the colossus of new york by colson whitehead

William convinces Jeremy's brother, Henry, an expert in automation, to assist with the process in secret.īecause of its horrific appearance, the huge colossus (Ed Wolff) they've created is kept in seclusion for nearly a year, secretly continuing Jeremy's work on new food sources. He devises a plan to give Jeremy's mind another chance to benefit humanity by transplanting the brain (which he has revived and kept on life support) into an artificial, robotic body. Jeremy's father, noted brain surgeon William Spensser (Otto Kruger), is distressed that his son's gifts will be denied to mankind. His death occurs on the eve of his winning the 'International Peace Prize', and he leaves behind a wife (Mala Powers) and young son (Charles Herbert).ĭrive-in advertisement from 1958 for The Colossus of New York and co-feature, From the Earth to the Moon. Jeremy Spensser (Ross Martin), the brilliant young son of a New York family of scientists and humanitarians, is killed when hit by a truck as he chases his son's toy airplane. Soon, his son's brain becomes transformed by the experimental procedure, losing key attributes that make him human and define his personality. (Note: Certainly not in Los Angeles, where this film opened on November 19, 1958, as the bottom half of a double bill - top half was From the Earth to the Moon.)įollowing an accident, Jeremy Spensser's brain is transplanted by his scientist father into the huge body of an unattractive, frightening cyborg, to save his brilliant son's mind so that it can continue to serve mankind. Paramount Pictures theatrically released Colossus in June 1958 as a double feature with The Space Children. Fulton handled the special photographic effects, and Wally Westmore handled the makeup. The film's storyline is credited to Willis Goldbeck, while John P.

The screenplay was written by Thelma Schnee, the maiden name of Thelma Moss, who later became a famous parapsychologist. The Colossus of New York is a 1958 science fiction film from Paramount Pictures, produced by William Alland, directed by Eugène Lourié, that stars Ross Martin, Otto Kruger, John Baragrey, Mala Powers, Robert Hutton, and Charles Herbert.

The colossus of new york by colson whitehead