X: THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES (1963) – Episode 218 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

‘You see sin and the devil! But the lord has told us what to do about it. Said Matthew in Chapter Five, “If thine eye offends thee . . . pluck it out! . . . Pluck it out! . . .  Pluck it out!”’ All toothy critters gotta teethe. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they take in a bit of a turning point for Roger Corman with X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 218 – X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963)

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ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
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Synopsis: Dr. James Xavier devises a drug that enables the user to see beyond the normal realm of human sight. When his funding is cut, Xavier tests this drug on himself & begins to see, not only through walls and clothes, but through the very fabric of reality!

• Director: Roger Corman
• Writers: Robert Dillon and Ray Russell; Ray Russell (story by; Playboy, Jan 1961)
• Composer: Les Baxter
• Cinematographer: Floyd Crosby
• Production Designer & Art Director: Daniel Haller
• Visual Effects: John Howard (consultant: Spectarama)
• Movie Poster Art: Reynold Brown (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Ray Milland as Dr. James Xavier
  • Diana Van der Vlis as Dr. Diane Fairfax 
  • Harold J. Stone as Dr. Sam Brant
  • John Hoyt as Dr. Willard Benson
  • Don Rickles as Crane
  • Morris Ankrum as Mr. Bowhead
  • Dick Miller as John Trask
  • John Dierkes as Preacher
  • Kathryn Hart as Mrs. Mart
  • Jonathan Haze as Heckler
  • Vicki Lee as Young Patient
  • Barboura Morris as Nurse
  • John Dierkes as Preacher (uncredited)
  • Marilee Lear as Party Dancer (uncredited) (aka Lorrie Summers)
  • Cathie Merchant as Carnival Dancer (uncredited)

X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963) is a landmark film for Roger Corman. The film has a little bit of a lot of things: science fiction, horror, comic relief, visual effects, and a great cast and crew. Ray Milland leads the pack, playing it 100% straight, enabling us to believe the unbelievable. If the final scenes of the movie aren’t horrific enough, there’s also the rumor (propagated by none other than Stephen King) that the final line was cut because it was considered too horrific. The cast and crew are populated by Corman regulars, for example, Barboura Morris, Dick Miller, and Jonathan Haze, which also makes the film a fun watch. This is one of those movies that somehow manages to be lighthearted in a few scenes while inexorably ramping up the horror until the final scene. Yes, we ran a little long on this episode, but what a great movie to run long on.

At the time of this writing, X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes (1963) is available to stream from the Classic Sci-Fi Movie Channel, Classic Horror Movie Channel, MGM+, Prime, Mometu, and various PPV sources.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Doc – is The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). Time for some more Roger Corman shenanigans! The Classic Era Grue Crew are loving their Corman December Double Feature!

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To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”