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The Man Who Fell to Earth

From Alfawiki
World Enterprises Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustryTechnology
Headquarters
Arizona
,
United States
ProductsVarious patented inventions, spacecraft technology

The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 British science fantasy drama film directed by Nicolas Roeg and adapted for the screen by Paul Mayersberg. The story, derived from Walter Tevis's 1963 novel, centers on an alien named Thomas Jerome Newton (portrayed by David Bowie) who arrives on Earth after crash-landing, intending to transport water to his drought-afflicted home world. However, he becomes ensnared in the complexities of human weaknesses and moral decay. The cast includes David Bowie, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, and Rip Torn, with production led by Michael Deeley and Barry Spikings. The original novel was later transformed into a 1987 television movie, and in 2022, a TV series extended the narrative, featuring Newton alongside archival footage from the initial film.

The movie has garnered a devoted cult audience due to its dreamlike visuals and marks David Bowie's first leading role. It is recognized as an influential piece within the science fiction genre and stands out as one of Roeg's most distinguished works.

Plot

Thomas Jerome Newton is an alien humanoid who lands on Earth from a remote planet, adopting the guise of an English man in New Mexico. His objective is to send water back to his home planet suffering from severe drought. Employing cutting-edge technology, Newton secures patents for various inventions on Earth, accumulating immense wealth as the leader of World Enterprises Corporation, a technology conglomerate based in Arizona, with assistance from patent lawyer Oliver Farnsworth. This wealth finances the building of a spacecraft designed to transport water back home.

While in New Mexico, Newton encounters Mary-Lou, a young woman from Oklahoma juggling several part-time jobs. She introduces him to human customs such as attending church, drinking alcohol, and engaging in sexual relationships, and they cohabit near where Newton landed.

Dr. Nathan Bryce, once a professor and now a fuel technician at World Enterprises, becomes Newton’s trusted ally. Convinced of Newton’s extraterrestrial identity, Bryce employs a specialized X-ray device that exposes Newton’s true alien anatomy. Newton’s increasing dependence on alcohol and television creates tension with Mary-Lou, who ultimately leaves after witnessing his alien form.

Newton finishes constructing the spaceship amid intense media scrutiny but is apprehended by government officials and competitors before its inaugural flight; Farnsworth is killed. Confined in a luxurious hotel apartment under guard, Newton undergoes sedation and medical examinations that degrade his human appearance. Years later, Mary-Lou visits him—now aged and deteriorated by alcoholism—their reunion marked by distance and unease. Eventually, Newton discovers his confinement unlocked and escapes.

Unable to return to his planet, a despondent and addicted Newton records messages intended for his home world. Bryce, now married to Mary-Lou, acquires the recording and meets Newton at a restaurant. Despite maintaining his youthfulness and wealth, Newton remains deeply troubled and dependent on alcohol, collapsing drunk on the patio after asking about Mary-Lou.

Pre-production

Although Walter Tevis’s 1963 novel had been optioned multiple times without resulting in a film adaptation, director Nicolas Roeg—introduced to the project by Douglas Cammell—developed it under an agreement with Columbia Pictures. Roeg approached Michael Deeley of British Lion, with whom he had collaborated on Don't Look Now (1973). Deeley agreed to produce the film, replacing Roeg’s initial producer Si Litvinoff. For $1.5 million, Paramount Pictures, distributor of Don't Look Now, acquired U.S. distribution rights, enabling Deeley to secure necessary funding.

Initially, Roeg considered author Michael Crichton as screenwriter and actor Peter O'Toole for the lead role before ultimately casting David Bowie.

Filming

Production commenced on 6 July 1975, with principal photography taking place across various New Mexico sites such as Albuquerque, White Sands, Artesia, and Fenton Lake. Although planned to last eleven weeks, the shoot encountered several obstacles including Bowie's brief illness caused by spoiled milk, equipment failures, and disruptions from Hells Angels campers nearby.

During the filming period, Bowie was using cocaine and later reflected that his acting was instinctual, mirroring his feelings of detachment at that time. He acknowledged experiencing insecurity but believed his performance authentically represented his mindset throughout the shoot.

Conversely, co-star Candy Clark remembered Bowie as concentrated and professional, complimenting both his appearance and the British crew that director Roeg brought to New Mexico. Additionally, Roeg cast Bowie’s bodyguard Tony Mascia in the role of Newton’s driver.

The collaboration between Bowie and Roeg remained positive; Bowie was motivated to fulfill the director’s vision and demonstrated a willingness to invest long hours on set. For personal security amid concerns about his contacts in New York, Bowie brought a private collection of 400 books to the location.

Music

David Bowie was initially invited to compose the film’s score but withdrew due to contractual complications. Nevertheless, he later incorporated images from the movie into the cover art for his albums Station to Station (1976) and Low (1977). The film’s soundtrack was overseen by John Phillips, former frontman of The Mamas & the Papas, featuring contributions from Phillips himself, Japanese percussionist and composer Stomu Yamash'ta, along with selected stock music. To assist with the soundtrack's creation, Phillips brought in ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. Recording sessions were held at CTS Lansdowne Recording Studios in London.

Due to creative disagreements and contractual issues between director Nic Roeg and the studio, an official soundtrack was not released initially despite promotional materials referencing one in the 1976 paperback edition. The soundtrack masters were eventually rediscovered and officially issued on CD and vinyl in 2016 to commemorate the film’s 40th anniversary. Some of Yamash'ta’s compositions had previously appeared on his own albums.

