The Gamma People (1956)

The Gamma People: Directed by John Gilling. With Paul Douglas, Eva Bartok, Leslie Phillips, Walter Rilla. An American reporter smells a story when he is stranded in an Iron Curtain country where the local dictator is using gamma rays to transform children into mutated henchmen.

“This is more of a light comedy than a science fiction thriller. Itu0026#39;s actually a film about the different stereotypes of nationalities, beginning with the u0026quot;ugly Americanu0026quot; and the u0026quot;waggish Britishu0026quot; reporters.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film always moves briskly, due more to clever writing, good casting, and strategic directing, than on effects and big money. This is a textbook film on how to make a film look like itu0026#39;s more action packed than it really is.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWe know itu0026#39;s a spoof on the nationalities from the start, as the pair of reporters are oblivious to their train car being dislodged, by accident, and rolling into a u0026quot;duchyu0026quot; that resembles the European duchy we get in classics like THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, THE MOUSE THAT ROARED, and others.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe duchy citizens also play to part.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, like most good films, this takes stereotypes and changes them into three dimensional characters, or at least two dimensional. The film makes sure it doesnu0026#39;t lose its light hearted approach. It has the cult look of a Rocky Horror in that regard, of taking stereotypes and making more out of them.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a fun film, and well done, obviously low budget. There are no dull moments, which is more than I can say for most big budget science fiction movies. Much of this is because the film creates a very good atmosphere.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNever underestimate u0026quot;atmosphereu0026quot; and u0026quot;fundamentalsu0026quot;. This film has both.”