The Human Duplicators (film)

For the episode, see MST3K 420 - The Human Duplicators.

The Human Duplicators is a 1965 science-fiction film directed by Hugo Grimaldi and written by Arthur C. Pierce. Grimaldi and Pierce also produced the film, along with Lawrence Woolner.

Plot[]

An alien being arrives on Earth to carry out his leaders' "Galaxy Domination Program". Adopting the identity of "Dr. Kolos", he commandeers the aid of distinguished retired cybernetic physicist Professor Dornheimer and makes android duplicates of key scientists in the basement lab of Dornheimer's mansion, killing or imprisoning the originals.

An android duplicate of the government physicist Dr. Munson walks into a secure government facility to steal transistors for use as android components. In making his escape, he is undeterred by being shot four times. Later, his corpse is found at the bottom of a cliff. The cause of death is determined to have been electrocution, and to have happened some time before the robbery. The National Intelligence Agency sends agent Glenn Martin to investigate.

Martin links "android" with Dornheimer, whose house is near the site where Munson's body was discovered. He impersonates a magazine reporter and interviews the cyberneticist at his home. Unable to find out much, he breaks in at night and discovers the android operation before being caught, imprisoned and duplicated himself. The android Martin returns to NIA headquarters, arousing the suspicions of his secretary/colleague/love interest, Gale. She begins to follow him.

Meanwhile, Kolos develops feelings for Lisa, the Professor's blind pianist niece. He deviates from his bosses' plan by refusing to have her duplicated according to standard procedure.

The androids are revealed to have a design defect. They start defying Kolos and take him prisoner. They seize Lisa and prepare to duplicate her. Martin escapes his cell. Kolos frees Lisa, acknowledging that he is an android himself. He defies his leaders and thwarts their plans to invade Earth before being destroyed.

Cast[]

Richard Kiel as Dr. Kolos
Hugh Beaumont as Austin Welles
George Nader as Glenn Martin
Barbara Nichols as Gale Wilson
Dolores Faith as Lisa Dornheimer
Walter Abel as Dr. Munson
Richard Arlen as Lt. Shaw

Notes[]

In addition to MST3K, The Human Duplicators was also featured on the original incarnation of the TV series Elvira's Movie Macabre, as well as Elvira's home video series for Thriller Video.
This was the final film performance of Hugh Beaumont.
Actors Dolores Faith and Richard Kiel had previously appeared in The Phantom Planet, which later became Experiment #902.

MST3K Connections[]

Co-director and producer Hugo Grimaldi was executive dubbing supervisor for First Spaceship on Venus, producer and editor for the U.S. version of Hercules and the Captive Women, and assistant producer and supervising film editor for The Phantom Planet.
Co-director, writer, and producer Arthur C. Pierce was also director and writer for Women of the Prehistoric Planet.
George Nader also portrayed Roy in Robot Monster, Nereus in Beyond Atlantis, and Nick West in The Million Eyes of Sumuru.
Dolores Faith (Lisa Dornheimer) also portrayed Zetha in The Phantom Planet.
Hugh Beaumont also portrayed Robert Phillips in Lost Continent, the narrator in A Date with Your Family, and Dr. Jud Bellamin in The Mole People.
Richard Arlen also portrayed Lee Barranger in The Crawling Hand.
Richard Kiel also portrayed the title character in Eegah and the Solarite in The Phantom Planet.
Walter Maslow (main gate guard) also portrayed a passenger in SST- Death Flight.
Lori Lyons (Miss Hart) also portrayed a radar officer in The Phantom Planet.
Executive producer Lawrence Woolner also presented Beyond Atlantis.
Cinematographer Monroe P. Askins was also cinematographer for The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent.
Editor Donald Wolfe was also assistant film editor for The Phantom Planet.
Art director Paul Sylos was also art director for Women of the Prehistoric Planet.
Makeup artist Bob Mark was also makeup supervisor for Radar Men from the Moon.
Special effects technician Roger George also did special effects for The Amazing Transparent Man and Avalanche.
Casting consultant Marvin Paige was also casting consultant for Women of the Prehistoric Planet and talent coordinator for Village of the Giants.
Music editor Igo Kantor was music editor for Women of the Prehistoric Planet, editor and technical supervisor for Bride of the Monster, and editor and music supervisor for The Bubble.
Musical director Gordon Zahler was also composer for Women of the Prehistoric Planet, music provider (U.S. version) for First Spaceship on Venus, and music supervisor for Hercules and the Captive Women (U.S. version) and The Phantom Planet.
Stock music composer Walter Greene was also stock music composer for First Spaceship on Venus (U.S. version, also music editor), Hercules and the Captive Women (U.S. version), and Girls Town.
Stock music composer Hans J. Salter was also stock music composer for Women of the Prehistoric Planet, First Spaceship on Venus (U.S. version), Hercules and the Captive Women (U.S. version), Kitten with a Whip, The Brute Man (for which he was also musical director), Revenge of the Creature, and The Thing That Couldn't Die, as well as composer for This Island Earth, The Leech Woman, and The Mole People.
Stock music composer Leith Stevens was also composer for World Without End and stock music composer for Women of the Prehistoric Planet, the U.S. version of Hercules and the Captive Women, Teen-Age Crime Wave, and The Phantom Planet.

Critical Response[]

Michael Weldon stated in The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, "Richard Kiel as Kolos, a giant alien, is sent to Earth to create android duplicates of humans to infiltrate the government. The whole cheap production takes place in the mansion of a professor (George Macready) who is himself soon duplicated. Besides the thrill of having two of hero George Nader, this must-see nonsense includes sexy Barbara Nichols, Hugh "Ward Cleaver" Beaumont, silent movie star Richard Arlen, and a love interest (in a blind woman) for Kolos."