The Man Who Fell to Earth – 1976 | 140 mins | Science-Fiction | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Based on a novel by Walter Tevis, Nicholas Roeg’s beautifully photographed The Man Who Fell To Earth stars the otherworldly David Bowie, barely having to act to play an alien who crash-lands in New Mexico. It’s a dazzling, virtuoso display by Roeg, if a little incoherent at times.

Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie), an alien visitor from a doomed planet, arrives one day at a remote Kentucky town. Using his advanced technological knowledge, Newton has soon hired New York lawyer Oliver Farnsworth (Buck Henry) to quickly help him build a corporate empire by patenting his inventions. Newton takes on – and beats – every major US corporation, hoping to fund the construction of a spacecraft that will enable him a life-saving return to his drought-ridden world. Newton’s fall from grace is caused by very earthly ambitions, alcohol and his love for hotel clerk Mary Lou (Candy Clark). His phenomenal rise to power and eccentric behaviour continues and Newton employs philandering professor Nathan Bryce (Rip Torn) to his company. His meteoric rise does not go unnoticed by the government and his business competitors who insist that he sell the design patents. Newton refuses and is taken captive. Years pass as he is held in a deserted hotel and forced to endure many torturous tests by doctors. Newton eventually escapes his captors but his company is now ruined and so is left to wander the Earth as a drunk who can never return home.