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{{Ep infobox
 
{{Ep infobox
| name =409 - The Indestructible Man
+
| name =409 - Indestructible Man
 
| image =0409.jpg
 
| image =0409.jpg
 
| image_size =280px
 
| image_size =280px
Line 15: Line 15:
 
[[Marian Carr]]
 
[[Marian Carr]]
 
| short1 =Undersea Kingdom, Episode 2: The Undersea City
 
| short1 =Undersea Kingdom, Episode 2: The Undersea City
| s1director =
+
| s1director =B. Reeves Eason<br>Joseph Kane
| s1year =
+
| s1year =1936
| s1cast =
+
| s1cast =Ray Corrigan<br>[[Lon Chaney Jr.]]<br>[[Lee Van Atta]]
 
| Short2 =
 
| Short2 =
 
| s2director =
 
| s2director =
 
| s2year =
 
| s2year =
| preceded_by =408 - [[Hercules Unchained]]
+
| preceded_by =408 - [[MST3K 408 - Hercules Unchained|Hercules Unchained]]
| followed_by =410 - [[Hercules Against the Moon Men]]
+
| followed_by =410 - [[MST3K 410 - Hercules Against the Moon Men|Hercules Against the Moon Men]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{Quote|''(Having taken several bullets, a bazooka round, and a blast from a flamethrower, Lon Chaney emerges from the sewer much the worse for wear)''
 
{{Quote|''(Having taken several bullets, a bazooka round, and a blast from a flamethrower, Lon Chaney emerges from the sewer much the worse for wear)''
 
Now I think he's just the incredibly resilient man.
 
Now I think he's just the incredibly resilient man.
Line 30: Line 29:
   
 
==The Short==
 
==The Short==
  +
{{main|Undersea Kingdom (serial)}}
 
 
===Synopsis===
 
===Synopsis===
 
[[File:409s.jpg|left|thumb|220x220px]]
 
[[File:409s.jpg|left|thumb|220x220px]]
Line 38: Line 37:
   
 
===Information===
 
===Information===
Some folks say that Raymond Bernard, a.k.a. “Crash” Corrigan, got his nickname because he had the physical ability and willingness to do his own stunts. Other folks say that the nickname was invented by Republic Pictures’ publicity department, so that it would sound a bit like “Flash Gordon.
+
* There has been speculation among film historians that Raymond Bernard, a.k.a. "Crash" Corrigan, got his nickname because he had the physical ability and willingness to do his own stunts. Others say that the nickname was invented by Republic Pictures’ publicity department, so that it would sound a bit like "Flash Gordon".
   
 
==The Movie==
 
==The Movie==
Line 44: Line 43:
 
===Synopsis===
 
===Synopsis===
 
[[File:Indestructible1.PNG|thumb|233x233px|'''''The Indestructible Man'''''|left]]
 
[[File:Indestructible1.PNG|thumb|233x233px|'''''The Indestructible Man'''''|left]]
Told in flashback by police detective Dick Chasen (Showalter), the movie concerns a 72-hour period of horror for the main characters. Charles "Butcher" Benton (Chaney) is a double-crossed convicted robber and murderer who was executed in the gas chamber. His body is unlawfully sold to a scientist (Robert Shayne), who plans to move his testing to human subjects. The corpse is subjected to chemical injection and massive jolts of high-frequency electricity in order to study the effect on human tissues. But Benton's heart is restimulated and he completely revives (though rendered mute due to electrical damage to his vocal cords), immensely strong and with
+
Told in flashback by police detective Dick Chasen (Showalter), the movie concerns a 72-hour period of horror for the main characters. Charles "Butcher" Benton (Chaney) is a double-crossed convicted robber and murderer who was executed in the gas chamber. His body is unlawfully sold to a scientist (Robert Shayne), who plans to move his testing to human subjects.
  +
  +
The corpse is subjected to chemical injection and massive jolts of high-frequency electricity in order to study the effect on human tissues. But Benton's heart is re-stimulated and he completely revives (though rendered mute due to electrical damage to his vocal cords), immensely strong and with
 
skin virtually impervious—even to bullets.
 
