Despite some major changes in location from the UK to the USA the spine tingling spirit of Alistair MacLean comes through in this adaption of The Satan Bug. MacLean novels seem almost to roll out of the printed page and right on the screen. It's been done, but's pretty hard to make a dull film out of a MacLean work.
George Maharis plays our protagonist investigating a leak in security at a very top secret germ warfare laboratory. What leaked out seems to be the ultimate in germ warfare, a virus in a vial called The Satan Bug and it will guarantee destruction of life on a planetary scale. The viewer's knowledge that these are the stakes being played for is what makes this film harrowing watching.
Maharis is aided in his quest by Anne Francis who is the daughter of General Dana Andrews for whom he works. But the performance that dominates the film is that of Richard Basehart as the maddest scientist of all. He has stolen The Satan Bug and he's got big plans for it. I will say that the fact he got in and did the job speaks volumes about the lack of competence of American security. See the film and you'll see what I mean.
John Sturges brought in a first rate thriller in The Satan Bug, do not miss it if broadcast.
George Maharis plays our protagonist investigating a leak in security at a very top secret germ warfare laboratory. What leaked out seems to be the ultimate in germ warfare, a virus in a vial called The Satan Bug and it will guarantee destruction of life on a planetary scale. The viewer's knowledge that these are the stakes being played for is what makes this film harrowing watching.
Maharis is aided in his quest by Anne Francis who is the daughter of General Dana Andrews for whom he works. But the performance that dominates the film is that of Richard Basehart as the maddest scientist of all. He has stolen The Satan Bug and he's got big plans for it. I will say that the fact he got in and did the job speaks volumes about the lack of competence of American security. See the film and you'll see what I mean.
John Sturges brought in a first rate thriller in The Satan Bug, do not miss it if broadcast.