Return of the Fly

Plot synopsis:
The movie opens with title and credits shown over a stark white background and one solitary fly cleaning itself. It flies away and we zoom in on a graveside service for Helene Delambre. It is pouring rain and the handful of mourners hold umbrellas. A priest (Francisco Villalobos) conducts last rites at the graveside. Francois Delambre (Vincent Price) remembers his sister-in-law. His nephew, Philippe Delambre (Brett Halsey) stands in the pouring rain grieving for his late mother. Standing outside is Inspector Beauchamp (John Sutton). He was a member of the team investigating the death of Andre and is privy to the terrible family secret. The service concluded, everyone walks slowly away from the flower covered casket. A nosy reporter, Granville (Jack Daly) intrudes on Francois and Philippe as they walk to their car. Granville takes exception to being ignored and presses his inquiry about aspects of Andre's death. Beauchamp notices the hostile exchange and steps up when Philippe grabs the reporter. Beauchamp warns the reporter to cease such tactics. But Granville accuses, "Well, Inspector Beauchamp, you were part of that big cover-up, weren't you? This is going to make nice reading, I promise you!" The reporter storms off and Beauchamp walks over to talk to Francois. Francois and Philippe get into the mid-1950s Chrysler Imperial Limousine, and drive off. Philippe asks his uncle, "Why was mother accused?" Francois refuses to discuss the matter, but Philippe persists. He warns his nephew, "If I tell you, Philippe, it will haunt you for the rest of your life." Philippe replies, "Tell me. I've a right to know." Francois relents and orders the driver to take them to the old foundry of Delambre Freres. Francois escorts his nephew into the basement and is stopped by the night watchman, Gaston (Michael Mark). He asks the two men not to go into the lab, "This place is cursed." He remembers, as he was the one to find Andre's crushed body in the hydraulic press. The cobwebbed lab is a shambles, the same as Andre left it. Philippe observes all the equipment is smashed. He also tells his uncle that his father was doing research in the transmission of molecular structures. Francois tells his nephew that Andre succeeded, "Andre's machine actually disintegrated the molecules of solid matter and then reintegrated them again in a different place. Eventually, Andrew gained such confidence in his machine that he put himself through the disintegration-integration process. He successfully transmitted himself. Then on a tragic second attempt something went wrong. Unwittingly, he found himself in the disintegrator chamber but he was not alone. With him was a fly. The result was a creature with the body of Andre Delambre and the arm and the head of a fly." With Helene's help he used the hydraulic press to destroy all evidence of his head and arm. Philippe tells Francois he wants help to rebuild the equipment and vindicate his father's dream. Francois flatly refuses to help for two reasons: First, the safety of his nephew. And finally, financial. The company is nearly broke. Philippe vows to continue, with or without his uncle's help.Philippe enters the Electronic factory to talk to his friend Alan Hinds (David Frankham). He is also known as Ronald Holmes, an unsavory character with a criminal past, something Philippe will discover later to his regret. He invites Alan to pay him the same and start work immediately at his grandfather's house he inherited. They drive out to the mansion. Madame Bonnard (Janine Grandel), the housekeeper, admits Phil and Alan into the house. Cecile Bonnard (Danielle De Metz), the housekeeper's daughter, runs down to see the visitors. Philippe explains they were childhood friends. While tea is being prepared, Phil and Alan go downstairs to the wine cellar. Phil is converting it to a workshop and laboratory. It is a large room with plenty of space for expansion, privacy and the comforts of the main house. The old wine cellar is perfect for their work. While having tea, Phil hears the buzzing of a fly and freezes. He recoils slightly when he sees it crawling over sugar cubes in the tea service. All notice how visibly upset he has become. He admits he has always hated flies.Sometime later, they are in the lab. An electrical panel shorts out, an expensive item Phil admits he hasn't the money to replace. Alan agrees to defer salary until the project is a success. Francois stops by the house to see his nephew. He is annoyed and tells Philippe, "I see you've gone ahead against my wishes." Phil asks his uncle for money, knowing Francois will say no. He plays his trump card and expresses his desire to sell his half of the company for cash to anyone. The gambit works and Francois agrees to finance the project, but he intends to