skin virtually impervious—even to bullets.
  +
After killing the doctor and his assistant (Joe Flynn),<nowiki> </nowiki>Benton sets out to avenge himself on his attorney and the lawyer's henchmen who, in collusion with the attorney, had betrayed Benton in order to steal his loot. Benton had left the location of his stash to his stripper-girlfriend (Carr), who had since gone straight and begun dating the detective who brought Benton to justice, after she had rejected the lawyer's own advances.
+
After killing the doctor and his assistant ([[Joe Flynn]]), Benton sets out to avenge himself on his attorney and the lawyer's henchmen who, in collusion with the attorney, had betrayed Benton in order to steal his loot. Benton had left the location of his stash to his stripper-girlfriend (Carr), who had since gone straight and begun dating the detective who brought Benton to justice, after she had rejected the lawyer's own advances.
   
 
The story then follows Benton's revenge on his enemies; the police who first learn of a wave of mysterious killing, then of Benton's reanimation; and the developing relationship between the detective and the stripper. The lawyer, fearing for his life after the two henchman are murdered, confesses the plot to the police, and reveals that Benton had always used the sewer system to evade detection; and to find a hiding place for the money, as it turns out.
 
The story then follows Benton's revenge on his enemies; the police who first learn of a wave of mysterious killing, then of Benton's reanimation; and the developing relationship between the detective and the stripper. The lawyer, fearing for his life after the two henchman are murdered, confesses the plot to the police, and reveals that Benton had always used the sewer system to evade detection; and to find a hiding place for the money, as it turns out.
   
<nowiki> </nowiki>Tracked down by the police, Benton is weakened but not killed when he takes a direct hit in the solar plexus from a bazooka, and is disfigured by a flame thrower. He runs to a power station, where he maneuvers metal equipment and himself into position to trigger a high-voltage jolt of electricity, which kills him. At the fade-out, Chasen proposes to his girlfriend.
+
Tracked down by the police, Benton is weakened but not killed when he takes a direct hit in the solar plexus from a bazooka, and is disfigured by a flame thrower. He runs to a power station, where he maneuvers metal equipment and himself into position to trigger a high-voltage jolt of electricity, which kills him. At the fade-out, Chasen proposes to his girlfriend.
   
 
===Information===
 
===Information===
 
* The film's title card does not contain the word "the". The film is also known simply as "Indestructible Man".
 
* The film's title card does not contain the word "the". The film is also known simply as "Indestructible Man".
* Released on a double bill with ''Worlds Without End (1956)''.
+
* Released on a double bill with ''[[World Without End (film)|World Without End]]'' (1956), which was riffed during the ''[[Mystery Science Theater Alive!]]'' Live Show in [[1992]].
 
* Chaney reportedly asked director Jack Pollexfen not to make any dialogue changes or additions after the lunch break, when he usually drank heavily.
 
* Chaney reportedly asked director Jack Pollexfen not to make any dialogue changes or additions after the lunch break, when he usually drank heavily.
 
* Lon Chaney has no spoken lines in this movie following the opening scene in his prison cell.
 
* Lon Chaney has no spoken lines in this movie following the opening scene in his prison cell.
* Lt. Chasen mentions putting in a call to a Professor Dwiggins at Caltech who may know about Professor Bradshaw's work. Sue Dwiggins is the real name of co-writer Sue Bradford.
+
* Lt. Chasen mentions putting in a call to a Professor Dwiggins at CalTech who may know about Professor Bradshaw's work. Sue Dwiggins is the real name of co-writer Sue Bradford.
  +
* The movie features two locations used in many other movies: there is a scene that takes place on the short railway Angels Flight (used in other movies like ''Kiss Me, Deadly, ''and ''The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies), ''and another scene in the Bradbury Building (used in ''Double Indemnity, ''and probably most famously as Sebastian's apartment building in ''Blade Runner.)''
   
 
==The Episode==
 
==The Episode==
Line 74: Line 77:
 
from the Bots. When the Bots take over, Joel ponders what he has wrought on the world.
 
from the Bots. When the Bots take over, Joel ponders what he has wrought on the world.
   
