The Flame Barrier

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Paul Landres; Produced by Arthur Gardner and Jules Levy, for United Artists. Screenplay by Pat Fielder and George Worthing Yates; Photography by Jack MacKenzie; Edited by Jerry Young; Music by Gerald Fried; Makeup by Dick Smith. Starring: Arthur Franz, Kathleen Crowley, Robert Brown, Vince Padula, Kaz Oran, Larry Duran and Rodd Redwing.

Tense and original science-fiction adventure wherein scientists stave off the threat of an impenetrable electronic barrier which expands its radius periodically and inexorably, surrounding a gooey blob monster which returned from space after an early rocket launch.

This minor sci-fi thriller from the Gardner-Levy stable is typical of the breed:—lots and lots of repetitious talk from a few stereotyped characters enmeshed in a predictable, well-used plot, strung together with a bit of stock footage, one or two days of location shooting in some uninteresting scrub-land, and a tiny slice of special effects work. And it's all filmed in a totally routine manner, using tedious close-up after close-up to enable a quick sale to TV.

Give all that, this entry is not too bad. In fact, after a slow start, it becomes moderately suspenseful. The director has contrived some atmosphere and tension, despite the constraints of his very moderate budget. The players, especially the attractive Miss Crowley, come across well (partly thanks to Jack MacKenzie's fine cinematography). And while the screenplay offers more than its fair share of standing-still dialogue, there's still just enough action to satisfy not-too-critical fans.

The search for a crashed satellite in the jungles of MesoAmerica finds instead a gelatinous existential threat from beyond "The Flame Barrier". The film opens with a nonsensical prologue that carefully explains how a rocket is going to attempt to penetrate the mysterious (and titular) flame barrier, which surrounds our planet at an altitude of 200 miles. The flame barrier is sci-fi pseudoscience at its worst but fortunately has nothing to do with the story and is never again mentioned. The film is a fusion of sound-set jungle adventure (the first ¾) and space monster in a cave sthick (1/4) and is surprisingly entertaining (consider its leaden pace, remarkably silly-looking monster and nearly incoherent plot). Considering the material they had to work with, the three leads (Arthur Franz, Kathleen Crowley, Robert Brown) are pretty good and there are some good lines "Excuse the cockroaches. Fortunately they don't bite...everything else does". As cheapie sci-fi horrors go, the pointlessly entitled "The Flame Barrier" is watchable and slightly memorable (especially the head sticking out of the blob). Crowley and Brown deserve credit for their casual and competent handling of the chimpanzee.

Like "Monster of Green Hell", much of this movie is taken up with a long African safari. The three principal characters argue, struggle and search mainly for a reason to continue. Natives provide it several times just as the party is ready to turn back. The acting is good and the continuing ambivalent relationship between the rich woman and the safari leader continues to warm up. There is no real special effects until they reach the location they sought after. The final scene is the only one that qualifies as science fiction. A good movie but light on science fiction.

This movie has virtually disappeared from the face of the Earth. Of those who saw it on late night TV in the 1960's, who can forget the look of terror frozen on the scientist who had been"absorbed" by the radioactive crystalline goo? You who are too young to remember, it will seem like nothing. But for those vintage enough to remember, that scene must be seared in the back of your eye sockets.

And how did a satellite crash through a jungle, skid hard enough to leave a scorched gouge, and then somehow wedge itself down into the bottom of a cave anyway?

You are in for a real treat. This classic can now be found on the Internet Archive (www.Archive.org). Please remember to tip your waitress . . .

https://archive.org/details/TheFlameBarrier1958_20170708