History Film / TheFly1958

''The Fly'' is a 1958 Creator/VincentPrice horror movie (though contrary to popular belief, Price doesn’t play the ill-fated protagonist), which is based on the short story "Literature/TheFly". Has since become a CultClassic.

A scientist invents [[TeleportersAndTransporters a teleportation device]]. Unfortunately, when he tests it, a fly is in the chamber with him. The two switch heads and a hand, much to the chagrin of the scientist's wife. Now the family must find the fly that has his head and hand so he can properly switch them back before it's too late.

Screenwriter James Clavell would later become famous for writing the "Literature/AsianSaga" series of novels, such as ''Shogun'' and ''Tai-Pan''. This film began the transition of Vincent Price from character actor to horror movie star, even though he plays Andre’s sympathetic and quietly lovelorn brother François and not Andre himself, as he surely would have if this movie had been made later in his career.

Screenwriter James Clavell would later become famous for writing the "Literature/AsianSaga" series of novels, such as ''Shogun'' and ''Tai-Pan''.

* PlayingAgainstType: Vincent Price was still transitioning into his “type” as primarily a horror actor to begin with when this film was made, but it can still seem surprising to modern audiences to see him playing Andre’s sympathetic and quietly lovelorn brother François and not Andre himself.

* ConfirmedBatchelor: François is the Casanova type at the beginning of the film.

* ConfirmedBatchlor: François is the Casanova type at the beginning of the film.

* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: Andre does research work for Canada's non-existent Air Ministry. This is an artifact from the original short story in which he worked for France's Air Ministry, the department which oversaw the French Air Force up to a decade before the story was released.

* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: Andre does research work for Canada's non-existent Air Ministry. This is an artifact from the original short story in which he worked for France's Air Ministry, the department which oversaw the French Air Force at the time.

* BittersweetEnding: Andre the scientist is forced to commit suicide because his fly components are degrading his human mind and they can't find the fly with human components. At the climax of the movie, the inspector gives a mercy kill to the fly-human just as it is about to be devoured by the spider. However, this convinces him that the scientist's wife is not a murderer and, with Francois the brother-in-law, he is able to concoct a plea-bargain that lets her avoid being hanged or condemned to the insane asylum. At the very end of the movie, the mother and son are moving on from the traumatic loss of the scientist, and it is implied that she is falling in love with Francois, who had always loved her from afar.

''The Fly'' is a 1958 Creator/VincentPrice horror movie, which is based on the short story "Literature/TheFly". Has since become a CultClassic.

''Film/ReturnOfTheFly'' (1959) and ''Curse of the Fly'' (1965) are direct sequels. The film was [[Film/TheFly1986 remade in 1986]] by director Creator/DavidCronenberg.

-->''"HEEEELP MEEEE! HEEEEEEEEELP MEEEEEEEEE!"''

''The Fly'' is a 1958 Creator/VincentPrice horror movie, which is based on the short story ''Literature/TheFly''. Has since become a CultClassic.

''Return of the Fly'' (1959) and ''Curse of the Fly'' (1965) are direct sequels. The film was [[Film/TheFly1986 remade in 1986]] by director Creator/DavidCronenberg.

* DownerEnding: Andre the scientist is forced to commit suicide because his fly components are degrading his human mind and they can't find the fly with human components. At the climax of the movie, the inspector gives a mercy kill to the fly-human just as it is about to be devoured by the spider. However, this convinces him that the scientist's wife is not a murderer and, with Francois the brother-in-law, he is able to concoct a plea-bargain that lets her avoid being hanged or condemned to the insane asylum. At the very end of the movie, the mother and son are moving on from the traumatic loss of the scientist, and it is implied that she is falling in love with Francois, who had always loved her from afar.

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Andre the scientist is forced to commit suicide because his fly components are degrading his human mind and they can't find the fly with human components. At the climax of the movie, the inspector gives a mercy kill to the fly-human just as it is about to be devoured by the spider. However, this convinces him that the scientist's wife is not a murderer and, with Francois the brother-in-law, he is able to concoct a plea-bargain that lets her avoid being hanged or condemned to the insane asylum. At the very end of the movie, the mother and son are moving on from the traumatic loss of the scientist, and it is implied that she is falling in love with Francois, who had always loved her from afar.]]

* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:Andre's wife Helene commits suicide in the original short story, while in the film, she gets better from her guilt.]]

* BillingDisplacement: Price does not play the mad scientist, though most people think he does.

* NightmareFuel: The fly's cry (from the page quote) as it is trapped in the spider's web and is about to be eaten.