'''Segment Five:''' Joel and the Bots sign the "No Cops & Donuts Joke Accord". In a coincidence, cops visit [[Deep 13]] to deliver a noise citation for the party.
+
'''Segment Five:''' Joel and the Bots sign the "No Cops & Doughnuts Joke Accord". At the same time, police officers visit [[Deep 13]] to issue a noise citation for the party.
   
'''Stinger:''' The somehow less-than-Indestructible Man pathetically struggles to move a manhole cover
+
'''Stinger:''' The somehow less-than-Indestructible Man struggles to move a manhole cover.
   
===Other Notes===
+
===MST3K cast===
  +
  +
Regular cast
  +
  +
*[[Joel Hodgson]] - [[Joel Robinson]]
  +
*[[Trace Beaulieu]] - [[Crow T. Robot]] / [[Dr. Clayton Forrester]] / [[Tom Servo]]
  +
*[[Kevin Murphy]] - [[Tom Servo]] / [[Crow T. Robot]]
  +
*[[Frank Conniff]] - [[TV's Frank]]
  +
*[[Jim Mallon]] - [[Gypsy]] / [[Magic Voice]]
  +
*[[Alexandra Carr]] - [[Gypsy]]
  +
  +
Guest cast
  +
 
*[[The Unusual Cops|Officer Mike]] - [[Michael J. Nelson]]
 
*[[The Unusual Cops|Officer Kevin]] - [[Kevin Murphy]]
  +
  +
===Trivia===
 
* Joel's reference to Crow's "Little Billy" doll from ''[[Attack of the Giant Leeches]]'' hints at the impending ''Undersea Kingdom'' short.
 
* Joel's reference to Crow's "Little Billy" doll from ''[[Attack of the Giant Leeches]]'' hints at the impending ''Undersea Kingdom'' short.
 
* During the SOL's portion of the Invention Exchange, Crow describes the Bret Easton Ellis novel ''American Psycho'' as "...controversial, yet all-but-forgotten". The novel would return to the popular consciousness after being adapted into a successful film starring [[Christian Bale]] in the year 2000.
 
* During the SOL's portion of the Invention Exchange, Crow describes the Bret Easton Ellis novel ''American Psycho'' as "...controversial, yet all-but-forgotten". The novel would return to the popular consciousness after being adapted into a successful film starring [[Christian Bale]] in the year 2000.
 
* [[Lon Chaney Jr.]] plays Hakur in the short "Undersea Kingdom" and stars in ''The Indestructible Man'' as Butcher Benton. This may be the only episode in which an actor appears in a prominent role in both the short and the feature.
* In the first Host Segment, [[Dr. Forrester]] states that ''The Indestructible Man'' stars [[Casey Adams]] "...of [[Catalina Caper|''Catalina Caper'']] fame." This is not accurate. Dr. F is most likely confusing Casey Adams (who played Lt. Chasen, and who had also worked under the name "Max Showalter") with [[Del Moore]], who played the similarly WASP-ish Arthur Duval in ''Catalina Caper''.
 
  +
* The Florida Institute of Marine Biology Marching Band that appears in the parade during Host Segment Two are all repainted Magneto action figures from Toy Biz's 1991 X-Men assortment.
* [[Lon Chaney Jr.]] plays Hakur in the short “Undersea Kingdom” and stars in ''The Indestructible Man'' as Butcher Benton. This may be the only episode in which an actor appears in a prominent role in both the short and the feature.
 
'''Guest Stars'''
 
*''[[The Unusual Cops|Officer Mike]]'': [[Michael J. Nelson]]
 
*''[[The Unusual Cops|Officer Kevin]]'': [[Kevin Murphy]]
 
   
 
=== Callbacks ===
 
=== Callbacks ===
* ''“Want some?”'' ([[Daddy-O]])
+
* ''"You got me."'' (''[[Catalina Caper (film)|Catalina Caper]]'')
  +
* ''"[[Hi-keeba]]!"'' (''[[Women of the Prehistoric Planet (film)|Women of the Prehistoric Planet]]'')
  +
* ''"Want some?"'' ([[MST3K 307 - Daddy-O|''Daddy-O'']])
 