supervise all aspect of the project to protect his headstrong nephew. Francois leaves and Phil and Alan drive into town. Phil drops Alan off. Alan immediately takes a taxi to an undertaker's shop. He walks through the entry parlor, through a room full of caskets on display, and into the office of the proprietor. Sitting at the desk, eating a large meal, is Max Barthold (Dan Seymour). The fat man addresses Alan Hinds as "Ronnie", but Alan correct his old business partner, "No Ronnie. Alan Hinds, if you please." Max does not believe Alan has a business matter worth considering, but listens to the scheme. Alan wants Max to shop around for an interested buyer for the disintegrator-integrator. Alan asks for a 50-50 split. Max reminds Alan that he is wanted by the British police, so Alan reminds Max the last partnership deal that went sour ended in murder. When Alan exits the building, Phil drives up by chance and stops. Alan lies and tells Phil he was just visiting an old friend. A plain clothes policeman, Inspector Evans (Pat O'Hara) sees his quarry and follows.In the lab, Phil, Alan and Francois make final preparations for their first experiment on the completed machinery. An ashtray will be the first experiment. It is placed in the chamber. The machinery is fired up and the three men don eye protection goggles. In the receiving station the ashtray is perfectly transmitted. Sometime later, they are ready to try a live subject: a guinea pig. The animal is placed in the disintegrator cabinet and the machinery run. Unfortunately the receiving station contains a huge guinea pig--giantism is the problem. Philippe concludes, "Must be in the amplitude control." They check the machine settings and review their notes. They fix the giantism and proceed to the next phase, "Hold the subject in a disembodied state for a time then complete the cycle and bring the subject back." They cycle the machine for disintegration only, then agree to meet the next morning to bring it back. Alan eyes the documentation with lust. He must have a few key diagrams to offer as proof for sale to the highest bidder. A fly buzzing in the lab distracts Philippe. Alan kills the insect then shows Philippe, who recoils in revulsion.That evening, Inspector Evans enters the lab. Alan steals into the lab for a little espionage. He grabs a few documents and photographs them. He is unable to get into the storage cabinet. Evans attempts to arrest Ronald Holmes, now calling himself Alan Hinds. A chair thrown against an electrical panel causes confusion and Alan gets the upper hand. Alan disarms Evans and takes his keys. He puts the body in the machine and disintegrates it. Phil enters the lab and finds Alan inside the lab. Phil goes back to bed, but Alan decides he needs to get rid of the body permanently. He spots the car and decides to call Max for help in disposing of the body. Max is not eager to get involved. Alan runs the integration cycle to retrieve the body, but to his shock and horror Evans has the hands and feet of a guinea pig. The little guinea pig has human hands. Alan squishes it under foot, injuring it. To finish the job he drops some electronic equipment on the poor thing. He puts the dead creature in a box and wipes up the blood. He drags the body of Evans out of the lab and places him in the trunk of the policeman's own car. Alan drives away, but is seen clearly by Madame Bonnard from the window. Alan meets up with Max. He set the car to drive itself into a lake and rides back to the house in Max's car. While driving back Alan asks how the sale of the project is proceeding. He hands Max a roll of film.In the lab, Phil is waiting for his friend. A series of suspicious lies regarding noises and the blood stain from the guinea pig leaves Philippe unconvinced. Alan is not able to explain the handcuffs. Alan pulls a gun on Phil and demands he open the cabinet. A fight breaks out, but Alan manages to knock Phil out. Alan places Phil in the disintegrator cabinet and then starts the machinery. He deliberately captures a fly and adds it to the cabinet. The machine works and Phil disappears. Uncle Francois drives up and enters the house. He walks down to the lab as Alan grabs a handful of documentation and gets into the car. He shoots Francois and drives off. Madame Bonnard and Cecile help Francois into the house. Cecile helps Francois down to the lab. Police Sirens can be heard approaching. Francois tells Madame Bonnard to hold them off. He fires up the machinery assuming Phil was disintegrated, and re-integrates his nephew. Francois is horrified and Cecile screams. Philippe has returned with the enormous head of a fly. Three police officers rush down to the lab and break down the door. Philippe uses his fly arm to break the glass of the cabinet and makes his escape from the lab. Sgt. Dubois (Richard Flato) telephones the station to report the gunshot wound. He picks up the handcuffs. One of the other policemen chases Phil/Fly and fires at him with his police revolver. He is slowed down by his one fly foot. Sgt. Dubois hears the tiny voice of Philippe calling to Cecile for help. He spots the fly with the tiny human head of Philippe. He is shocked. Phil/Fly manages his escape.At the hospital, Francois is wheeled out of surgery to his room. Lt. MacLish (Barry Bernard) arrives and asks to speak to Francois. He confirms the handcuffs found belonged to Evans. A truck pulls up to a warehouse and Phil/Fly gets out. At the hospital, Francois is now awake. Dubois tries to question Francois, but he insists on speaking with Beauchamp. MacLish arrives and gets the same response to his inquiries. Dubois asks why Beauchamp is the only person he will speak to. Dubois asks if the secret involves a fly, then assures Francois he will contact Beauchamp at once.Max paces his funeral home. The phone rings. It is Alan/Ronnie and he asks about the money. Max is unhappy, "I must say you've botched things thoroughly. There's no doubt of it. Young Delambre is looking for you." Beauchamp visits Francois in his hospital room. Francois tells him what happened to his nephew and reminds him the fly will be needed if his nephew can be returned to normal. A scraping sound piques Max's attention. He searches each room, but finds nothing. He returns to his office and closes the door. Phil/Fly is waiting for him. He smashes his way into the preparation room and kills the mortician. Francois is returned to the house and taken to a room upstairs to convalesce. Beauchamp asks to be taken to the lab. He searches until he finds the tiny fly with Phil's head. He places it safely in a jar. He tells Francois he caught it and fed it. He asks about lifespan and Francois tells him, "Musca domestica, the common housefly, lifespan about three weeks." Alan/Ronnie drives over to see Max at the funeral parlor. He finds the dead body of Max on a gurney. He runs into the arms of Phil/Fly. Mortally wounded, Alan's body is stuffed into one of the caskets. A policeman (Gregg Martell) hears the commotion and finds Alan's gun. Alan tries to get out of the casket but collapses and dies. Beauchamp stops in to see Francois in his room. He reports that Alan Hinds and Max Barthold are both dead. Beauchamp suspects Phil/Fly will return to the house, and he does through Cecile's bedroom window. Her scream brings Beauchamp to her room. He orders Cecile to get Francois and help him to the lab. Beauchamp helps Phil/Fly to the lab, and then into the cabinet. He carefully retrieves the fly from the glass container and places it in the cabinet. Francois fires up the machine. They hope to untangle the two living creatures and return them to their original state. To their relief, Philippe is himself in the re-integrator cabinet. Cecile and Beauchamp help him out. Philippe and Cecile embrace. Francois hears the buzz of a fly and looks for the tiny insect. We close with a shot of the fly on the stark white background.

Tags: romantic

Review:
It was fun and campy, but also somewhat disturbing in its depiction of a man losing his humanity, a theme which was explored more deeply in David Cronenberg's astonishing remake.RETURN OF THE FLY is basically a cheap follow-up which is better than it should be.
This is mostly due to the always reliable Vincent Price, who returns as the brother of the scientist who became the fly-monster in the original.
Here, he desperately tries to sway his nephew from following in his father's footsteps.The movie concentrates on the son's attempts to recreate his father's teleportation equipment with a hesitant Price helping out, then shifts gears as his other partner, a British ex-con, is discovered to be attempting to steal the research.This leads to a few misadventures with the teleportation machine resulting in a man becoming a human guinea pig (literally), and ultimately the son becoming a fly-monster himself.Shot in stark black and white (as opposed to the original's lush Technicolor), RETURN OF THE FLY has a sleazy, grindhouse quality to it.
This rushed sequel to 1958's classic THE FLY is actually more entertaining than the original thanks to a faster pace and a greater emphasis on action and chills.The original fly's son, Philippe, is now a brilliant young scientist in his own right.
With decent performances from Brett Halsey and the returning Vincent Price, this 1959 outing deserves its own place on the mantle of great black and white horror entries..
But as light entertainment, it works well enough.The first part of the movie connects things up pretty efficiently with the original story, and it's kind of fun to go back to André's wrecked lab, which looks just as it should.
