Phil Tucker (1927-1985) was an American film director who gained notoriety for his work on Robot Monster.
Prior to arriving in Hollywood, Tucker had made a series of cheap sexploitation films while living in Fairbanks, Alaska.
With this experience under his belt, he traveled south to make the film most associated with his name. In spite of the largely hostile critical reception, Robot Monster proved to be financially successful. Tucker did not share in the film's financial success, as his backers reneged on paying him his share of the profits. This caused him to sink into a depression. When he was unable to find employment, he composed an essay (similar to a suicide note) which he sent to to a local newspaper. A reporter dispatched to his hotel found him unconscious, having taken an overdose of sleeping pills. He was rushed to an emergency hospital and recommitted to the V.A. psychopathic ward.
After a few more directorial efforts, Tucker switched to working in television as an associate producer. [1] He also worked in post-production in films, including the 1976 remake of King Kong, the killer whale film Orca, and The Nude Bomb (based on the TV show Get Smart).
Riffed Movies[]
- Robot Monster (Experiment #107 and RiffTrax) - director, producer
References[]
- ↑ The Fifty Worst Films of All Time