THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH

US, 1987, 140 minutes, Colour.
Lewis Smith, Beverley D’ Angelo, Bruce Mc Gill, James Laurenson, Wil Wheaton, Robert Picardo, Annie Potts.
Directed by Bobby Roth.

The Man Who Fell to Earth is based on a novel by Walter Tevis (author of The Hustler and The Colour of Money). It was adapted for the screen in the 70s by Paul Mayersberg. The film was directed by Nicolas Roeg. David Bowie was the star - and the film was a rather exotic piece of science fiction in Roeg's artful style. However, had the original been played in chronological order, the plot would have seemed rather commonplace - a benign alien taking human form, coming to Earth to seek the help of human beings.

This television remake offers the material in chronological order - and this makes it a pleasing if rather conventional story. Lewis Smith is pleasant as the alien, Beverley D'Angelo has a good role as the woman who befriends him.

Coming in the middle of the 80s, the movie is rather late in the genre of Close Encounters. However, it is played for sympathy, raises issues of kindly aliens, human nature - both good and evil.

1. Entertaining telemovie? Adaptation of the original? Comparison in presentations of plot, style?

2. American locations, New York City? The world of the present and the future? The world of technology - record industry, weapons, space flight? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on John, his being a friendly alien, his quest, interactions with human beings, his hopes and longings?

4. The opening: the planet and Thear, the ship falling to Earth and burning, John as the only survivor? His assumed American style? Hitchhiking, the man thinking he was weird? Driving with the woman truckie, her friendship, the accident - and his healing her? Going to New York City? Seeking out Felix, persuading him of the possibilities of success in technology?

5. The passing of the year, the success of the company, friendship with Felix? His apartment? The encounter with Eva and her son - and her son stealing his bag, the pursuit throughout the city, onto the roof, saving his life? The friendship with Eva and her not knowing his identity? Their talking together, outings, the dance - and the drinking of the tomato juice and his dancing? (Echoes of his first meal in the diner and his eating all the courses but preferring oatmeal?)

6. John, his success, his loneliness, talking with his son? The plans for the spaceship? Vern and their discussions? Felix and his support? The discussions with Eva and telling her the truth? The intimate encounter? His being able to talk with her? The friendship with her son? The son's anger at John's leaving - and telling the information to Vern? The struggle with Vern? Vern's death? The security officer and discussions with John? The going ahead with the plan - and his return to the planet? A warm portrait of an alien visiting Earth?

7. Eva, abandoned by her husband, trying to bring up her son, clashes with him, the apartment, John and his vertigo and his helping him? Her not knowing who he was, the friendship, taking him out to the dance? His telling her the truth, showing her himself? The intimacy? Her getting back her son through John's help? Going to New Mexico? A farewell? Her life transformed? Her son, irresponsibility, stealing, the records? Growing friendship with John after his life was saved? Relying on him? His anger about John's going away, his apologising? The farewell?

8. Felix, the big businessmen, taking the risk, working with John? The security officer telling him the truth?
The security man giving information to Felix, his disbelief, his support of John, the final achievement?

9.Verne, his dubious background, conman? His being supported by Felix, the models for John, his greed, the tying up of John, the attempt to torture him - and his death? (And his being given the information by the boy?)

10.The background of American security, the sympathetic investigator, wanting to protect John from the army? Their dinner together - and John avoiding the issues?

11.The truck-driver, her kindness towards John? The waitress at the diner, his meals, giving him oatmeal - and her response to the diamond?

12.Entertaining science fiction, close encounters with aliens? Peace in the planets? The comment on human nature contrasting with friendly aliens?