Blog #32 Cyborg 2087 Movie Review

Release Date October 1966

Directed by Franklin Adreo. Mr. Adreo also directed Dimension 5 (1966)

Distributed by United Pictures Corporation

Country United States

Language English

Written by Arthur C. Pierce, Mr. Pierce also produced and directed without credit The Human Duplicators and Mutiny in Outer Space, with credit Women of the Prehistoric Planet (1965). He also wrote The Human Duplicators (1965) and The Destructors (1966).

Starring

Michael Rennie played Garth. Mr. Rennie was most known for the leading role of Klaatu in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), the other roles on TV in SciFi were The Invaders(2 episodes) as Vice Chancellor Pierre Alquist (1 episode) and Magnus (1967). The Time Tunnel (1 episode) as Capt. Malcolm Smith (1966). Lost in Space (2 episodes) as The Keeper (1965).

Illustration 3 1-06: Mudd’s Women – Star Trek: The Original Series

Karen Steele played Dr. Sharon Mason. Ms. Steele also starred in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea – Cara Sloane (1 episode, 1965), and where I remember her from Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) – Eve McHuron in S1:E6, “Mudd’s Women”.

Wendell Corey played the sheriff. Mr. Corey starred as Holman in Astro Zombies (1969).

Eduard Franz played Professor Sigmund Marx. Mr. Franz also starred as Premier Thor Halvorsen in The Invaders 1967, 1983, and as Old Man in Twilight Zone: The Movie 1983.

Warren Stevens played Dr. Carl Zellar. Mr. Stevens also starred in Forbidden Planet (1956) as Lieutenant ‘Doc’ Ostrow, On the Threshold of Space (1956) as Captain Mike Bentley, The Twilight Zone (1962) Nathan ‘Nate’ Bledsoe, The Outer Limits (1964) as Eric Plummer, The Time Tunnel (1966) as Dr. Harlow, Star Trek (1968) as Rojan, Wonder Woman (1978) as Beal.

Production

It was part of a series of nine low-budget films produced by United Pictures Corporation. The films were intended for TV distribution, but they had theatrical releases. The budget was $100,000.

Illustration 4 Garth Leaving His Time Capsule

Plot

“In the future world of the year 2087, freedom of thought is illegal and the thoughts of the world’s populations are controlled by the government. A small band of “free thinkers” send a cyborg back in time to the year 1966 to prevent a scientist from making the breakthrough that will eventually lead to the mass thought control of the future. Our time traveler soon discovers he is not alone when government agents from the future try to prevent him from carrying out his mission.”—Kevin Steinhauer

Illustration 5 Garth in his Time Capsule

Discussion

This can also be classified as a horror or monster flick, though somewhat tame in that regard. The main character, Garth, compares himself with the ‘Tracers’ as being monsters. He is a monster but wait ‘til you see the real monsters kind of thing.

This is definitely a quirky type of movie. It could be classified as a schlock monster movie of the 60’s.

Schlock by definition is: schlock /shlŏk/ noun

Something, such as merchandise or literature, that is inferior or poorly made.
Commodity that is shoddy or inferior.
Tasteless comedy horror movies or theatre designed to shock people. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

The film falls into the category of Schlock but I can enjoy it when at least one characteristic of plot, special effects, or acting is good.

It was poorly made, and the quality of the film is low, and I can see why it was intended for TV. Today, the quality of our shows is much higher and can rival the movies intended for theatres. The script is somewhat simple, and the plot reveal is more of an info dump.

Negatives

As I said, the quality of the film is low. The script is simplistic and the plot is revealed in an infodump. I think it was too complex to fit into the level at which these films were done.

The story is somewhat sloppy. The sheriff had the worst lines. Mr. Corey has been in some really good movies, so I am assuming it was the script, low quality like the schlock movie genre is known for. He mumbled and said some corny, ‘I’m the sheriff, I don’t have to deal with this,’ lines.

Illustration 5 Dr. Mason Getting Tortured in Cyborg 2087

Dr. Mason is tortured by hanging by her hands from a rope in an old abandoned barn and swung. Each time she swings, she screams. When we see her not being swung she just stands there. It looked weird and silly..

The special effects only work if we don’t see them, just hear about them. They were clunky.

Dr. Mason, who is the Professor’s assistant, was the token cute female who also happens to be a scientist with degrees in her own right. It’s one of the ways they got eyeballs on the film.

Positives

This film has Michael Rennie. All the characters are good actors (though the sheriff needs a rewrite). the storyline is simple yet sweet. I felt for the dilemma that the future had and the need to subvert it.

Conclusions

I really like the lead. He was in The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), which you know I think highly of. He is different, ‘strange’, yet attractive, strong, and formidable. Perfect for an alien we believe is an alien and are supposed to trust. His role is simple, get the professor and stop the research or we all are destined for misery in the future. It isn’t really misery, you have no independent thoughts so probably little to no emotions, but there are some (the resistance perhaps) who are in misery. The resistance is supposed to be the audience. Okay, we want Garth to succeed.

All the characters are good actors (though the sheriff needs a rewrite). In The Day the Earth Stood Still, the effects were a good combination of the effects of 1951 movie making and just knowing about the unique ‘alien’ things, like a salve for quick healing and opening a locked door. However, they did it well. With this movie, Cyborg 2087, they didn’t seem to try that much.

What made it enjoyable was how the cyborg, Garth, reacted to coming in contact with every day, freethinking people. He used telepathy to influence the ‘professor’s assistant’ Sharon to do what he wanted, believing in the cyborg’s mission and helping Garth achieve it. The experience of getting into Dr. Mason’s brain rattled Garth, and he cared what happened to her. He cared enough to break protocol and save her from the evil cyborgs. Garth did this as he was about to escort the Professor into the time capsule and fulfill his mission.

Garth was close to fulfilling the mission, but he returned and saved Dr. Mason. Garth assures Sharon she does not love him; he just forced his will on her; oh, that’s creepy. Sharon knows Garth loves her because he rescued her, and Garth admits it. Unfortunately, for Garth to be successful, future history will change, and he will never be born. Garth must complete the mission, save the world, and sacrifice himself; how romantic!

So there you have it. I am a romantic and like this film; I bought it to re-watch and review it for you.

I hope you enjoyed reading about the quirky little movie and maybe catch it one late Saturday night on TV. I also just saw it (8/24/24) on YouTube for free.