The Creation of the Humanoids (1962)

In a world after nuclear war destroyed 92% of the human population, humanity uses blue-skinned humanoid robots called Clickers as servants and workers. As the Clickers become more sophisticated and humanlike, an anti-robot watchdog group called the Order of Flesh and Blood rises in power. When the Order discovers Clickers are creating robots that are identical to humans and one of them has killed a man, conflict between the humans and Clickers seems inevitable.One of the smartest and most original sci-fi films of its time. Unfortunately, its talkiness and static direction prevent many from recognizing its worth. In my view the smart script, relatively short runtime, and steady pace balance out the criticisms. I don't even see a problem with the low budget since they do remarkably well with what they have. It's a movie full of ideas and great dialogue that gives you a lot to think about and still holds relevance to topical issues of today. It's what sci-fi is, at its best, all about. Creepy electronic music score is a plus. Also one of the last films of legendary makeup artist Jack Pierce.I see other reviewers crying for a remake. What a waste of everybody's time that would be. First, the ideas presented and explored here were revolutionary for sci-fi films of the early 1960s. That wouldn't be the case today so it would hold little impact as a modern film. What seems thoughtful for that time would be just another preachy message movie made today. Second, and we all know this is true, they would attempt to fix the original's technical flaws by having tons of shitty CGI and ridiculous action sequences. It doesn't need to be remade. It's an excellent and underrated science fiction film from the later part of the golden era of sci-fi. People need to learn to appreciate movies that are older and have a lot to offer, instead of just trying to update them to today's often crass and ostentatious "standards." Make new stuff for today and stop mining the past for ideas, please.

Directed and produced by Wesley Barry, CREATION of the HUMANOIDS is a futuristic tale where post nuclear war survivors create blue-skinned, silver eyed human-like robots to serve mankind. The human population is unaware that the fuse between man and robot, the humanoids, has actually formed a high standard work force and society. The lingering radiation has caused a decline in the human birth rate and soon the Humanoids, in the process of learning feelings, emotions and memory, will out number flesh and blood humans. A fanatical organization tries to prevent the robots from becoming too human. Players include: Don Megowan, Erica Elliot, Don Doolittle, George Milan, Frances McCann and David Cross.

What "Ice Station Zebra" was to Howard Hughes, "Gone With the Wind" is to Michele Lee and "Lawrence of Arabia" is to George Takei, 1962's "The Creation of the Humanoids" was, famously, to Andy Warhol: the reported favorite film of a renowned celebrity. As it turns out, however, "Humanoids" is as idiosyncratic and offbeat as was its famous admirer. In it, 92 percent of the Earth's population has been killed off by a 48-hour atomic war, and the so-called "Clickers"--humanoid robots with dozens of varying abilities--have been created to improve mankind's lot. The film centers on a hunky dude named (The) Cragis, a gerontologist by day and a member of the robot-fearing Order of Flesh and Blood by night. Cragis learns that the robots have perfected a method of transplanting a man's essence into a robotic body, fueling his organization's paranoia. But more far-reaching secrets are yet in store....Anyway, this truly is one bizarre little movie, and I use the term "movie" with reluctance, as that expression implies movement, which this picture most assuredly lacks. If anything, "Humanoids" resembles a filmed stage play, with six or seven discrete acts; really, it would be easily adapted for the theatre. The picture is nothing if not stagy; it is basically all talk, with zero action and almost no motion whatsoever. The actors stand in place and deliver their lines theatrically, while director Wesley E. Barry keeps his camera trained on them. There is hardly a special effect to be had, and the picture looks as if it had cost around $500 to make (but probably cost twice that). That's the bad news. Fortunately, there IS plenty of good. The film is also surprisingly well acted by its relatively no-name cast (the only name I recognized was Dudley Manlove, of "Plan 9 From Outer Space" fame!); Don Megowan as (The) Cragis is particularly good. The script, although a tad dry, nonetheless contains highly challenging philosophical discussions on the nature of man and machine (although not to the degree attained by Data and Picard in "ST: TNG"); it is a refreshingly intelligent film, full of ideas. The look of the picture is also unique, with interesting sets and great use of color; the film FEELS like no other I have ever experienced. Clocking in at 75 minutes, "Humanoids" is compactly told, and features an atmospheric, all-electronic score, a la the great "Forbidden Planet." Though the film bears little resemblance to its supposed inspiration, Jack Williamson's famous novel "The Humanoids" (1949), it is yet a sui generis effort that succeeds in impressing. And where else are you going to find the line "How do you apologize to someone for killing them?"? All in all, an interesting choice, Andy!

Creation of the Humanoids, The (1962) BOMB (out of 4) There seems to be a lot of debate over whether this film is downright horrid or way ahead of its time. Needless to say but I'm one who thinks it is horrid. The movie takes place years after a nuclear bomb has gone off and pretty much destroyed civilization. One human (Don Megowan) wants all the robots killed after one of them kills a popular doctor but the robots feel that they have much more to offer in the world. Soon the two sides are discussing their options and what might be best for the future. To say this movie is talky would be an understatement but it should come as no shock that this was apparently one of Andy Warhol's favorite movies. This movie might have a good idea hiding somewhere behind the badness and there's no question that this movie would influence upcoming films about human-robots but that doesn't take away from the fact that this thing looks incredibly cheap, has horrible acting, bad directing and goes on way too long. It's funny that one would say a 75-minute goes on too long but that's pretty much the case here because we get one long dialogue sequence after another and nothing being said is the least bit interesting. We have the robots talking about why they're important. We have the humans talking about why the robots should be destroyed. We have the robots explaining that they worship the same God that humans do. This talk is pretty much the entire movie and it gets boring within the first five minutes. Megowan played the Gil Man in THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US and even the Gil Man would be embarrassed by the performance here. We also have Dudley Manlove from PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, which is a classic compared to this thing. The robots look pretty cheap but the make up was done by Universal legend Jack Pierce and what a shame his talents were being used in movies like this. It seems this film has gathered a nice cult following over the years but the nice ideas behind some of the things in the movie isn't enough to make it good. You really can't overlook all the badness this film has to offer and especially how incredibly boring it all is.