The Fly

The Fly is basically a movie about an experiment gone wrong. A scientist invents a teleportation machine and tries and tests it many times with different objects. When proven that the invention works properly, he tries it on himself, but it goes terribly wrong. Apparently while inside the teleportation machine, a fly was with him, so at the other end of the machine both of them were mutated. Their heads & arms had been interchanged, thus the scientist having the head and arm of a fly and the fly having the head and arm of the scientist

Watching it now, the movie’s plot was very common, but probably back in the 50s, it was a whole new concept. Nonetheless, the story was still dragging. It took a while for the story to build up. The ending wasn’t very surprising either. Both the scientist and the fly were killed. That’s it. End of story. The climax of the story (where we see the mutated scientist) wasn’t very surprising to me at all.

The movie just says that in science, there’s always room for mistakes. Even if the scientist tried and tested the invention again and again, the possibility of being mutated wasn’t foreseen. Then again, if there’s room for mistakes, there’s also room for improvement. Even if an experiment fails, you can always try again until you get the right formula. That’s the beauty in science. It doesn’t end at a failure. I wouldn’t necessarily consider it a morality play since killing both the scientist and the fly was the best possible option at that moment in time. They didn’t have the luxury of time to catch the fly and fix the experiment because (1) the scientist was losing his will and (2) the possibility of procreation could’ve changed the world.

It was an age open for exploration. The concept of a teleportation machine was new and bringing it into the world amazed the people. Science and technology were highly valued in this period and people were open for innovation. 

Rix, Mayumi Katrina B.

2013-14322

Reaction Paper: The Fly (1958)

It was entertaining and interesting indeed. The Fly, a 1958 science-fiction film has a great way of delivering a suspense scene. At first, I really didn’t focus on watching the movie. I thought that it was boring and lame since the picture is dull and seems old age. However, as the story goes on and the film is getting into the climax it somewhat entertained and interest me. I found it really entertaining as what the man looks after he exchanged body parts with the fly, though it is also horrible. The transporter device is also interesting at the same time. The film’s commentary on scientists and conduct of science is that even back then, scientists were definitely inquisitive on how great and far science could do. It was portrayed by the transporter device made by Scientist Andre Delambre. Through this, the film was able to convey to the audience that scientists are really inventive that they could create thing that the society thinks impossible. Furthermore, it also reflects that conduct of science is incredible, able to do things no one would imagine. I could consider that it is a play of morality since it involved the use of living creatures as a testing material thus putting life at stake in an unreasonable practice. The film reflects the view on science and technology during the 1950’s as practicable and remarkable in its own way. Though, it is not that advanced as today’s technology, science and technology in the 1950’s is pioneering. 

Kimberly M. Pacle

2013-02319

The Fly Reaction Paper

The Fly is a 1958 science fiction film by Kurt Neumann. In my opinion, the film is purely fiction during that time, but in the present, teleportation is becoming possible by quantum physics. In an experiment, scientists were able to teleport compounds. Even if the compounds moved for only a meter, it was a big leap in the field of science because it proved that teleportation is indeed possible.

The film is entertaining and interesting because it is all about teleportation. It also showed the complications one might get in doing and being involved in it. The story was indeed a unique one. It showed that the scientist tried to teleport himself, but a fly was accidentally got caught in the teleportation chamber that he made, that’s why their atoms got mixed. The result is that the scientist got the head and hands of the fly.

The film also shows that some of the scientists are willing to risk their lives and try their own inventions for the sake of science and information. But sometimes, scientists tend to seek too much knowledge and prove many things which may cause bad things in the future, or can be considered unethical. I consider it as a morality play, because in the story, I consider the scientist’s teleportation experiments as bad and risky, like when he used living animals and eventually, himself to be teleported. In the end, it caused problems and misery to him and his family. But it clearly showed the truth in the end, which can be or cannot be beneficial to humanity.

People during the 1950s had a wide imagination on how advanced the technology will be on the future. They thought about what seemed impossible, like teleportation. Science and technology in the 1950s can be seen as the time when people were trying to develop technology that would benefit humanity and make life much easier. 

Pauline de Leon

2011-44571

Reaction paper: The Fly (1958)

Reaction Paper: The Fly

                With the film The Fly’s story and plot, I can say that it is entertaining and interesting. Also, disturbing; the fact that the film started with a fly, a wife killing his husband and ending with the scientist exchanged faces with a fly is plainly disturbing. But that made the audience, including me, to pay more attention and made us want to finish the whole film. 

                Andre, the husband, wanted to have his innovation perfect which is undeniably a trait that a good scientist should possess. At first, he tried his innovation with lifeless objects and with his curiosity; he tried it with their pet cat and even himself which resulted to an accident that he exchanged faces with a mere fly. With that, I can say that the film could be considered a morality play. It is whether to use animals in something just to be able to perfect a science innovation even if it is to kill them or not. Moreover, it gave lessons to the audience. 