* [[Building Code Under Fire]]
 
* [[Building Code Under Fire]]
* The routine Tom and Crow fall into at the end of segment 3 is from [[The Side Hackers]]. 
+
* The routine Tom and Crow fall into at the end of segment 3 is from [[MST3K 202 - The Side Hackers|''The Side Hackers'']]. 
  +
  +
===Goofs===
 
* In the first Host Segment, [[Dr. Forrester]] states that ''Indestructible Man'' "...stars [[Casey Adams]] of ''[[Catalina Caper (film)|Catalina Caper]]'' fame." This is not accurate. Dr. F is most likely confusing Casey Adams (who played Lt. Chasen, and who had also worked under the name "Max Showalter") with [[Del Moore]], who played the similarly WASP-ish Arthur Duval in ''Catalina Caper''. To further muddy the waters, Duval's wife Anne was portrayed by [[Sue Casey]].
   
 
== Obscure References ==
 
== Obscure References ==
  +
*''"Crazy...toys in the attic, he is crazy..."''
  +
:Crow (with Tom's voice) sings a line from "The Trial", the climactic song from Pink Floyd's album "The Wall."
  +
*''"It is Balloon!"''
  +
:Gypsy is referring to ''F-Troop'', a western sitcom from the mid-1960s. In the episode "Bye Bye Balloon" this line is spoken by the Hekawi leader, Chief Wild Eagle.
 
*''"Ooooh-ooooh, Monte Blue, that's a game for..."''
 
*''"Ooooh-ooooh, Monte Blue, that's a game for..."''
Joel is parodying the [[Wikipedia:Ozark Mountain Daredevils|Ozark Mountain Daredevils]] song "[[Wikipedia:Jackie Blue (song)|Jackie Blue]]".
+
:Joel is parodying the [[Wikipedia:Ozark Mountain Daredevils|Ozark Mountain Daredevils]] song "[[Wikipedia:Jackie Blue (song)|Jackie Blue]]".
 
*''"Unga Khan, Unga Khan, mad tyrant of Atlantis..."''
 
*''"Unga Khan, Unga Khan, mad tyrant of Atlantis..."''
A parody of the rap from the [[Wikipedia:Chaka Khan|Chaka Khan]] song "I Feel For You".
+
:A parody of the rap from [[Wikipedia:Chaka Khan|Chaka Khan's]] recording of "I Feel for You", a song by [[Prince]].
 
*''"He actually looks like Jimmy Carl Black, doesn't he?"'' ''"The Indian of the group."''
 
*''"He actually looks like Jimmy Carl Black, doesn't he?"'' ''"The Indian of the group."''
[[Wikipedia:Jimmy Carl Black|Jimmy Carl Black]] was the drummer for [[Wikipedia:Frank Zappa|Frank Zappa's]] band [[Wikipedia:The Mothers of Invention|The Mothers of Invention]], and routinely introduced himself as "the Indian of the group" in reference to his [[Wikipedia:Cheyenne|Cheyenne]] heritage.
+
:[[Wikipedia:Jimmy Carl Black|Jimmy Carl Black]] was the drummer for [[Wikipedia:Frank Zappa|Frank Zappa's]] band [[Wikipedia:The Mothers of Invention|The Mothers of Invention]], and routinely introduced himself as "the Indian of the group" in reference to his [[Wikipedia:Cheyenne|Cheyenne]] heritage.
 
*''"It's The Bishop!"''
 
*''"It's The Bishop!"''
"The Bishop" was a sketch from episode 17 of ''[[Wikipedia:Monty Python's Flying Circus|Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. The Bishop was depicted as a violent man of action, whose name was used as an exclamation by his surprised targets.
+
:"The Bishop" was a sketch from episode 17 of ''[[Wikipedia:Monty Python's Flying Circus|Monty Python's Flying Circus]]''. The Bishop was depicted as a violent man of action, whose name was used as an exclamation by his surprised targets.
 
*''"Known for his anthologies!"''
 
