Projected Man, The (1966)

Dr Paul Steiner (Bryant Haliday) and Dr Chris Mitchell (Ronald Allen) are hard at work on a projection device that can transmit objects up to a few miles away.

The objects are zapped by a big laser gun which sucks up the transferable matter and then fires it off to its destination. But while the device works well with inanimate objects, the living creatures they use it on always seem to die.

One guinea pig survives the test but when Steiner touches it, it gives off an electric shock and expires, so it’s back to the drawing board.

Steiner calls upon pretty scientist ‘Piggy’ Hill (Mary Peach) – her nickname stems from her PG initials and not her looks – who also provides a love interest for good-looking but bland Dr Chris.

Steiner’s boss, Dr Blanchard (Norman Wooland) is a slimy character who has been up to some naughtiness in his private life and is being blackmailed by the sinister Latham (Derrick De Marney), who now wants to take credit for Steiner’s discovery.

Blanchard goes all out to ensure that Steiner gives a presentation to kindly visiting Professor Lembach (Gerard Heinz) and then scuppers it by sabotaging the machine so it blows up.

This then enables him to end the funding for the project and give Steiner his marching orders. But Steiner discovers the device has been tampered with.

Knowing that Lembach and Latham are having dinner at Blanchard’s house just a few miles down the road he decides to surprise them – With help from his pretty secretary, Sheila (Tracey Crisp), he plans to project himself right into Blanchard’s living room.

But something goes wrong and Steiner is zapped over to a nearby construction site, emerging as a hideously scarred monster who has the power to electrocute people simply by touching them.

After polishing off a gang of would-be bank robbers (that’s handy!) he steals a pair of rubber gloves and a coat before setting off to take his revenge on Blanchard.

As the film fell behind schedule and the budget kept increasing, first-time director Ian Curteis was fired during the film’s final stages. Producer John Croydon replaced him but remained uncredited as the producers did not wish to publicise the problems that had occurred on set.

Dr Paul Steiner
Bryant Haliday
Dr Chris Mitchell
Ronald Allen
Dr P G (Patricia) “Piggy” Hill
Mary Peach
Dr L G Blanchard
Norman Wooland
Sheila Anderson
Tracey Crisp
Latham
Derrick De Marney
Prof. Lembach
Gerard Heinz
Inspector Davis
Derek Farr
Harry Slinger
Sam Kydd
Steve Lowe
Terry Scully
Gloria King
Norma West
Dr Wilson
Frank Gatliff
Sergeant Martin
John Watson
Security Man
Alf Joint
Girl
Rosemary Donnelly
Boy
David Scheuer

Director
Ian Curteis

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