SYNOPSIS...

A doctor, who wants to help humanity, develops a new drug. He takes it himself and discovers he can see through things.

The doctor as first enjoys his new gift. He uses his new ability for his personal and financial gain. It causes him to deteriorate physically.

The doctor ends up using his ability in a carnival sideshow act. Despairing, he blinds himself.

Review:

Director Roger Corman's THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES is a well made, low budget Sci-Fi fable.

Ray Milland ("The Lost Weekend") is Doctor Xavier. When he tries out an experimental drug on himself, he discovers he can see through objects.

My favorite scene is when Milland takes the drug and then goes to a party. Although we don't really see anything, Milland's fun at secretly seeing everybody buck naked is our fun too.

Ray Milland, who had appeared in many fine "A" movies, prior to this exploitation flick, gives a full out performance here. If he felt he was superior to this kind of material, it doesn't show in his performance.

Insult comedian, Don Rickles ("C.P.O. Sharkey") is surprisingly effective as a carnival worker. Harold J. Stone ("The Sting") and John Hoyt ("The Time Travelers") deliver sturdy performances as doctors Milland visits.

The Screenplay, by Robert Dillon and Ray Russell, has a strange, dream/nightmare quality to it. It also has the flavor and air of a modern-day Greek tragedy, which it basically is.

The pacing of this movie is quite good. Film Editor, Anthony Carras, deserves some of the credit.

Director of Photography, Floyd Crosby, makes good use of the film's premise to give us creative visuals. Milland's P.O.V. shots are especially clever and imaginative.

THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES should be watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. Milland fans will be well entertained. THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES is well worth viewing. See ya at the video store.