*''"Known for his anthologies!"''
A reference to the "Norton Anthologies" published by [[Wikipedia:W. W. Norton & Company|W. W. Norton &amp; Company]].
+
:A reference to the "Norton Anthologies" published by [[Wikipedia:W. W. Norton & Company|W. W. Norton &amp; Company]].
 
*''"It's Averell Harriman!"''
 
*''"It's Averell Harriman!"''
[[Wikipedia:W. Averell Harriman|William Averell Harriman]] (D) was an American businessman, diplomat, and served as Governor of New York.
+
:[[Wikipedia:W. Averell Harriman|William Averell Harriman]] (D) was an American businessman, diplomat, and served as Governor of New York.
 
*''"Billy looks like William Frawley!"''
 
*''"Billy looks like William Frawley!"''
Bald, heavyset actor [[Wikipedia:William Frawley|William Frawley]] is best remembered for playing Fred Mertz on ''I Love Lucy''.
+
:Bald, heavyset actor [[Wikipedia:William Frawley|William Frawley]] is best remembered for playing Fred Mertz on ''I Love Lucy'' and Bub on ''My Three Sons.''
 
*''"Regular Nina Totenberg, isn't she?"''
 
*''"Regular Nina Totenberg, isn't she?"''
[[Wikipedia:Nina Totenberg|Nina Totenberg]] is a correspondent for [[Wikipedia:National Public Radio|National Public Radio]].
+
:[[Wikipedia:Nina Totenberg|Nina Totenberg]] is a correspondent for [[Wikipedia:National Public Radio|National Public Radio]].
*''"It's Jim Henson's 'Birth of a Nation' babies."''
+
*''"It's Jim Henson's ''Birth of a Nation'' babies."''
​D.W. Griffith's silent film ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_a_nation Birth Of A Nation]'' is remembered for its innovative camera use, and its overt racism (the Ku Klux Klan are celebrated as heroes in the post-Reconstruction South).
+
:D.W. Griffith's silent film ''{{w|The Birth of a Nation}}'' is remembered for its innovative camera use, and its overt racism (the Ku Klux Klan are celebrated as heroes in the post-Reconstruction South). ''Jim Henson's Muppet Babies'' is an animated series that features infant versions of the popular [[The Muppets|Muppets]] characters.
 
*''"Ben Hecht!"''
 
*''"Ben Hecht!"''
[[Wikipedia:Ben Hecht|Ben Hecht]] was a prolific Hollywood screenwriter, beginning in the 1920s.
+
:[[Wikipedia:Ben Hecht|Ben Hecht]] was a prolific Hollywood screenwriter beginning in the 1920s.
 
*''"Any relationship to Dick Cheney?"''
 
*''"Any relationship to Dick Cheney?"''
[[Wikipedia:Dick Cheney|Dick Cheney]] was the United States' [[Wikipedia:United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] at the time this episode aired. He later became Vice President under George W. Bush.
+
:[[Wikipedia:Dick Cheney|Dick Cheney]] served as the {{W|United States Secretary of Defense}} at the time this episode aired. He later became Vice President under George W. Bush.
* ''"...Absorbine Jr...."''
+
*''"...Absorbine Jr...."''
<nowiki> </nowiki>Absorbine Jr. is a popular liniment used to soothe sore and tired muscles. The "junior" appellation comes from he fact that the initial Absorbine liniment was developed for horses.
+
:Absorbine Jr. is a popular liniment used to soothe sore and tired muscles. The "junior" appellation comes from he fact that the initial Absorbine liniment was developed for horses.
* ''"...And my co-host down on the parade route is Mary Frann."''
+
*''"...And my co-host down on the parade route is Mary Frann."''
The late Mary Frann was a co-star on the popular 1980s sit-com ''Newhart''. She played Joanna Louden, wife of Dick Louden (played by Bob Newhart).
+
:The late Mary Frann was a co-star on the popular 1980s sit-com ''Newhart''. She played Joanna Louden, wife of Dick Louden (played by Bob Newhart).
 
*''"...And the operator says, forty cents more..."''
 
*''"...And the operator says, forty cents more..."''
A line from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Hook_%26_the_Medicine_Show Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show] song "Sylvia's Mother".
+
:A line from the {{w|Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show}} song "Sylvia's Mother".
 