Music personnel
  • Musical Directors: John Phillips, Derek Wadsworth
  • Piano/Keyboards: Pete Kelly, John Taylor
  • Guitars: Mick Taylor, Ricky Hitchcock, Richard Morcombe, Jim Sullivan
  • Pedal Steel Guitar: B. J. Cole
  • Bass: Steve Cook
  • Drums: Henry Spinetti
  • Percussion: Frank Ricotti
Soundtrack as credited at film’s end

Compositions and recordings by Stomu Yamashta:

  • "Poker Dice" (from Floating Music)
  • "33⅓" (from Raindog)
  • "Mandala" (from Soundtrack from Man from the East)
  • "Wind Words" (from Freedom is Frightening)
  • "One Way" (from Floating Music)
  • "Memory of Hiroshima" (from Soundtrack from Man from the East)

Performed by John Phillips:

  • "Boys from the South"
  • "Rhumba Boogie"
  • "Bluegrass Breakdown"
  • "Hello Mary-Lou" (featuring Mick Taylor)

Additional tracks included:

To evoke Newton’s recollections of his extraterrestrial origins, Phillips and Roeg collaborated with sound engineer Desmond Briscoe to craft minimalistic electronic soundscapes blended with whale calls, intensifying the film’s haunting atmosphere.

Release

Michael Deeley recounted that after Barry Diller of Paramount viewed the completed movie, he declined payment, arguing that the final product did not align with the studio's original expectations. British Lion initiated legal action against Paramount and secured a modest financial settlement. The film saw a limited release in the United States through Cinema V, grossing $850,000, while international sales contributed to recovering its production costs.

The British Board of Film Censors granted the film an uncut X rating for adult audiences in the UK.

In 2016, a 4K digital restoration was announced to commemorate the film’s 40th anniversary, premiering at BFI Southbank before being released in UK cinemas on 9 September. The re-releases in 2011 and 2016 collectively earned $100,072 domestically and $73,148 internationally.

Critical response

Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film two and a half stars out of four, lauding the direction but criticizing the storyline as "absurd and affected," noting inconsistencies in logic. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave it three stars, remarking that its striking visual style overshadowed a relatively straightforward narrative. Richard Eder of The New York Times regarded it as an engaging and visually stunning science-fiction work.

Robert Hawkins of Variety praised Nicolas Roeg’s direction and David Bowie’s casting as inspired choices, also highlighting Candy Clark’s acting. Charles Champlin from the Los Angeles Times found Bowie’s casting ideal but described the film as "confusing," possibly due to a 20-minute cut made for its American release. In a later review, Kim Newman of Empire awarded it five stars, calling it "consistently disorienting and enchantingly beautiful."

Rotten Tomatoes reports a 79% approval rating based on 71 reviews, summarizing it as "rich in breathtaking visuals" and a "serene, contemplative film" examining cultural values. Metacritic assigns an overall score of 81 out of 100 from nine critics, indicating "universal acclaim."

Legacy

Since its debut in 1976, The Man Who Fell to Earth has achieved cult classic status, particularly resonating with midnight movie audiences. It has been celebrated by critics as an intellectually stimulating genre film from the 1970s. Upon its 2011 re-release, Roger Ebert granted it three stars, emphasizing its ambitious and experimental nature—a quality rarely seen in contemporary mainstream cinema. The film is frequently compared with modern sci-fi productions such as Under the Skin.

Its critical recognition is reflected in various rankings: second place on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 sci-fi films of the 1970s; 35th on Time Outs compilation of the best 100 sci-fi movies; 61st on the Online Film Critics Society’s greatest sci-fi films; and 42nd on Empires list of top British films. The British Film Institute also included it among its "50 late night classics," highlighting its lasting appeal.

David Bowie's portrayal in this film notably influenced his casting as Nikola Tesla in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige (2006). Nolan described Tesla as "the original Man Who Fell to Earth," making Bowie an ideal fit for the role. Furthermore, Bowie was cast in Jack Hofsiss's stage production of The Elephant Man, with Hofsiss citing Bowie's performance here as pivotal due to the character’s shared sense of alienation.

Accolades

Date Award Category Nominee Result
25 June – 6 July 1976 Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear The Man Who Fell to Earth Template:Nom
15 January 1977 Saturn Awards Best Science Fiction Film Template:Nom
Best Actor David Bowie Template:Won
2–5 September 1977 Hugo Awards Best Dramatic Presentation The Man Who Fell to Earth Template:Nom

In popular culture

  • Steve Harris, founder of Iron Maiden, adopted the film poster’s font style for designing the band’s iconic logo.
  • In Philip K. Dick's novel VALIS, fictionalized versions of Dick and K. W. Jeter obsess over a movie titled Valis, starring musician Eric Lampton—a character modeled after Bowie—reflecting their real-life fascination with The Man Who Fell to Earth.
  • The music video for Guns N' Roses’ 1987 hit "Welcome to the Jungle" drew partial inspiration from this film.
  • Scott Weiland’s 1998 video for "Barbarella" incorporates themes reminiscent of the movie.
  • The design elements of Dr. Manhattan's apartment and Ozymandias' Antarctic lair in the 2009 film Watchmen were largely influenced by The Man Who Fell to Earth.
  • Alberta Cross's track "ATX" (2009) draws inspiration from Bowie's character in this movie.
  • Michael Fassbender credited Bowie's performance here as an influence for his android role in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi feature Prometheus (2012).
  • Bret Easton Ellis’s novel Imperial Bedrooms (2010) references involvement with scripting a remake of this film.
  • The off-Broadway musical Lazarus (2015), featuring music by David Bowie and book by Enda Walsh, is based on both the novel and movie; Bowie's 2013 music video "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" also alludes to it.
  • The title of the Doctor Who episode "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" pays homage to both the book and film.
  • Characters named Thomas Jerome Newton and David Robert Jones (Bowie’s birth name) appear within the TV series Fringe.

See also

External links

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