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The Man Who Fell to Earth [DVD] [1976] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
 
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The Man Who Fell to Earth [DVD] [1976] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

DVD ~ David Bowie
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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6 new from £18.24 3 used from £14.99

Region 1 encoding (requires a North American or multi-region DVD player and NTSC compatible TV. More about DVD formats.)

Note: you may purchase only one copy of this product. New Region 1 DVDs are dispatched from the USA or Canada and you may be required to pay import duties and taxes on them (click here for details). Please expect a delivery time of 5-7 days.


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The Man Who Fell to Earth [DVD] [1976] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
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Product details

  • Actors: David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, Bernie Casey
  • Directors: Nicolas Roeg
  • Producers: Barry Spikings, John Peverall, Michael Deeley, Si Litvinoff
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
  • Studio: Criterion
  • DVD Release Date: 27 Sep 2005
  • Run Time: 139 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000A88EVE
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 49,913 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

While other films directed by Nicolas Roeg have attained similar cult status (including Walkabout and Don't Look Now), none has been as hotly debated as this languid but oddly fascinating adaptation of the science fiction novel by Walter Tevis. In The Man Who Fell to Earth, David Bowie plays the alien of the title, who arrives on Earth with hopes of finding a way to save his own planet from turning into an arid wasteland. He funds this effort by capitalising on several highly lucrative inventions, and in so doing becomes the powerful leader of an international corporate conglomerate. But his success has negative consequences as well--his contact with Earth has a disintegrating effect that sends him into a tailspin of disorientation and metaphysical despair. The sexual attention of a cheerful young woman (Candy Clark) doesn't do much to change his outlook, and his introduction to liquor proves even more devastating, until, finally, it looks as though his visit to Earth may be a permanent one. The Man Who Fell to Earth is definitely not for every taste--it's a highly contemplative, primarily visual experience that Roeg directs as an abstract treatise on (among other things) the alienating effects of an over-commercialised society. Stimulating and hypnotic or frightfully dull, depending on your receptivity to its loosely knit ideas, it's at least in part about not belonging, about being disconnected from the world--about being a stranger in a strange land when there's really no place like home. --Jeff Shannon.

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A TRIUMPH FOR DAVID BOWIE..., 10 Nov 2002
By Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Man Who Fell To Earth [DVD] [1976] (DVD)
I first saw this film when it was released in the mid nineteen seventies. I recalled how much I had enjoyed it, when I saw that it was available in DVD. I wasted no time in adding it to my personal collection.

The film itself, though somewhat abstract, is terrific, as it is not just a science fiction film with a twist. It is a film that explores themes that are timeless: desolation, alienation (no pun intended), and loneliness. At times, these themes are palpable, due to David Bowie's wondrously androgynous performance which is heartbreakingly moving at times.

The plot is fairly simple. An alien, Davie Bowie, leaves his family on his dying and arid planet in search for water. He lands on earth and begins his project to send water to his devasted planet by amassing the wealth that he needs to do this. He patents numerous lucrative inventions which eventually find him at the head of a world wide conglomerate. He joins up with a kindly, though stupid and vapid woman who drinks gin like a fish, Candy Clark, with whom he begins a liaison of sorts. Yet, he is always lonely and melancholic, and like her, begins to spiral into an alcoholic haze, sometimes sidetracking him from his purpose here.

At some point, excruciatingly sad and lonely, longing for his family, he reveals himself to her for who he truly is, shedding his earthly appearance, only to be met with absolute horror and repugnance by her at the sight of him. She ultimately tries to understand him, but it is truly beyond her ken. He is infinitely sad at this and longs all the more for home.

On the threshhold of returning to his planet and loved ones, he is kidnapped by corporate raiders who take over his holdings, and it is here that the movie begins to disintergrate somewhat. Yet, it remains strangely hypnotic and compelling, and becomes a sort of "Lost Weekend" of betrayal, booze, and promises which will never be kept. A parable of wanting to belong, yet knowing that you truly never will. A story about wanting to go home, but knowing on some level that you truly can never go home again.

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Loving the Alien..., 3 Aug 2002
By P. White (Cambridge, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Man Who Fell To Earth [DVD] [1976] (DVD)
I've been a long term appreciator of this film since it was regularly shown late at night on BBC2 in the 70's and 80's. Seeing it on DVD at its full aspect ratio is a revelation though, the composition of the images is wonderful and I kind of missed that on a 4:3 TV all those years ago. This is a quality movie with excellent performances from all the actors, even the bit parts. Anyone who ever claims that David Bowie cannot act should be forced to watch this and then to eat their words because he is quite frankly superb in the part of Thomas Newton. He conveys more 'other-worldliness' in a simple gesture than most actors achieve with the full Stan Winston latex treatment. Despite this being an SF film (with no major SFX, just intelligent scripting) it could just as easily be about anyone out of their environment and feeling alone and paranoid. They quite literally don't make em like this anymore. Instead we get MIB:2. Help!
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Criterion Release, 16 July 2007
By Kasey Driscoll - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Man Who Fell To Earth (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [1976] (DVD)
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a science fiction cult film from director Nicolas Roeg (Walkabout, Don't Look Now). It stars David Bowie as an alien who visits Earth seeking water for his home world which is barren. It is based on the Walter Tevis novel of the same name and this Criterion release of The Man Who Fell to Earth comes with the book as well. There are significant enough differences between the novel and the film that the novel is a worthy supplement to the experience of watching this movie. You will also want to check out the DVD extras in the same regard.

