Tag Archives: X-ray Eyes

Being a Sci-Fi/Classic Horror fan aficionado it’s interesting that while, on the surface level, these films oftentimes depict fantastical-phantasmagorical imagery—sometimes (if the script is good) there is also an underlying theme behind the tale that offers a deepened-insight into the human condition. One such classic Sci-fi tale is the 1963 vehicle “The Man with the X-ray Eyes”, or as it was originally titled, simply “X”—starring the veteran actor Ray Milland. While the FX are pale in comparison to even today’s standard industry effects, the strength of the storyline—accompanied with a classic cast (like Harold Stone and Don Rickles)…and even the “weird contact-lenses” that Milland wore in the film (ground-breaking in its day) still stand-up today. As a kid, the closing 10 minutes of the film sent shivers up my spine—and the effect still stands today…it’s very freaky! The story concerns a doctor/scientist (Milland) who develops a special “eye-drop” that gives him superior-x-ray vision; he can see through objects, people (there are some comical-scenes early-on when Milland can see through the clothing of women)…and by the end…his new-found-vision empowers him to see even into the depths of the cosmos itself—yet there are terrible consequences! Quite alone (within his own head) at the end of the film and driving erratically on a highway (he can see into the atomic structure of the road and the surrounding scenery) he takes a spin and crashes; coming to his senses, he wanders (when he hears the sound of singing) into a traveling side-show religious revival tent. Hearing the ranting of the fundamentalist preacher (wish they had cast John Carradine in the role—he would have been superb!) Milland walks up to him (with others who are coming up the aisle to receive their “healing-touch”) and rants out to the preacher with the following lines concerning his unique x-ray vision “second-sight”: read more