Perhaps because audiences were expecting Vincent Price to star in Roger Corman's 'The Premature Burial', the performance by Ray Milland was regarded by some as rather lacklustre but that of course is down to the individual viewer. There is little doubt however that his casting in 'The Man with the X-Ray Eyes' for the same director is inspired as he utilises his authoritative manner to great effect whilst balancing arrogance and sensitivity. In common with the best film actors Mr. Milland was able to convey so much through his eyes, witness his performance in Russell Rouse's 'The Thief' from the previous decade in which his presence carried the film without any dialogue. The emphasis in that film is on 'sight' and devoted Cormanites will have noted his fascination with ocular sensitivity.
Despite a few unintentionally funny moments that one expects from this genre, writer Ray Russell's new take on the theme of 'science gone wrong' is both haunting and disturbing as it shows Dr. Xavier's breakthrough discovery to be more of a curse than a blessing whilst his downward spiral from eminent physician to outcast is well realised. The psychedelic images resembling drug-induced visions look forward to Corman's later 'The Trip'.
The film also features John Hoyt, Harold J. Stone, Diana Van de Vlis as the thinking man's crumpet and as a sleazeball, comedian Don Rickles (affectionately known as the 'Merchant of Venom') in a rare straight role.
Mr. Corman was certainly no stranger to Edgar Allan Poe and the words of that poet seem singularly apposite here: "Science! True daughter of Old Time thou art, who alterest all things with thy peering eyes."
Despite a few unintentionally funny moments that one expects from this genre, writer Ray Russell's new take on the theme of 'science gone wrong' is both haunting and disturbing as it shows Dr. Xavier's breakthrough discovery to be more of a curse than a blessing whilst his downward spiral from eminent physician to outcast is well realised. The psychedelic images resembling drug-induced visions look forward to Corman's later 'The Trip'.
The film also features John Hoyt, Harold J. Stone, Diana Van de Vlis as the thinking man's crumpet and as a sleazeball, comedian Don Rickles (affectionately known as the 'Merchant of Venom') in a rare straight role.
Mr. Corman was certainly no stranger to Edgar Allan Poe and the words of that poet seem singularly apposite here: "Science! True daughter of Old Time thou art, who alterest all things with thy peering eyes."