*"''Inspector Henderson and Captain Binghamton! Working together for your future!"''
 
*"''Inspector Henderson and Captain Binghamton! Working together for your future!"''
The two scientists who reanimate the Butcher had roles in two popular TV series - ''The Adventures of Superman'' and ''McHale's Navy''.
+
:The two scientists who reanimate the Butcher had roles in two popular TV series - ''The Adventures of Superman'' and ''McHale's Navy''.
* ''"The Silent Scream!"''
+
*''"The Silent Scream!"''
A reference to a 1984 anti-abortion film, most notorious for showing ultrasound footage of an actual abortion in which the fetus appeared to be recoiling in pain; the movie has been criticized by those in the pro-choice movement as misleading.
+
:A reference to a 1984 anti-abortion film, most notorious for showing ultrasound footage of an actual abortion in which the fetus is described as "recoiling in pain".
* ''"Would you come here, please? Gadding about like a crazy person!"''
+
*''"Would you come here, please? Gadding about like a crazy person!"''
Crow is mimicking comedian [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FhBuHi0N8o Kevin Meany], whose act often consisted of imitating his mother (who would scold him for acting like a "crazy person").
+
:Crow is mimicking comedian [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FhBuHi0N8o Kevin Meany], whose act often consisted of imitating his mother (who would scold him for acting like a "crazy person").
   
 
== Video Release ==
 
== Video Release ==
 
[[File:Indestruc.jpg|thumb|320x320px]]
 
[[File:Indestruc.jpg|thumb|320x320px]]
Commercially released on DVD by [[Rhino Entertainment]] in June 2007. It was released as Volume 11 along with the episodes ''[[Ring of Terror]]'', ''[[Tormented]]'', and ''[[Horrors of Spider Island]]''.
+
*Commercially released on DVD by [[Rhino Entertainment]] in June 2007. It was released as Volume 11 along with the episodes ''[[MST3K 206 - Ring of Terror|Ring of Terror]]'', ''[[MST3K 414 - Tormented|Tormented]]'', and ''[[MST3K 1011 - Horrors of Spider Island|Horrors of Spider Island]]''.
  +
**The set was re-released in June 2019 by [[Shout! Factory]].
  +
***This set features the special features of the ''Shock & Awe: Making Indestructible Man'' featurette and a theatrical trailer.
  +
  +
  +
 
{{Season4}}
  +
  +
   
<br />{{Season4}}
 
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indestructible Man}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indestructible Man}}
 
[[Category:MST3K Episodes]]
 
[[Category:MST3K Episodes]]
Line 139: Line 171:
 
[[Category:Movies directed by Jim Mallon]]
 
[[Category:Movies directed by Jim Mallon]]
 
[[Category:Unrated movies]]
 
[[Category:Unrated movies]]
[[Category:1950s Movies]]
+
[[Category:1950s movies]]
  +
[[Category:Crime movies]]
  +
[[Category:Mad scientist films]]

Revision as of 21:10, 25 August 2020

(Having taken several bullets, a bazooka round, and a blast from a flamethrower, Lon Chaney emerges from the sewer much the worse for wear)

Now I think he's just the incredibly resilient man.

- Tom Servo


The Short

Main article: Undersea Kingdom (serial)

Synopsis

409s

For the first part, see episode 406.

In this thrilling chapter, The Undersea City, Crash and Billy manage to escape being blown up. The crew attempts to escape back to the sub, but are captured by a group of Atlanteans, who mistake them for agents of Unga Khan. Unga Khan sends his agents to take the sub crew away from the squad of Atlanteans.

Information

  • There has been speculation among film historians that Raymond Bernard, a.k.a. "Crash" Corrigan, got his nickname because he had the physical ability and willingness to do his own stunts. Others say that the nickname was invented by Republic Pictures’ publicity department, so that it would sound a bit like "Flash Gordon".