While the setup could have led in a number of different directions, the story that actually follows puts an emphasis on action, and it uses the special visual effects rather more freely than in the original "Fly".From a scientific viewpoint, the whole premise of both movies is far-fetched at best, but in the original, you rarely thought about it because the story was so tightly constructed.
Fans of this sort of science fiction will no doubt find it has a certain amount of interest.Anyone who enjoyed "The Fly" will want to see this and probably not be too critical of the shortcomings--although the special effects are not quite as harrowing as they could be.Summing up: Okay for a viewing, but not likely to be the kind of horror flick anyone will want to revisit..
Philippe Delambre decides to continue his father's work, at the disapproval of his uncle François (an ever so great Vincent Price, reprising his role from the first film, this time having a lot more screen time).
It's not as howlingly bad as Plan Nine From Outer SPace but there are plenty of laugh inducing effects to sing your fly claws into but what do expect from a teensy budget and a director that was used to doing The Three Stooges Episodes with Shemp.Most of the cast strives for dignity in the face of a script that was hurriedly written and probably uncared for even though you do get the standard over the top moments that were in just about every 50's sci-fi.
The great Vincent Price is back in his role of Francois Delambre, whose brother Andre Delambre (played by David Hedison) was turned into a Human Fly in the original film.
Visually, "Return Of The Fly" is something rare, namely a black and white sequel to a film that was actually in color.
Overall, "Return Of The Fly" may not be quite as essential a film as its predecessor, but it is definitely more than worth a look for any lover of Sci-Fi and Horror in general, and for my fellow Vincent Price fans in particular.
The Return of the Fly is the first sequel to The Fly and followed a year later in 1959.It is 15 years since the scientist who invented the transportation machine died and his son and brother decide to reactivate it.
The Return of the Fly was remade as a sequel to 1986's Fly as The Fly 2 in 1989, but avoid, too gory.Vincent Price reprises his role from The Fly and is joined by Brett Halsey as Philippe, Dannielle De Metz as his lover and Dan Seymour.Return of the Fly is certainly worth watching and is quite good for a sequel.
Now, it's a race against time for Francois and Inspector Beecham to save Phillippe from the same aftermath of his father.Right of the back of the original film, comes a rather quickie of a sequel that doesn't push any limits.
The story has the little boy from the first Fly film, Phillipe, coming back to carry out the work of his father, against the express wishes of Vincent Price, his uncle.
"Return of the Fly" doesn't look as slick as its' predecessor, but it has something going for it that the first didn't: a better story and execution.The film stars Vincent Price, reprising his role from the original.
Unable to get financial help from his uncle François, Phillipe turns to a shady friend for assistance, a decision that will send Philippe and those around him into utter terror!.Much like the disastrous creatures that are born out of the family Delambre's experiments, this sequel to the 1958 adaptation of George Langelan's short story is an abomination that not only was a cash cow rush job, it's also a stain on the first pictures' greatness.
Unintentionally funny and wasting the obvious talents of Vincent Price (who looks bemused by what's going on most of the time), it's a picture that really has no redeeming features, technically it's poor (the superimposed head of pretty face actor for hire, Brett Halsey, on the fly is cringe worthy) and it lacks any moments of unease to speak of.
A quite disturbing sequence involving a mouse/guinea pig scores well in the sicko stakes, but by the time the "Papier Mache" headed fly goes for some emotional weight, well we no longer care what happens to it or those around it.Some times cheese can be fun and entertaining, but bad cheese tends to stink up the place very quickly indeed, Return Of The Fly is the Stilton of stupidly bad sequel movies.
The boy has become a hard headed and stubborn man that blackmails Francois into funding the experiments of "matter transfer." Philippe's friend, a fellow scientist Alan Hinds plays the part of murderer and traitor.
Sequel to the classic The Fly has the son of the scientist who turned himself into a man-fly in that film deciding to follow in Dad's footsteps.
Returning from the first movie is Vincent Price as the original Fly's brother.
But make no mistake this isn't close to being as original, suspenseful, or entertaining as The Fly. Brett Halsey is the lead but Vincent Price is the only real star here.
Obviously, this sequel is nowhere near as good as the original 1958 film 'The Fly', but despite obviously being a cheap follow-up and working from a story that basically just rips off the first film, there are some good ideas here and the film is definitely worth watching.
