★ 6 / 10
For a while, this first Hammer sci-fi offering
CinemaSerf
For a while, this first Hammer sci-fi offering is actually quite interesting: two childhood friends develop a machine that can replicate anything - animal…
For a while, this first Hammer sci-fi offering is actually quite interesting: two childhood friends develop a machine that can replicate anything - animal, vegetable, mineral - you name it. When "Robin" (John van Eyssen) marries their childhood friend "Lena" (Barbara Peyton) his co-developer, "Bill" (Stephen Murray) contrives to makes an identical version of his own whom he calls "Helen". Now the fly in his ointment is that "Helen" is too good a duplicate - unfortunately she loves his mate too - and so poor old "Bill" is faced with a real dilemma. The story is quite fun, but the acting is pretty mediocre and the dialogue a bit too staccato to keep the story flowing. The effects, such as they are, are a bit on the basic side too with sets that wobble and glow like an old edition of "Dr. Who". It's not terrible, and as a first effort in his genre from a studio far better versed in horror genres, is an ok watch from writer/director Terence Fisher.
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★ 6 / 10
A Real Body Double
BaronBl00d
Rather clever, perhaps over-drawn science fiction(for lack of another fitting category) about two young men who discover how to replicate any matter…
Rather clever, perhaps over-drawn science fiction(for lack of another fitting category) about two young men who discover how to replicate any matter whatsoever. The two lads are assisted by gorgeous Barbara Payton and only one of the guys gets the girl. Soon the other pines for his lost love and tries sending live matter through the replicating devices with the express purpose of duplicating his lost love Lena. Hammer horror icon Terrance Fisher directs this early Hammer film with style albeit on a small scale with a very limited budget. The science of the film shouldn't be dwelled on too terribly long if you want to buy into the film, and it is the means to tell a story of a love triangle which soon has a fourth side - a four sided love triangle. The film has a lot of narration by James Hayter as a doctor that took in one of the men as a boy. Hayter adds some much needed credibility to the film and is a voice of reason - to a degree - and compassion. The implications of the new technology are only superficially explored and soon you see the plot turning into yet another Frankenstein -type film with man destined to try and become God and create life. What makes this film work is Fisher's low-key direction and simple yet sturdy performances by all concerned. Payton is very lovely as well. While certainly not in the ranks of great Hammer films or great Fisher films, Four Sided Triangle is thought-provoking, engaging, and predictable.
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★ 7 / 10
Hammer's First Sci-Fi Outing A Winner
ferbs54
Now here's a film that should appeal to anyone who's ever found him/herself in the unwanted third of a classic love triangle. What to do if you're that…
Now here's a film that should appeal to anyone who's ever found him/herself in the unwanted third of a classic love triangle. What to do if you're that unfortunate third wheel? Well, if you're Dr. Leggat, in "Four Sided Triangle" (1953), and you've just perfected your revolutionary duplicating device, you put your gal in it, make yourself a knockoff copy and hope for the best. But things go a tad awry in this very clever tale... I've gotta tell you, I really did enjoy this movie. With its small cast of characters, beautiful B&W photography, imaginative camera angles and laboratory setting, it almost suggested a British variant of an old "Outer Limits" episode. But this is in truth a Hammer film--their first sci-fi outing--and directed wonderfully by Terence Fisher, who would go on to many more successes for this legendary studio. The film is very well written--almost, dare I say it, literately written--extremely well acted and tightly scripted. Yes, it was cheaply made, but somehow everything still looks fine, particularly the impressive lab equipment, and the DVD here is as crisp and clean looking as can be. This cautionary tale on cloning turns out to be a real little gem, and deserves a wide audience. The Maltin book inexplicably gives it a "BOMB" rating, but "DVD Delirium," another wonderful film guide, sings its praises. In this case, I think the Maltin book has got it all wrong. See for yourself...
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5.9/10
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Hammer Film ;-)