The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) - OUT OF PRINT

[SquidPuppet]

SPOILERS BELOW!

I watched this yesterday for the first time ever.

OK. What was this about? Was he really an alien, or was it all a metaphor for something else? Was it good, or bad? Was it deep, or just silly? I have a few possible and odd theories.

I would LOVE to hear what others took away from this film.

Please discuss.

[Mr.White]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

SPOILERS BELOW!

I watched this yesterday for the first time ever.

OK. What was this about? Was he really an alien, or was it all a metaphor for something else? Was it good, or bad? Was it deep, or just silly? I have a few possible and odd theories.

I would LOVE to hear what others took away from this film.

Please discuss.

I wanted to get this during Barnes & Noble Criterion sale, I'm a big Bowie fan and have always wanted see this film, I'm waiting for the next Criterion sale. I've heard pretty much good comments on the film, it is now considered a cult classic. I did however did watch Criterion's DVD of "The Last Temptation Of Christ" a couple days ago,Bowie had 5th billing, what's even more funny his portaryal of Pilate was only on screen for a couple of minutes! I would really like Last Temptation on blu, one of Scorses's best(of many!)

[SquidPuppet]

Anyone?

[Chrysagon]

SPOILER
Gosh -- I haven't seen it for years...since it was in the theaters. But by my recall ...I never read any metaphors into it (but then what do I know, while I like poetry, I usually don't understand it). He was an alien stranded on earth and wanted to get home. Our government knew and watched silently but never intended to let him go. I think I know what you mean -- it was sci-fi, but, it lacked the usual special effects -- I'd classify it more as an intellectual sci-fi.

[kpkelley]

My understanding was that he was on a mission to save his planet from drought. He left his family behind and fell into a deep depression when he was prevented from returning to them. He did not rise from that depression until he resolved a way to send them a final message - his song.

[Beta Man]

yes....

My take on it was always in terms of him coming here to save his planet which needed water, and the Gov't didn't discover him until after-the-fact..... They kept him, but more out of curiosity and due to the fact that he was bringing great technological advances to Earth.... They didn't really view him as a threat.

[Mr.White]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

yes....

My take on it was always in terms of him coming here to save his planet which needed water, and the Gov't didn't discover him until after-the-fact..... They kept him, but more out of curiosity and due to the fact that he was bringing great technological advances to Earth.... They didn't really view him as a threat.

Now I've heard there is a remake in the works, oh the horror! I've yet to see the Bowie one.

[pro-bassoonist]

Plenty of the symbolism in the film was inspired by the socio-political conditions in Europe during the Cold War. Later on, the film was viewed as reflecting on much more universal themes. David Bowie's flirtations with the rising neo-Nazi movement in England further distanced the film from the message it was initially meant to deliver.

Pro-B

[Casey]

what's up with the guy who saw him fall to the water in the beginning? he was in the exact spot so he had to have known he was coming.
he reappears later in the film aged (clearly human)

was this 'observer' the alien's contact on earth? is this how bowie gets his passport and all those rings at the beginning?

[deangrazy]

Originally Posted by Mr.White

Now I've heard there is a remake in the works, oh the horror! I've yet to see the Bowie one.

I wonder how the remake would be compared to the original version, I am sure they will try to make it better.

[Zen_Amako]

I thought he was an innocent from another planet who ended up succumbing to human vices (booze, sex, drugs, money) while on Earth. By the end, he had changed so much that there was no going back. That was my impression after watching the film, but I'm sure it can be interpeted several different ways.

[saprano]

Im watching a movie by the same name on TV right now that came out in 1987. is this a different version?

[Squall835]

I bought this during Barnes and Noble's Criterion sale and absolutely hated it. The novel is a really well done piece of Science Fiction that covers numerous themes, from alienation from oneself to government interference in our daily lives, but the film had none of this. My advice would be to read the book, it's a much more rewarding experience.

[Clark Kent]

The movie is quite interesting and Bowie acts decently in it for an early role. I saw some themes of what happens when Europeans have to live in and adapt to decadent America and celebrity-status, paralleling nicely with Bowie's actual life.

[pickfair]

Originally Posted by saprano

Im watching a movie by the same name on TV right now that came out in 1987. is this a different version?

yes, I think that's a made for TV flick. The Criterion David Bowie film came out in 1976

[AKORIS]

I watched this on blu a few months back-- pretty much agree with all the prior comments. He was an alien, his planet was in a severe drought.

It was an extremely depressing and yet fascinating movie to me-- towards the end there is almost a claustrophobic feeling to the viewer as you realize that nothing good is going to come from his visit to Earth. The final scene with him downing another drink is classic cynical fimmaking from the 70's--

[aggienader08]

Has anyone compared this to the new movie "Moon"? I think it's ironic that this movie was David Bowie's break out role, and "Moon" was his sons directorial break out film. The two have a considerable amount of similarities other than that. But I don't want to ruin "Moon" for anybody that hasn't seen it yet.

[Steve46]

I just watched this for the first time in 30 years. It's a mess, but an interesting mess. I didn't know what it was about when I was a kid and I still don't. I haven't read the book.

Spoilers everywhere if you read on...


I think it works as a straightforward sci-fi movie. He seems to be curious about everything at first such as the tent with the smiley face. A reminder of home and/or simply curious about something he has never seen.

He is physically alien as we see later in the film and makes money from a number of inventions that Earth has never seen (just as Bowie made money from a performing style that was original).

He's somewhat telepathic as he can read minds to some extent.

He genuinely seems driven to make enough money to build a ship to return home in.

Then there's all the stuff that could be linked to Bowie's real life at the time. He felt like an alien. One of his personas was Ziggy Stardust. The main characters in the film included a sex addict and a homosexual, and Newton spent a great deal of time thinking about his wife and kids who were out of reach. All could be elements of Bowie's persona.

He drank to help block his telepathic gift in the movie and it refers to his addictions in real life.

I also think it might be a commentary on the human race. We fear what we don't understand. Some worship new things, allowing fortune and fame. Ultimately we want to dissect it and maybe destroy it. The world can be an ugly place and most people can't be trusted completely.

Newton has a British passport as Bowie would have when touring "alien worlds" such as the US.

He accepted Mary Lou because she was originally out to help him and had no hidden motives. If he read her thoughts, he wouldn't find anything ugly. She eventually betrays him and has addictions of her own. Another comment on his life at the time?

He's imprisoned for a while in the film. That could refer to his career. He is betrayed, which could refer to his management at the time.

Or I could just be talking nonsense

[Beta Man]

I like the correlations you've made....... but keep in mind, next time you view it, that the movie was created and directed, and Bowie was simply casted for the role......... The movie wasn't about "David Bowie" so you have to look past the fact that David Bowie is David Bowie........ and view him as "The Man Who Fell To Earth"


EDIT: and if I had to guess..... you're a David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust fan

[Steve46]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I like the correlations you've made....... but keep in mind, next time you view it, that the movie was created and directed, and Bowie was simply casted for the role......... The movie wasn't about "David Bowie" so you have to look past the fact that David Bowie is David Bowie........ and view him as "The Man Who Fell To Earth"


EDIT: and if I had to guess..... you're a David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust fan

I thought that would be the case, but I had to mention what it made me think of

Bowie was the first "proper" musician I ever liked. I'm more into Sonic Youth, the Pixies and other alternative stuff these days, but he did produce some excellent albums that were ahead of their time. I also noticed that a scene from the film was used as the cover for Station to Station.