The only actor to return from the original movie is Vincent Price, but the story does lead directly on as in true horror sequel style, in this film we follow the fortunes of the original scientist's son, who naturally decides to follow on his father's experiments.
Along with his friend Alan Hinds and uncle Francois Delambre, they conduct a series of experiments in the hope of succeeding where Andre failed...but naturally, as nothing runs smoothly in a horror film, events take a turn for the macabre...I'm guessing that black and white film was cheap around 1959 as despite the fact that the original film was shot in colour, this one is in black and white.
Vincent Price took a backseat in the original film, but as his star was rising by the release of this follow-up; he gets a more central role, although he still doesn't appear enough if you ask me.
Personally, I loved The Fly ever since I was a kid so any follow up was bound to fall short.This movie takes place years after the death of Andre, the original fly/man.
Take Philippe Delambre, for instance, in the 1959 sequel to the previous year's "The Fly," the perhaps inevitably titled "Return of the Fly." When we last saw Delambre, he was a little boy living near Montreal, aggrieved over his scientist father's death, a man who had been turned into a humanoid with the head of a giant fly, AND a little insect with the head of a man!
When the sequel picks up, it is a good 10 years later at least, and Delambre is a young adult, attending his mother's funeral in the pouring rain along with his uncle, Francois (Vincent Price, the only actor returning from the original, and who, that same year, starred in one of this viewer's all-time favorite horror films, "The Tingler").
(played by Brett Halsey, who almost comes off looking and sounding like the young Gregory Peck) has the bad sense to hire as his assistant Ronald Holmes (David Frankham, who would go on to appear with Price two years later in "Master of the World"), a British purloiner and seller of industrial secrets.
And the viewer has a pretty good inkling of what the results might be...."Return of the Fly," unlike its predecessor, was filmed in black & white and makes good use of its CinemaScope print.
The dead scientist from the original film had a son, Philippe, and this young man has grown up and has a fixation of finishing his father's experiments...the same one that turned him into two fly/human hybrids.
Therefore, my heart doesn't go out to Philippe as much as it did for his father Andre.Pretty good sequel to the original film - it's just not as good as the first.
But it seems that fate just HAS to step in, and Philippe falls victim to the greed and machinations of others and ends up a human / fly hybrid just like his old man.Halsey is a good looking man but is rather deficient in the personality department.
Fifteen years after the events of "The Fly," Andre's son (Brett Halsey) does some transportation experimentation of his own.The most unfortunate thing about this film is that only Vincent Price returned.
In this sequel to The Fly, Andre Delambre's son is grown up and takes over his father's experiments, much to the chagrin of his Uncle Francois, once again played by Vincent Price.
Here, the son (Brett Halsey) of the original scientist is trying out daddy's machine and ends up with the head and arm of a fly after his assistant double crosses him.
Sequel to "The Fly" stars Brett Halsey as the now-grown Philippe Delambre, who, along with his uncle Francois(returning Vincent Price) have just attended the funeral of his mother Helene.
The plot, at least, brings some novelty value to the table in the character of the duplicitous partner intent on selling the secret formula (I was wondering how the son would eventually turn into a fly, since he seemed determined not to repeat his father's mistake  though the deliberate manner in which it happens is perhaps too nasty!), the fact that the monster goes on a rampage (rather than have the scientist simply lock himself away and pity his own fate), not to mention how it all manages to work its way to a happy ending (which is a rare commodity in horror films even to this day!).Brett Halsey is a handsome lead but merely O.K. in the role (though he would return to the genre a number of times), while David Frankham makes for an ineffectual villain; however, Dan Seymour is a welcome presence as Frankham's equally unscrupulous associate (amusingly using the funeral business as a cover a' la that underrated British noir gem,THEY MADE ME A FUGITIVE [1947]!).
"Return of the Fly" is the inevitable sequel to the 1958's classic horror film "The Fly", and like most of the sequels done to capitalize on the success of their predecessors, it doesn't hold a candle against the original.
Written and directed by Edward Bernds (who directed many of The Three Stooges films), the film moves far away from the Gothic horror of its predecessor and gets closer to the many creature features of the 50s where a monster kills mercilessly those who oppose it causing havoc and horror among those who surrounds it.Set years after the events of the first film, "Return of the Fly" presents an adult Philippe Delambre (Brett Halsey) and his desires to continue his father's work on matter transportation now that his mother has died.