David Bowie is the title character in his only feature role. He is Thomas Newton and he only has to adjust his appearance a little bit to look somewhat human. That is if you think David Bowie even looks human because I don't, but I do realize he is...I think? Anyway, Thomas Newton rises to great wealth due to his society's advances in technology and his ability to create enterprises based on his patenting compilations of ideas that his world produced, nonexistent on Earth. He is trying of course to fund the shipment of water back to his home world. Thomas soon meets Mary-Lou (played by Candy Clark). Mary-Lou is your typical girl who introduces him to many of Earth's temptations. Thomas is soon inhibited by his aberrant consumption of alcohol and his fixation with television. It all has a very negative effect on him. Mary-Lou and his friend Nathan (Rip Torn) both eventually discover separately that Thomas is indeed an alien. After being revealed and after the government imprisons him, Thomas's inevitable downfall becomes apparent. We see him gradually accept failure in his task and grow increasingly negative in his disposition. He has truly fallen to Earth I suppose.

The big strengths in this film are primarily its cinematography. I like Nicholas Roeg's other films a lot so I'm aware that this is to be expected. I like the idea of a science fiction art film and overall I can really appreciate the fact that The Man Who Fell to Earth is not as in your face as most science fiction is today and was even back then in the mid 70s. However, this is almost too surreal and sedated for me. It was convincing but there were some long and boring stretches and I couldn't figure out why exactly, beyond the photography alone. It just seemed a lot longer than the story warranted. Also, I think I can draw the line between gratuitous nudity and appropriate nudity and I'm grown up enough to accept both. The Man Who Fell to Earth has much gratuitous nudity, but that was a sign of the times I guess so it's partially forgivable. There is more emotion and drive behind Newton in the Tevis novel and it seemed a bit more controlled as an existential piece of work. It doesn't matter though because with the Criterion release you are getting both and if you like to collect interesting and unique films that will have you talking then this set is worth owning. The film itself would probably get three stars from me but the Criterion release justifies four. It really is an exceptional package. The extras are outstanding and should help answer most questions you will have. Provoking movies like this one, whether they be good or bad, deserve the royal treatment so kudos to Criterion once again.
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 		 Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars I really love David Bowie performances
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fell-Earth-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/014119037X/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

The Man Who Fell to Earth achieved cult film status for David Bowie's... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Gennaro Troiso

4.0 out of 5 stars A spiritual allegory
This film is best approached from the perspective of a spiritual allegory. It is replete with esoteric symbolism that will be missed by those not initiated into it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by The holo-man

2.0 out of 5 stars past its sell-by-date
I saw this film half a dozen times between 1978 and 1983. It was enthralling then, but it really possesses very little meaning nowadays. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Fuficius Fango

5.0 out of 5 stars The Man Who Fell To Earth
Excellent DVD, lovely film, a very original sci-fi story, and surreal epic, great cast and a diamond for any Bowie fan. Read more
Published 8 months ago by i

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing film
Strange and unusual film but still very good, i loved the storyline with this. David Bowie plays a great part as the visitor from another planet. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ms. K. A. Morris

5.0 out of 5 stars I think Mr Newton has had enough. Yes, I think he has.
The Man Who Fell to Earth. Fantastic. The plot is simple and quite clever, based on Walter Tevis' novel: An alien comes to Earth in order to save his planet and his family... Read more
Published 10 months ago by S. Bentley

5.0 out of 5 stars lack of water
what I could never figure out is that he could replicate anything many times over as is exemplified via his many wedding rings... Read more
Published 21 months ago by M. Curtis

5.0 out of 5 stars David Bowie Is Brilliant
This is my favourite film of all-time. I have seen it on the big screen, on video and many times on TV...and now three times in 24 hours on DVD. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2007 by The Critic

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Career
A film about an alien, Thomas Newton, played by David Bowie who crashes on Earth in a search for water for his home planet. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2007 by HGDave

5.0 out of 5 stars bowie's best
this is definitely bowie's best ever performance and he looks amazing - a superb casting choice. i really loved this film and i suspect you will too - especially if you are a fan... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2007 by Adrian Baldwin

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