
(imdb)
THE
POWER-1968-A space project on human endurance to test how much pain
future astronauts can endure is run by Dr. Tanner (George Hamilton).
Washington representative Arthur Nordland (Michael Rennie) comes to
check things out. He meets the whole team: Prof. Melnicker (Nehemiah
Persoff), biologist Prof. Scott (Earl Holliman), genetics Prof.
Margery Lansing (Suzanne Pleshette) and eccentric anthropologist
Prof. Hallson (Arthur O'Connor), headed by Prof. Van Zandt (Richard
Carlson}. Hallson says that based on his findings someone in the
committee has an extraordinary power. They really don't believe him
but later he's killed by some invisible force. His wife (Yvonne
DeCarlo) is pretty upset. Detective Corlane (Gary Merrill)
investigates.
Almost immediately Tanner suspects someone on their
committee is responsible. But suddenly Tanner is fired because his
background appears to be phony. After having a bad time on a merry go
round, he goes to the hometown of Prof. Hallson to discover who the
mysterious Adam Hart is. Along the way he meets gas station attendant
Bruce (Aldo Ray) and a waitress (Barbara Nichols) and Hallson's
parents (Celia Lovsky and Vaughan Taylor). Then Bruce gives him a
ride and strands him in the desert. Things get worse when he seeks
shelter where the Air Force does target practice. Later he visits
Mrs. Hallson, now a drunken floozy who can't remember what Hart
looked like. When he goes to visit Margery, he's attacked by Prof.
Melnicker, who knows someone is trying to kill them. They are invited
to a party by a guy (Ken Murray) and after much useless partying
Melnicker dies. They visit Norland who seems to be attacked but
lives. Now Tanner suspects Van Zandt. While snooping at Van Zandt's house, a
force tries to kill him. After Scott is killed by the police, Tanner
has a showdown with the real killer, Nordland, where it's revealed who
has the real power. Forrest J. Ackerman has a cameo as a hotel clerk.
THE POWER is an interesting Sci-Fi movie that keeps you guessing for
a while and features a good cast. It was the penultimate film
produced by George Pal (WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS)
and the last directed by Byron Haskin (WAR OF THE WORLDS, FROM THE
EARTH TO THE MOON). According to Haskin MGM “sabotaged the film”
because they wanted to be done with Pal.
Thanks for reading!