Criterion Edition

The Man Who Fell To Earth

Bowie stars in The Man Who Fell To Earth, a sci-fi flick by UK cult-movie director Nicholas Roeg. Bowie stars as Thomas Jerome Newton, an alien, whose planet is dying from lack of water. When Newton arrives on Earth, his intention is to save his planet and in order to do that, he must harness Earth's industrial capacity.

The Man Who Fell To Earth trailer 

Newton uses his vastly superior understanding of technology to join and then soon head a corporate giant...but unfortunately his plans go awry as he gets caught up in Earthly ways, becoming corrupted by booze and sex. 

There's nothing good-time, whatsoever, about The Man Who Fell to Earth! It's trippy, disorientating and depressing...but it's interesting...and  Bowie certainly looks very pale and suitably alien-like. If you don't expect entertainment...and you shouldn't, prepare yourself for a real Art-house original and you may well enjoy The Man Who Fell To Earth. It's very much Roeg's bleak vision and you've got to be prepared for that.

I don't consider Bowie to have been particularly effective as an actor in the main role but he was certainly otherworldly and I guess that was all he was really required to be. I think Bowie fans will be a lot more forgiving than non-Bowie fans on this very important issue, so, you'll have to make up your own mind on that.  

Incidentally, the new Criterion version has also restored some sex scenes that were in the original UK version but not in the US theatrical release.   

FYI, Bowie was originally contracted to do the soundtrack...but that fell through...with his work eventually surfacing as the instrumental side of Low, in particular, the track Subterraneans. In fact, Low's sleeve, like the album before it, Station To Station, features a still from The Man Who Fell To Earth.

Should you see The Man Who Fell To Earth. No, definitely no, if ypou want a pleasant diversion. Maybe, if you're an art-house movie fan. Definitely if you're a fan of David Bowie in the 1970s. 

The Man Who Fell To Earth DVD"

"...Like many others, I picked this up because I'm a Bowie fan. And, wow, he is incredible in the role of the alien to falls to earth. Having seen him in this role, I can't imagine any one else who could portray this character. His alien isn't cute or adorable, like E.T. or Mork; his is a true alien in every sense of the word..." Amazon reviewer R. Swanson

"...Who'd have ever thought that Art, Sci-Fi and Bowie could be so delicatly wrapped into a single disc for you to enjoy? As an art film, this would not be easily understood by those not common viewers of those types of films....Criterion did the smart thing and included the book for those who like details. In fact, if you're a reader or detail oriented, I would highly suggest reading first..." Amazon reviewer William Chant

"...Too often, I have heard people put down this film because it is 'confusing, without plot and pointless'. All I can say is that I saw this movie before I ever read the book, and I wasn't confused in the slightest. The film, about an alien who comes to Earth to get water for his drought-stricken planet, ends up never going home because he slips into alcoholism, falls in love, and ends up making too much money for his own good.

Think about it - why WOULDN'T this film be confusing?..." Amazon reviewer Andrew Whelden

"...The visually unsettling photography and editing help bring an edge to the film...

• Criterion's transfer is a new, restored high definition digital transfer supervised by Roeg
• the audio commentary isn't new but is from 1992...and features Roeg and star David Bowie recorded together and Buck Henry recorded on his own. The commentary track is exceptional but that will only matter if commentary tracks are important to you
• the second disc includes excellent audio interviews with May Routh who designed the costumes and production designer Brian Eatwell
• there's another audio interview with author Walter Tevis recorded in 1984, in which Tevis discusses his novel and the film
• there's some great stills, behind-the-scenes photos dominate these and were taken by David James...(and)...features an introduction by James
• the trailers are included, as is Tevis' original novel
• finally there's a 28 page critical essay by Graham Fuller about the film &
• an appreciation of novelist Tevis by another novelist Jack Matthews

Criterion's packaging has the movie in a hard Amray 2-disc holder and in turn, within a cardboard cover that houses the movie and the novel. It's very nice and will stand up better to wear and tear..." Amazon reviewer Wayne Klein

For more info, see:

• wikipedia The Man Who Fell To Earth