Peter Damon Movies
- 1969
This is not the same film as the gosh-awful 1970 Al Adamson epic with J.Carroll Naish and Lon Chaney Jr. Originally titled Assignment Terror, this German/Spanish/Italian production stars Michael Rennie as an extraterrestrial invader. Unlike the pacifistic Klaatu, his character in The Day the Earth Stood Still, Rennie is a warmonger this time out, hoping to destroy the earth. To that end, he harnesses the awesome powers of Dracula, Frankenstein's monster et. al. Rennie is foiled (curses!) by a conscience-stricken werewolf. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A scientist trying to better mankind nearly destroys the world as we know it in this sci-fi thriller. Dr. Stephen Sorensen (Dana Andrews) is doing research in geo-thermal energy; he's convinced that if men can find a way to drill through the earth's outer crust into the molten magma near the center, the heat can be harnessed and used to warm dwellings around the world. His assistant, Ted Rampion (Kieron Moore), is skeptical about this idea and believes that there could be dire consequences, but Sorensen boldly moves ahead with his plan, prodded by his secret knowledge that he suffers from a terminal illness and might not live long enough to undergo a longer testing period. However, Rampion's fears soon prove well founded when Sorensen's drilling causes a large crack in the earth which begins to rapidly expand, threatening to split the world in two with disastrous consequences. Crack in the World was praised on initial release for its intelligent approach and solid special effects work. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Janette Scott, (more)
Though Fall of the Roman Empire is now infamous as the epic which destroyed the cinematic "empire" of producer Samuel Bronston, the film is actually an above-average historical drama, attempting to make sense of the political intrigues which resulted in the dissolution of the Glory That Was Rome. The film begins with wise, diplomatic emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) calling together the various representatives of the many nations within the Empire as a means of securing peace and prosperity for all involved. When Marcus intimates that he intends to turn over his crown to adopted son Livius (Stephen Boyd) rather than the logical successor Commodus (Christopher Plummer), he is poisoned by one of Commodus' cronies. Marcus' daughter Lucilla (Sophia Loren) tries to get Livius to claim the throne, but he wants no part of it; thus, the fate of the empire is in the incompetent hands of the preening Commodus. Despite efforts by cooler heads to save Rome from ruin, Commodus vainly declares himself a god and kills anyone who poses a threat to him. When he learns that Lucilla actually has a stronger claim to the throne than he does, Commodus condemns her to be burned at the stake. Only then does Livius intervene, slaying Commodus and promising to try to pick up the pieces of the disintegrating empire. Attempting to find a common ground between history buffs and action fans, Fall of the Roman Empire has come to be regarded as a classic. Alas, audiences in 1964 had grown weary of epics (especially after the highly touted but disappointing Cleopatra), and failed to turn out in sufficient enough numbers to justify Fall's exorbitant cost. Virtually wiped out, Samuel Bronston would not be able to return to filmmaking until 1971, and then only on a much smaller and more pinchpenny scale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alec Guinness, Sophia Loren, (more)
- 1951
In this wartime espionage comedy, a mentally-ill soldier looks exactly like the notorious enemy spy who has been trying to steal the plans for a highly classified new plane. Mayhem ensues when the bungling GI is assigned to capture this spy. Somehow he manages to succeed. The film is also titled Blown Skyhigh. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sid Melton, Mara Lynn, (more)
