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Director Gerd Oswald's, EXPANDING HUMAN, is an
unusual, (for it's time), tale of experimental drug use.
When a university night watchman is killed, and drugs stolen, a cop
(James Doohan), talks to a university-based scientist, "You were
in charge of that scientific project when those students and professors
were expelled last month for taking drugs that made them go into trances,
and see visions, and so forth?" The scientist (Keith Andes), replies,
"What we had done, Lieutenant, was to establish, definitely, for
the first time, that at present man is using only a fraction of his
brain capacity, especially in the field of awareness. And that certain
drugs are powerful devices for expanding this awareness toward its real
possibilities."
It seems unusual for a early 1960's, kid's Sci-Fi program, to make veiled
allusions to Timothy Leary and his Harvard L.S.D. experiments, and the
possible positive use of experimental drug use to expand consciousness.
It was an unusual stand for a 1964 ,TV show. After awhile, however,
the episode devolves into a standard, anti-drug cautionary tale, with
drug use leading to the usual deadly consequences.
Skip Homeier, is a scientist experimenting with "Consciousness
Expanding" drugs. He's sympathetic as a man who truly doesn't know
what's happening to him. He later played the leader of a group of space
hippies, on the "Star Trek" episode,"The Way to Eden".
As Homeier's scientific co-worker, and brother- in-law, Keith Andes
is an odd screen presence. With his large, bulging eyes, he gives the
impression of being on drugs, although his character is sober for most
of the episode. Andes also appeared in the "Star Trek" episode,
"The Apple".
When Homeier transforms into his "expanded" self, he has bulging
cheek bones, a huge eyebrow ridge, and a larger chest. The overall effect,
courtesy of Makeup Supervisor Fred B. Phillips, brings to mind, Herman
Munster, on the TV show, "The Munsters".
The Teleplay, by Francis Cockrell, owes a lot to "Doctor Jeckyl
and Mr Hyde," by Robert Louis Stevenson. Unfortunately, Cockrell's
script never makes it clear why increased intelligence would induce
someone to commit multiple murders.
Director of Photography, Kenneth Peach, does his usual good job. Particularly
effective is an odd shot of the open door grill at Homeier's apartment,
through which we see part of the manager's face and mouth, as she talks
to him through the door.
We hear dreamy harp music, during the film's drug-taking scenes, to
set the mood. Harry Lubin gets the credit.
"Star Trek" fans will enjoy seeing James Doohan, several years
before his appearance as ,"Scotty," on the TV classic. Interestingly
enough, the Canadian born Doohan speaks with no particular accent.
EXPANDING HUMAN should be fairly watchable for some Sci-Fi viewers.
Those interested in the L.S.D./consciousness raising movement, of the
1960's, may be particularly amused. BACK TO:
EPISODE
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