                I was amazed by the fact that people during 1950’s were into science and already into advancing their technology. They were already studying teleportation which in the present is still impossible. People were so curious and eager to discover something new that would make life easier. In the film’s case, it was not a successful discovery but a harmful one. Science and technology was still an exploration during the 1950’s.

Regina Alyssa L. Bargola

2013 – 68055

The Fly, the Moth and the Fire

                The Fly is a film from the year 1958 that tells about how a scientist had a horrific accident when he tried to use his newly invented teleportation device. Due to some unfortunate turn of events the machine that was supposed to help the scientist and bring him up the pedestal was the one who ruined and even put an end to his life.

                The movie itself is filled with so many plot twists and fascinating storyline that makes it interesting to watch. However, I did not quite understand some of the dialogues that the actors are saying maybe because of the poor audio quality. I do believe though their every line is meaningful and important and it’s a dismay that as an audience I did not get their message.

                Based from observation the movie shows annotation on Scientists and demeanor of Science as something that’s filled with stubbornness. The Scientist’s passion for Science and Technology can be clearly seen in the movie which is the main reason why he never stopped working on the teleportation device despite the fact that of the danger that it brings. The film can also be considered as a morality play since it uses allegorical characters to teach the audience moral lessons. It shows how people back then we’re like ‘moths’ that were attracted to the burning flame of Science. They strive hard to feed their fiery desire for it to the point that the they’d get closer and closer just to attain complete knowledge on Science and get burned.

                After watching the movie I realized that Science and Technology during the 1950s was considered to be like a two-edged sword which figuratively means that it offers both a good and bad consequence.  It is something that when not used or handled properly could mean danger to you or to other people. Any advancement in Science and Technology back then is a great step for mankind and because of that it was hard to believe at first that a tragic event like that happened to  such person. Everyone should know their limits and must know when to stop. Giving-up is always an option and it’s a choice that everyone has.

Dela Cruz, Jeff Denver F.

2013-21915

Morality, Wisdom, and The Fly

The movie “The Fly” was entertaining for me on several levels. First, it was surprising that a movie shot in 1958 could be so captivating in its mysterious plot. The movie starts with a murder and it is engaging, as a viewer, to find exactly what the reason is behind the alleged murderer Helen’s obsession with flies and what it had to do with the case. Secondly, it was interesting for me to explore the realms of science that transcend current human comprehension to this very day. It was great to have even the remotest insight into how teleportation, the destruction and reconstruction of atoms, can be performed.

One of Bertrand Russell’s definitions of wisdom concerns comprehension. The comprehensive aspect of wisdom is all about the ability to look into the possible consequences and ramifications of one’s actions in the future. This same principle applies to technology and society as well. Wisdom is different from knowledge as one can be extremely intellectual yet lack the wisdom to make ethical and morally upright decisions with what he has learned. In the movie, we can say that the character Andre, despite being a genius, lacked wisdom because he was so caught up in being on the brink of a bio-molecular breakthrough discovery, that he did not take all the safety precautions to make sure that experimentation would not harm the subject. In effect, an atrocity was made in the lab.

Morality here is an ordinance of wisdom. If scientists are unable to foresee the damage their technologies may bring, then they will be unable to make the correct, moral and ethical decisions with what they know. This message reflects well with science and technology in the 50s as many inventions at the time were being developed that could be dangerous if not properly dealt with. Such inventions involved rocket fuels and hydrogen, atomic and nuclear bombs.

                                                                                               Redentor E. Claudio
                                                                                                   2013-59776

Limitations: The Fly Reaction Paper

Some things are better left untouched.

The film was off to a horrific start – the brutal death of a man. But then no matter how horrifying the start was, it was a good way of keeping the audience interested in finishing the whole film. Though it had a touch of horror, it was actually interesting. The story is unique indeed. It’s not the typical and cliché sci-fi film that most of us watch nowadays. Plus, it gives the viewers a brief yet concise background of life, particularly scientific life, in the 1950s.

It was depicted in the movie that Science is not yet as complex and profound during that time compared to today. Scientists have their own small laboratories in their homes and they struggle to create innovations that will contribute to the greater good of humanity. They wanted to take Science into a whole new level. And because of their ‘thirst’ to do this, they meddle with things that aren’t supposed to be meddled with.This is what makes the film a morality play. It is called a morality play for a reason – to provide life lessons for the viewers.

Science and Technology in the 1950s still had a very long way to go. So many things were undiscovered and were still unknown to mankind. This led to the desire of man to uncover the truth behind everything. And sometimes, this isn’t just enough. Like what was shown in the film, man acted selfishly – wanting to go to other places in a much easier way. It also shows that some of the things that caught the interest of man in the 1950s still remain a mystery until now.

