The Satan Bug (1965)

John Sturges is probably best known for Westerns such as Gunfight at the OK Corral, The Magnificent Seven, and Last Train from Gun Hill, but his love of the desert landscape is also seen in Bad Day at Black Rock and this film. It opens in Station Three, a top-secret Government chemical weapons laboratory, surrounded by desert, and the story concerns a deadly new weapon, the Satan Bug of the title.Barratt, previously an intelligence agent, played by George Maharis, is approached by his former boss to investigate the murder of the station’s security chief, and disappearance of Baxter, its director and head scientist. After taking precautions he enters the high security laboratory where Baxter was working, and discovers Baxter dead, and vials of botulinus toxin and the Satan Bug missing.After establishing that the killer must have been smuggled into the building in a supposed delivery of supplies, he is summoned to a meeting with General Williams and his daughter Ann, played by Dana Andrews and Anne Francis. Here they receive a telegram threatening to release the stolen toxin unless Station Three is destroyed, and further investigation reveals the sender to be Ainsley, a reclusive millionaire.An incident in Florida confirms that the threat was genuine and Barratt follows up a clue to the stolen vials are hidden, only to be captured with Ann by two of Ainsley’s henchmen. The rest of the film covers their efforts to escape and foil the plans of Ainsley.Anne Francis also appeared in Bad Day at Black Rock, as well as making the first appearance of a mini-skirt in Forbidden Planet, and Richard Basehart plays one of the scientists at Station Three. Otherwise, the rest of the cast comprises little known character actors, though Ed Asner, as one of the henchmen later became well known in the TV series Lou Grant. Lee Remick makes a brief appearance as a cocktail waitress.Deserving of special mention are the photography and music. The director of photography, Robert Surtees, who so effectively captures the atmosphere of the desert, was a Hollywood veteran who had a run of successes from Ben Hur, through The Graduate and the Last Picture Show, to The Sting. Goldsmith’s score for the film, which helps to create its eerie mood, ranks with that for Alien as one of his best.Alister MacLean, known for Where Eagles Dare and The Guns of Navarone, wrote the original novel (as Ian Stuart) which was originally set in an English laboratory. The script was the work of James Clavell and Edward Anhalt. Clavell, though probably best known for the novel and TV series Shogun, had a varied career as screen writer and director, and had worked previously with Sturges, including on The Great Escape.While this version of the film is much superior to earlier ones, there are two problems. The most crucial is that it is limited to Region A, and therefore will not play on normal UK Blu-ray equipment. It also lacks subtitles and extras are limited to a commentary by film historian Glenn Erickson, more concerned with similar films than The Satan Bug itself, and the original theatrical trailer.Good as it is, the film’s later stages are more conventional than the impressive opening scenes, so regretfully, I can only award four stars since it doesn’t quite match up to Sturges’ other films.

Yes, It's region 'A'.The picture definition of this Blu-Ray transfer is quite astonishing, and is the main reason I enjoyed this film. Please read Keith Naylor's review with regard to the look of the film, I can't improve on his description. The cinematographer and art department did a fine job.I enjoyed the film the most while listening to the audio commentary, by a film historian chap called Glenn Erickson.The film is not that good in all other areas.It does have the feel of a T.V. movie from the 60's or 70's.The basic story is a good one, but not presented very well in my view. Too much dialogue and exposition, slow paced, not enough action, and at nearly two hours, a bit too long.However, I'm reviewing this during the 2020 covid 19 pandemic, which gives the film a certain 'edge'.Whether it's worth paying around £40 is debatable, I paid just over £20 inc. postage for a used copy, I wouldn't want to pay any more than that. 'Puppet on a Chain' it ain't.

What Amazon do not tell you is that this is a Region A BluRay release, so it will not normally play on Region B BluRays. It doesn't play on mine. If you have a multi-region player, then it will be fine.Also it comes from the USA, so if you are unlucky and your parcel is the one that is randomly picked off the conveyor belt by customs officers, you would be charge around £15 to retrieve it.

The chase is on after deadly strains are stolen from a US germ warfare base.Average thriller comparable to a 60s 70s TV movie. It could really have done with a greater budget and some explicite special effects to show the effects of the bugs.BUT what is worthy of GREAT PRAISE is the BLU RAY presentation from KINO LORBER. If anyone wants to see how truely astonishing older movies can look when carefully restored and released on Blu Ray THIS is the one to get. The stunning presentation clearly displays the perfectly focused cinematography in which numerous scenes from grand vistas to grains of sand can be seen in perfect clarity. Truely Amazing! The reviewer 'ALEX TEE' who complains about the poor picture quality on his DVD should order this Blu Ray without delay. He will be amazed. KAN

This review is for the Italian DVD version.Quality of Picture 3/5Lets get this one out of the way first. If your looking for a good quality digitally remastered version, this is not it and I doubt one exists at the time of this review. The picture is grainy but is the at the quality level i would expect from this level of film transfer of a 1960s film. I personally feel this version is slightly better than the Spanish and English versions of the DVD.Sound 3/5Again this feels like a transfer of an old print and therefore the sound will not be at the quality expected on other "remastered" DVDs from that periodExtras 1/5The extras are very limited and include some photo stills and the trailer.Film Review 3/5Rotten Tomatoes has rated the film at 60% for critics and 43% for users. The film seems a little dated now but is an interesting thriller which keeps pace even if the Science is a little outdated.

one of the better 1960`s sci-fi movie`s,but the book is set in uk,just forget about that,very hard to get a top copy of this film,only private seller dvd-r copies are any good,the latest mgm ltd edition has had bad report`s from the usa,so either wait till on tv again or see what you can find on internet,great afternoon entertainment and one of just a few sci-fi flicks anybody can watch,even if not into that type of film.More a thriller than anything else,only down side is in one scene they cannot find the baddies,then they have them,makes you think part of movie missing,but apart from that good action and great looking location`s,just try for the best copy you can find.