To their misfortune, Philippe's assistant Alan Hinds (David Frankham) has a dark secret, a secret that will unleash the horror of the Fly again.To his credit, Edward Bernds connects very cleverly both films and the premise is actually quite exiting and original.
Bernds use of basically every visual effect available (without caring too much for quality) is notorious and while the Black & White photography is very well used to make an eerie atmosphere, the overall look of the film is a bit typical of the 50s.The cast is probably what saves the film from being just another cheap sequel, as despite the dull dialogs and the overall weak script, most of them deliver quite good performances.
Picking up a little more than a decade after the original, the deceased Hedison character's son decides to pick up where his father left off in his experiments with teleportation, with some reluctant help from his uncle Vincent Price, reprising his role from the original.
To be honest I've always thought the original Fly movie a decent effort but no great shakes - it keeps horror mainly off-screen for a tragic romance, and while it's stylish-looking and engaging Vincent Price gets very little to do.
It may be a hasty knock-off but the sequel is a more traditional horror movie and fun to boot.Of course the Fly here - played by Brett Halsey as the son of the original transmigration inventor Andre Delambre - looks utterly silly, with a massive over-proportioned head that is unintentionally funny.
Late scientist Andre Delambre's ambitious son Philippe (a solid and sympathetic performance by the handsome Brett Halsey) decides to continue his father's experiments with teleportation.
As a sequel, released only a year after the original, it works quite well as follow-up story.So many reviewers complain about wooden acting, as if every movie created must be Citizen Kane.
The ultimate morph of the movie -- Phillipe turning into a half-fly / half-man just like his father Andre had, was hardly a surprise when it happened.
Perhaps this left the door open to another sequel.All in all, Return of the Fly makes a good double-feature with the original.
The adult Phillipe really does resemble his father (played by David Hedison) and when he suffers the same fate, his fly-head seems three times as large as the one in the original.
Following the death of his mother, Philippe Delambre (Brett Halsey) decides to continue the work his father began 15 years previous.
Philippe promises his uncle, Francois Delambre (Vincent Price), he'll be more careful and not make the same mistake that took his father's life.
Though he wasn't able to help Philippe's father, maybe this time Uncle Francois can find the fly and save Philippe.Return of the Fly is a quick and cheap follow-up to The Fly. Though there are things to enjoy, it's something of a disappointment given the original.
Teleportation movies were not the common of the time, and that is what helps this film stick out.Brett Halsey(Phillipe Delambre), son of the original Fly, now grown up and wanting to fill in the shoes of his father, wants to advance the cause of Teleportation.
Cheaply made sequel is still entertaining, but nowhere as good as the original horror classic (although, SPOILER ALERT, you do get a half man/half guinea pig at one point).
The story picks up years later with the son of the original film's scientist attempting to recreate his father's teleportation experiments, which inadvertently turned him into a half-man/half-fly.
Vincent Price is the only returning actor from the original film.
With his mother deceased, the son of the fly (Brett Halsey) takes over his experiments, with uncle Vincent Price standing by to remind him of the horrible past.
The plot follows directly on from the original but the only principle returning cast member is Vincent Price, reprising his role as the brother of Andre and uncle of Philippe.
While not in the least bit scary, RETURN OF THE FLY is a very good B-movie, hugely enjoyable and a lot of fun.
Ironically, the use of black-and-white film  presumably due to budgetary restraints  heightens the atmosphere immeasurably and writer/director Ed Bernds manages to add some memorable scenes to make this sequel better than you might expect.The film opens fifteen years after the original, with the funeral of the original's heroine, which is attended by both her son Philippe (Brett Halsey) and his uncle Francois Delambre (Vincent Price).
In the film its star Vincent Price repeating his role in the original as Francois Deambre looks despite a ting of gray in his hair as if he didn't age as much as a day much less 15 years!With both his mother and father now gone forever grown up Phillippe Delambre, Brett Halsey, wants Uncle Francois to finally tell him the truth of what was the cause of his father's-Andre-horrific death and the mental collapse of his mother Helene.
**Possible Spoilers Ahead**Vincent Price returns, recalls the horrors he witnessed in the  original, and tries to talk Andre Delambre's son (Brett Halsey) out of messing around with teleportation machines.