Biological warfare is as scary in 2020 as it was in the mid 1960's with new threats found every year, and I certainly picked the wrong time to watch a film on this very subject. It focuses on scientists George Maharis and Dana Andrews who have discovered that a top research scientist (Richard Basehart) has discovered a toxin that can wipe out a whole city in a matter of minutes. Maharis and Andrews find this out quite by accident while with Andrews' pretty daughter Anne Francis and some other scientists, and a tube of this toxin goes flying through their window, causing two of the men within minutes to clutch their throats and drop dead instantly. A rock at the window of the speeding Basehart gives Maharis the opportunity to find out what has lead the genius Basehart to turn to such a despicable act, and it is a race to the finish as Maharis, Andrews and Francis become determined to stop Basehart from carrying out his vicious plan.
I must admit that in addition to being intrigued but scared in regards to the timing of viewing this movie I was also entranced by the beautiful scenery of the California desert with its pastel colors flying off of the screen as the three leads hang out at a gorgeous desert home with beautiful streams and pools and backgrounds of cactus and other colorful plants. This is an opportunity to see a few other famous actors before they became well known such as Richard Bull ("Little House on the Prairie") and Ed Asner ("Lou Grant"). Andrews, still very handsome with his silvery hair, is dashing as always, and Maharis is an interesting anti-hero. But the performance by Richard Basehart is very theatrical, almost Shakespearean in its intensity, and that is who you will be mesmerized by in his big scenes. The direction of John Sturges helps this become an intriguing sleeper that has been forgotten over time but is certainly worthy of re-discovery and discussion.
I must admit that in addition to being intrigued but scared in regards to the timing of viewing this movie I was also entranced by the beautiful scenery of the California desert with its pastel colors flying off of the screen as the three leads hang out at a gorgeous desert home with beautiful streams and pools and backgrounds of cactus and other colorful plants. This is an opportunity to see a few other famous actors before they became well known such as Richard Bull ("Little House on the Prairie") and Ed Asner ("Lou Grant"). Andrews, still very handsome with his silvery hair, is dashing as always, and Maharis is an interesting anti-hero. But the performance by Richard Basehart is very theatrical, almost Shakespearean in its intensity, and that is who you will be mesmerized by in his big scenes. The direction of John Sturges helps this become an intriguing sleeper that has been forgotten over time but is certainly worthy of re-discovery and discussion.