The Movie

Synopsis

Indestructible1

The Indestructible Man

Told in flashback by police detective Dick Chasen (Showalter), the movie concerns a 72-hour period of horror for the main characters. Charles "Butcher" Benton (Chaney) is a double-crossed convicted robber and murderer who was executed in the gas chamber. His body is unlawfully sold to a scientist (Robert Shayne), who plans to move his testing to human subjects.

The corpse is subjected to chemical injection and massive jolts of high-frequency electricity in order to study the effect on human tissues. But Benton's heart is re-stimulated and he completely revives (though rendered mute due to electrical damage to his vocal cords), immensely strong and with skin virtually impervious—even to bullets.

After killing the doctor and his assistant (Joe Flynn), Benton sets out to avenge himself on his attorney and the lawyer's henchmen who, in collusion with the attorney, had betrayed Benton in order to steal his loot. Benton had left the location of his stash to his stripper-girlfriend (Carr), who had since gone straight and begun dating the detective who brought Benton to justice, after she had rejected the lawyer's own advances.

The story then follows Benton's revenge on his enemies; the police who first learn of a wave of mysterious killing, then of Benton's reanimation; and the developing relationship between the detective and the stripper. The lawyer, fearing for his life after the two henchman are murdered, confesses the plot to the police, and reveals that Benton had always used the sewer system to evade detection; and to find a hiding place for the money, as it turns out.

Tracked down by the police, Benton is weakened but not killed when he takes a direct hit in the solar plexus from a bazooka, and is disfigured by a flame thrower. He runs to a power station, where he maneuvers metal equipment and himself into position to trigger a high-voltage jolt of electricity, which kills him. At the fade-out, Chasen proposes to his girlfriend.

Information

  • The film's title card does not contain the word "the". The film is also known simply as "Indestructible Man".
  • Released on a double bill with World Without End (1956), which was riffed during the Mystery Science Theater Alive! Live Show in 1992.
  • Chaney reportedly asked director Jack Pollexfen not to make any dialogue changes or additions after the lunch break, when he usually drank heavily.
  • Lon Chaney has no spoken lines in this movie following the opening scene in his prison cell.
  • Lt. Chasen mentions putting in a call to a Professor Dwiggins at CalTech who may know about Professor Bradshaw's work. Sue Dwiggins is the real name of co-writer Sue Bradford.
  • The movie features two locations used in many other movies: there is a scene that takes place on the short railway Angels Flight (used in other movies like Kiss Me, Deadly, and The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies), and another scene in the Bradbury Building (used in Double Indemnity, and probably most famously as Sebastian's apartment building in Blade Runner.)

The Episode

Host Segments

Indestructible2

Officers Mike and Tom visit Deep 13

Prologue: Crow, Tom, Gypsy and Magic Voice have traded voices and the result is quite surreal.

Segment One (Invention Exchange): The Bots explain their trick. The Mads are supposedly having a party and mention a secret invention that is apparently wearable and has lots of catchphrases. Joel and the Bots show their Cereal Novels.

Segment Two: The Satellite of Love Any-Excuse-For-A-Parade Parade features the Undersea Kingdom! The parade goes horribly awry when Gypsy sneezes, causing the Tom Servo balloon to explode.

Segment Three: Joel explains to the Bots how pain is good. They then discuss what they'd do if they were indestructible. Joel's suggestions are less than inspiring.

IndestrucHost

Joel & the Bots

Segment Four: Joel mimics the Lon Chaney eye squint, and receives the ridicule from the Bots. When the Bots take over, Joel ponders what he has wrought on the world.

Segment Five: Joel and the Bots sign the "No Cops & Doughnuts Joke Accord". At the same time, police officers visit Deep 13 to issue a noise citation for the party.

Stinger: The somehow less-than-Indestructible Man struggles to move a manhole cover.

MST3K cast

Regular cast

Guest cast

Trivia

  • Joel's reference to Crow's "Little Billy" doll from Attack of the Giant Leeches hints at the impending Undersea Kingdom short.
  • During the SOL's portion of the Invention Exchange, Crow describes the Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho as "...controversial, yet all-but-forgotten". The novel would return to the popular consciousness after being adapted into a successful film starring Christian Bale in the year 2000.
  • Lon Chaney Jr. plays Hakur in the short "Undersea Kingdom" and stars in The Indestructible Man as Butcher Benton. This may be the only episode in which an actor appears in a prominent role in both the short and the feature.
  • The Florida Institute of Marine Biology Marching Band that appears in the parade during Host Segment Two are all repainted Magneto action figures from Toy Biz's 1991 X-Men assortment.

