|
Director Byron Haskin's 100 DAYS OF THE DRAGON
is a fascinating, gripping political thriller/Sci-Fi yarn.
The episode's central Sci-Fi gimmick is a drug, (supposedly developed
by the Russians), which, when injected, makes the human face capable
of being altered. This is done via silver masks, with handles, which
are held against the face, giving you a new identity.
Sidney Blackmer ("Rosemary's Baby") is superb as the altered
double. Under Haskin's astute direction, Blackmer suggests the Asian
fake he really is, through a fairly subtle use of squinting and lip
pursing.
Philip Pine is solid as the vice-president, who begins to have doubts
about the true nature of the president. The fact that Pine bears a striking
resemblance to Richard Nixon is a viewing plus.
The screenplay, by Allan Balter and Robert Mintz, is as much a political
thriller as it is a Sci-Fi tale. The story combines elements of the
films, "Seven Days in May" and "The Manchurian Candidate,"
to good effect. To their credit, they make the political intrigue as
interesting as the Sci-Fi stuff.
My favorite scene takes place at the end. After unmasking the president
as a fraud, the vice-president injects the imposter with the tissue
altering drug, then twists the man's face into disfiguring ugliness.
Director of Photography, Conrad Hall, delivers vivid screen images.
Particularly good is a shot of the Asian ruler, his face in semi-shadow,
his eyes shiny points of light.
The music for this episode, by Dominic Frontiere, is quite different
than the usual spooky stuff. Without being too heavy handed, Frontiere's
music effectively weaves an Oriental mood.
100 DAYS OF THE DRAGON should be highly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers.
Fans of political take-over films, like "Seven Days in May,"
will dig this episode. BACK TO: EPISODE
|
