspense film from united artists, produced and directed by john sturges, that. Maclean wrote it under the pseudonym ian stuart, but subsequent publications give his real name. European dvd releases, and the recent warner archive release, look as if theyve converted the 2. Sciencefiction thriller film geregisseerd door john sturges. The satan bug soundtrack from 2007, composed by jerry goldsmith. Met george maharis, richard basehart en dana andrews. The satan bug by alistair maclean the satan bug by alistair maclean gripping and tense story of secret agents, even more secret government facilities, and a deadly virus, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense. Staring george maharis, richard basehart, dana andrews and anne francis. Dana andrews in the satan bug 1965 george maharis in the satan bug 1965 dana.
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