4D Man

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4D Man
4D Man DVD cover
Directed by	Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.
Produced by	Jack H. Harris
Written by	Jack H. Harris
Starring	Robert Lansing Lee Meriwether
Music by	Ralph Carmichael
Cinematography	Theodore J. Pahle
Editing by	William B. Murphy
Release date(s)	October 7, 1959
Running time	85 min
Country	USA
Language	English
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

4D Man is a 1959 science fiction film directed by Irvin Shortess Yeaworth Jr. (who also directed the 1958 version of The Blob).

The film is also known as The Evil Force and Master of Terror.

This innovative film, which used unusual special effects for its time, is unique because it was an independent production filmed around Valley Forge, Pa. USA.

In 1958 "4D Man" producer Jack H. Harris become notable by selling his science fiction horror movie "The Blob" to a big movie studio, Paramount, for a large profit. The years 1957 and '58 had seen a glut of monster movies of ever-decreasing quality and Paramount must have been rolling the dice in hopes of a socko hit like "Godzilla", or "The Curse of Frankenstein", overseas acquisitions that had cleaned up for Joseph E. Levine and Warners. When "The Blob" became a success, it joined the ranks of other relatively cheap films that earned outsized profits: "Rodan", another Japanese pickup, and "The Fly", a homegrown Montreal-based horror shot with big stars in CinemaScope and Stereophonic Sound. With all kinds of esoteric product heralded nowadays in nostalgic articles, we sometimes forget which films were the biggies.

Harris had done something unusual; he stumbled across some rural Pennsylvanian religious filmmakers who were turning out quality 35mm inspirational short subjects from the makeshift Valley Forge Studios. Its leader was a minister named Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr., an idealistic and charismatic man committed to spreading his beliefs via film, and his dedicated religious moviemakers had persevered through all kinds of deprivations. Harris liked Yeaworth and at Valley Forge saw the makings of his own little empire: here was the opportunity to turn out commercial color features at a fraction of what it would take in Hollywood or New York.

Unfortunately, many of the scenic countryside sites seen in the "4D Man" film have since been asphalted under as shopping malls and housing developments. The area near Valley Forge Studios was a burgeoning film area from the early days of filmmaking. In the 1950s, a live-action Western nationally live broadcast television series was shot in nearby Bala Cynwyd, Pa., (titled "Action in the Afternoon") at a network affiliate TV studio. An entire Montana pioneer town was recreated there (now lost under asphalt). Valley Forge was also the home of an early silent film production company, the historic Lubin Film Studios (complete with backlot). At least this landmark artifact of early film history--located next to the Valley Forge Revolutionary War site--was saved from the wrecking ball and is now an upscale office complex.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Brilliant but irresponsible scientist Tony Nelson develops an amplifier that allows any object to achieve a 4th dimensional state. While in this state that object can pass freely through any other object. Currently unemployed after burning down a college lab, Tony seeks out his brother Scott, a researcher working on a material called Cargonite that is so dense as to be impenetrable, with his experiment. Scott is underpaid and underappreciated at his job but doesn't have the drive to challenge his employer for greater recognition. When his girlfriend falls for Tony an enraged Scott steals Tony's experiment and starts playing with it eventually sending himself into a 4th dimentional state. When he explains this to Tony he learns that the amplifier wasn't functioning at the time meaning Scott entered the 4D state via his own will. While in the 4D state Scott can pass through any solid object. The downside is that while in the 4D state Scott uses up his life at an accelerated rate. To survive he must replenish his lifeforce by taking it from others by passing through them. Scott starts using his new found power to acquire all the things he felt he was denied; money, recognition, power and the love of his girlfriend. Tony realizes from the nature of the crimes that the only possible explanation is that Scott is on a rampage with his 4D abilities and somehow Tony has to find a way to stop a man who is literally unstoppable.