|
Director Abner Biberman's, THE HUMAN
FACTOR, is an unusual, thought-provoking Sci-Fi tale.
Gary Merrill plays Dr. James Hamilton, who works in the "Human
Factors" section. As Merrill explains his device to colleague/test
subject, Sally Kellerman, "If this machine works, it will
be possible for two minds to communicate directly." Soon,
Merrill discovers that Kellerman loves him. The fact that Merrill
doesn't respond immediately to this knowledge indicates the guy's
been on ice way too long.
THE HUMAN FACTOR is similar in mood and location to "The
Thing," (1951 & 1982). Something about an isolated,
frozen location, with scientists and weird events taking place,
seems to lend itself to good, Sci-Fi entertainment.
Sally Kellerman, very early in her career, creates a memorable,
sensuous intellectual. She comes across like an ice cube just
waiting to be melted.
Writer David Duncan, ("The Time Machine", "Fantastic
Voyage"), weaves a fascinating and disturbing yarn that
is both believable and compelling. He has a way of making far
out ideas seem credible, and his characters are more three dimensional
than those in many Sci-Fi yarns.
My favorite scene takes place after Merrill and soldier, Harry
Guardino, have exchanged consciousness. Merrill, with Guardino's
thoughts in his head, starts to gobble sunflower seeds, one of
Guardino's habits.
Director of Photography, Conrad Hall, does excellent work here.
A close shot of Harry Guardino, staring with soulful eyes, Bogey-like,
out at the snow, is quite striking.
The music, by Dominic Frontiere, has a haunting quality. It builds
and builds like as gas leak which eventually must explode.
THE HUMAN FACTOR should be fairly watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers.
Sally Kellerman fans, and those who enjoyed the film "Brainstorm"(1983),
will get a kick out of this episode.
BACK TO: EPISODE
|