The Fly Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A scientist builds a teleporter, accidentally merges with a fly, and his wife has to splat him, while a tiny fly version begs for help from a spider, because science!

🍿 The Fly: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Wife’s Confession

The film opens with Helene Delambre confessing to her brother-in-law, Francois, that she has killed her husband, Andre. She provides details of the murder, explaining she crushed him with a hydraulic press, but refuses to state her motive. Inspector Charas is brought in to investigate, finding the crime scene bizarre and Helene strangely calm, despite her admission. The only thing that seems to disturb her is the presence of flies.

The Story Unfolds: A Matter Transference Device

Through a series of flashbacks narrated by Helene, the audience learns that Andre was a brilliant scientist working on a matter transference device. He successfully teleports inanimate objects, but his first attempt with a living creature, the family cat, goes awry, resulting in the cat’s disappearance. Andre persists, eventually teleporting a guinea pig successfully. He becomes increasingly secretive and obsessed with his work.

The Tragic Experiment

Andre decides to test the machine on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a housefly enters the disintegration chamber with him. Upon reintegration, Andre discovers that he and the fly have become genetically mixed. He now possesses a fly’s head and arm, while the fly presumably has Andre’s head and arm. Unable to speak, Andre communicates with Helene through written notes, explaining his horrifying situation and tasking her with finding the fly so he can attempt to reverse the process.

The Search and the Horrifying Truth

Helene and her son search desperately for the fly, but their efforts are fruitless. Andre grows increasingly desperate, realizing that his human intellect is slowly being overtaken by the fly’s instincts. In a final attempt to restore himself, Andre tries the teleporter again, but it fails. He reveals his fly head to Helene, who is understandably horrified. Realizing there’s no cure and his humanity is fading, Andre begs Helene to end his suffering.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Andre Delambre (David Hedison): A brilliant scientist whose experimentation with teleportation leads to a horrific genetic merging with a fly.
• Helene Delambre (Patricia Owens): Andre’s loving wife who is forced to confront the horrifying consequences of her husband’s scientific hubris.
• Francois Delambre (Vincent Price): Andre’s brother who investigates the circumstances surrounding Andre’s death and supports Helene.
• Insp. Charas (Herbert Marshall): The police inspector who investigates Andre’s death, initially suspecting Helene of murder.
• Philippe Delambre (Charles Herbert): Andre and Helene’s young son who unknowingly plays a crucial role in the tragic events.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Helene Delambre: “Francois, I’ve killed Andre. I need your help.” – Helene’s chilling opening line, setting up the mystery and the film’s flashback structure.
• Andre Delambre: “There are things man should never experiment with.” – Andre’s somber realization of his hubris and the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition.
• Helene Delambre: “It’s frightening. It’s like playing God.” – Helene expresses her unease with Andre’s teleportation experiments and their potential consequences.
• Fly-Man: “Help me… help me!” – The iconic, chilling cry of the fly with the man’s head, trapped in a spiderweb.
• Francois Delambre: “He was searching for the truth. But for one instant, he was careless.” – Francois’s poignant summary of Andre’s fate and the inherent risks of scientific pursuit.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $700,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: $1,501

💥 The Fly Reviews

Personal Review

I watched this film for the first time last night, and honestly, I found myself cringing at the effects! It was so funny I loved that, the low budget made it better! What I really liked was how they kept the horror a secret and they built up the main characters really well, especially the wife! Great film.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic science fiction horror films”
  • “Those interested in the history of horror cinema”
  • “Viewers who appreciate suspenseful and tragic storylines”
  • “Fans of Vincent Price”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mild gore/blood (by today’s standards)”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Themes of body horror and transformation”
  • “Suicide”

Professional Reviews

• The Classic Horror Film Board: “While the effects are dated, ‘The Fly’ still delivers chills. The story is engaging, blending suspense, horror and tragedy. The restrained approach to horror can be very pleasurable if you get used to it.
• AllMovie: “A slick, clever, engaging and unique sci-fi story. The script is stronger and more character-driven than the one of Cronenberg’s version. A surprisingly good film
• DVD Authority: “More interested in the ethics of such scientific endeavors, the story unfolds like a murder mystery that works its way around to explain the how n why and is rather low on grotesque imagery & body horror.

Audience Reactions

The ending is so creepy and disturbing!: The suspense is great, blending romance, sci-fi, and horror effectively.

I had bad dreams as a kid because of that ‘Help me’ scene!: A really great movie.

Overall Consensus: A classic sci-fi horror film that delivers suspense and chills, despite dated special effects. Its blend of tragedy and romance makes it a standout.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot in CinemaScope and Technicolor, which were relatively new technologies at the time, adding to its visual appeal.”
• “James Clavell, who later became famous for his historical novels like ‘Shogun,’ wrote the screenplay for ‘The Fly.'”
• “The film’s success led to two sequels: ‘Return of the Fly’ (1959) and ‘Curse of the Fly’ (1965).”

🖥️ How to Watch The Fly?

The original 1958 version of *The Fly* is a classic science fiction horror film that is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms. You can find it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for possible television broadcasts. Unfortunately, it is not currently available on mainstream streaming services like Netflix or Hulu.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Fly, you might like these similar films:

• The Fly (1986): A more graphic and modernized remake of the same story, exploring similar themes with updated special effects.
• The Thing (1982): Explores the horror of bodily transformation and loss of identity as a parasitic alien consumes its victims.
• Frankenstein (1931): An earlier classic tale of science gone wrong, with a scientist creating a monstrous being.
• Annihilation (2018): A modern sci-fi horror film exploring themes of transformation and the dangers of tampering with nature, with a similar sense of dread and body horror.
• Re-Animator (1985): Cult classic about a medical student who discovers a reagent that can re-animate corpses, leading to gruesome and comedic results.

🛒 The Fly Related Products

• The Fly [Blu-ray]: Experience the original 1958 classic in high definition. Perfect for collectors and fans of vintage science fiction horror.
• The Fly (1986) [Blu-ray]: Compare and contrast with David Cronenberg’s masterful and gruesome remake starring Jeff Goldblum.
• Science Fiction Horror Films of the 1950s, Volume 1: A perfect anthology featuring the Fly to compare against other great films such as The Deadly Mantis and the Mole People!

🎧 Soundtrack

The Fly features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter
• “The Accident” – performed by Paul Sawtell and Bert Shefter

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Fly (1958) Help Me! Help Me!

Remember that chilling ‘Help me!’ scene? This short clip perfectly encapsulates the movie’s eerie atmosphere and is a must-see for any fan!

10 Things You Didn’t Know About TheFly

Did you know these crazy facts about ‘The Fly’? This video dives into some awesome trivia, and trust me, some of them are mind-blowing!

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