Callbacks

Goofs

  • In the first Host Segment, Dr. Forrester states that Indestructible Man "...stars Casey Adams of Catalina Caper fame." This is not accurate. Dr. F is most likely confusing Casey Adams (who played Lt. Chasen, and who had also worked under the name "Max Showalter") with Del Moore, who played the similarly WASP-ish Arthur Duval in Catalina Caper. To further muddy the waters, Duval's wife Anne was portrayed by Sue Casey.

Obscure References

  • "Crazy...toys in the attic, he is crazy..."
Crow (with Tom's voice) sings a line from "The Trial", the climactic song from Pink Floyd's album "The Wall."
  • "It is Balloon!"
Gypsy is referring to F-Troop, a western sitcom from the mid-1960s. In the episode "Bye Bye Balloon" this line is spoken by the Hekawi leader, Chief Wild Eagle.
  • "Ooooh-ooooh, Monte Blue, that's a game for..."
Joel is parodying the Ozark Mountain Daredevils song "Jackie Blue".
  • "Unga Khan, Unga Khan, mad tyrant of Atlantis..."
A parody of the rap from Chaka Khan's recording of "I Feel for You", a song by Prince.
  • "He actually looks like Jimmy Carl Black, doesn't he?" "The Indian of the group."
Jimmy Carl Black was the drummer for Frank Zappa's band The Mothers of Invention, and routinely introduced himself as "the Indian of the group" in reference to his Cheyenne heritage.
  • "It's The Bishop!"
"The Bishop" was a sketch from episode 17 of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The Bishop was depicted as a violent man of action, whose name was used as an exclamation by his surprised targets.
  • "Known for his anthologies!"
A reference to the "Norton Anthologies" published by W. W. Norton & Company.
  • "It's Averell Harriman!"
William Averell Harriman (D) was an American businessman, diplomat, and served as Governor of New York.
  • "Billy looks like William Frawley!"
Bald, heavyset actor William Frawley is best remembered for playing Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy and Bub on My Three Sons.
  • "Regular Nina Totenberg, isn't she?"
Nina Totenberg is a correspondent for National Public Radio.
  • "It's Jim Henson's Birth of a Nation babies."
D.W. Griffith's silent film The Birth of a Nation is remembered for its innovative camera use, and its overt racism (the Ku Klux Klan are celebrated as heroes in the post-Reconstruction South). Jim Henson's Muppet Babies is an animated series that features infant versions of the popular Muppets characters.
  • "Ben Hecht!"
Ben Hecht was a prolific Hollywood screenwriter beginning in the 1920s.
  • "Any relationship to Dick Cheney?"
Dick Cheney served as the United States Secretary of Defense at the time this episode aired. He later became Vice President under George W. Bush.
  • "...Absorbine Jr...."
Absorbine Jr. is a popular liniment used to soothe sore and tired muscles. The "junior" appellation comes from he fact that the initial Absorbine liniment was developed for horses.
  • "...And my co-host down on the parade route is Mary Frann."
The late Mary Frann was a co-star on the popular 1980s sit-com Newhart. She played Joanna Louden, wife of Dick Louden (played by Bob Newhart).
  • "...And the operator says, forty cents more..."
A line from the Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show song "Sylvia's Mother".
  • "Inspector Henderson and Captain Binghamton! Working together for your future!"
The two scientists who reanimate the Butcher had roles in two popular TV series - The Adventures of Superman and McHale's Navy.
  • "The Silent Scream!"
A reference to a 1984 anti-abortion film, most notorious for showing ultrasound footage of an actual abortion in which the fetus is described as "recoiling in pain".
  • "Would you come here, please? Gadding about like a crazy person!"
Crow is mimicking comedian Kevin Meany, whose act often consisted of imitating his mother (who would scold him for acting like a "crazy person").

Video Release

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