The film was indeed very disturbing. It shows us that everything has its own limitations, even Science. It also tells us that there is a reason why things are in the exact way as they are, and it’s best not to meddle with them. Who knows what consequence you’ll suffer if you’ll do so.

Bea Cristine Ledesma

2013-64643

The Fly: A Reaction Paper and Funky Picture

      Though the sci-fi horror film, The Fly, lacks details and explanations on the ‘science’ in the story, it goes more interesting as the thrill in the movie builds up. Starts off with a murder scene, then flashbacks where the horror begins, the motion picture would definitely keep viewers to anticipate the next scenes, await the moral decisions of the characters, and visualize the grotesque form of a man-insect as bit by bit a cover unfolds.

      Curiosity killed the cat.

      And the fly-man.

      And the man-fly.

      And the spider that attempted to eat the man-fly.

      Forget the run-on sentences, but the above clichéd line pretty much sums up the film, one way or another. The Fly basically holds ethical questions about scientific experimentations and conduct explicitly on animals and human beings, and the need for precision and consequences for errors. The film also tackles the morals on euthanasia as showed in the part where the scientist had her wife kill him.

      In the eagerness for new discoveries and technological breakthroughs, scientists would boldly step into the unknown. Proportional to how some of the innovations and inventions have been of great help to society, it is feared by many during the time thanks to slippery slopes and rash speculations of the people.

Archie Von Seville

2013-43323

Reaction Paper: The Fly (1958)

The film was gruesomely entertaining with its twisted plot and dark horror. Its  sound effects and music background were remarkable engaging, making me cringe in anticipation and suspense. Even though I had a hint of what was coming (I saw the 1986 remake of the The Fly back when I was just a kid) surprisingly, I could not take my eyes off the screen.

                Revolving around a creepy madness of a scientist playing God, it shows how innate human’s curiosity and hunger for knowledge are. It reflects how even way back in the 1950s,we intensely crave for explanations and how we strongly desire for more scientific discoveries. It could be considered as a dangerous morality play. It treads the thin gray line between right and wrong, between advancing science and technology and playing God.  The film ends with the investigator smashing the man-fly with a rock. Then, the scientist’s brother-in-law told the investigator  that the wife was no more of a murderer than he was. This last scene was appallingly confusing and thought-provoking. Who’s to say what is and isn't considered murder – killing a man-fly or a fly-man or both?

Edissy Claudine T. Ramos
2009-33319

Boundaries: A Reaction Paper to "The Fly (1958)"

            Films explore many things, many ideas. The Fly (1958) particularly tackled a lot. It was interesting, for me, because it was intriguing. But, what made it entertaining was its flow that slowly unveiled the mystery of how it all related back to a mere fly. It made the viewer wonder from the very beginning, how a science fiction plot could surround a mere fly.

            Science is far too wide and broad to have definite boundaries. At the edges of this blur lie arguments about how far science can go and how far it should only go. In this film, it asked whether or not scientists should dabble with teleportation; something that, in most cultures, can only rightfully be done by gods and deities. Deeper, it seemed to argue that inescapable human mistakes keep our innovations from perfection, endangering us from inevitable consequences; in this case, a mutation resulting from the idea of teleportation, two things often deemed impossible.

            Apart from this, the film also led us to a debate of morality, whether or not it’s immoral to kill animals, here in particular, mere flies. It presented, quite literally, what might happen if both were on equal terms and whether or not killing one or the other was wrong and unjust.

            The Fly (1958) is a film that presents an exploration of Science and Technology. It communicates scientific ideas from its generation, the various common opinions about these ideas, and whether or not these ideas were, in fact, even in the realm of technology we, humans, were capable of studying. It was a film that had questions, arguments, and answers but, in the end, still kept you asking, asking if all of science is possible and, more importantly, if all it can achieve is right.

Audrey Anne A. Arocha

2012-51626

The Fly (1958)

The Fly is a 1958 science-fiction film directed by Kurt Neumann. It tells a story of a 1950s scientist trying to invent something very advanced, and in the process gets himself harmed and his family greatly affected.

The film was, for me, entertaining because of its weird plot, the unpredictable twists and turns of the story, and the peculiarity of the problem they were trying to solve. But the aspect of the film that I found to be really entertaining is the fact that it featured something so complex, yet it was set in the 1950s. It was fun to know that people decades ago were already trying to do something as advanced as teleporting- which is, even today, still impossible.

The film also showed how scientists are when pursuing or inventing something very important in science. They’d do practically anything just to perfect it. They would even meddle in things not meant to be meddled in, like human life. They seem to forget that experimenting on human life is very disrespectful, because it is just like disfiguration or mutilation of something very precious. The movie is similar to a morality play because it showed the consequences of doing something immoral, and how meddling in the natural order of things will never bring any good.

            Science and advancement in technology seemed popular in the era of 1950s. The fact that they were already trying to teleport back then just proves that they were very curious and eager to explore and expand the boundaries of science and technology. They used science and technology to improve their lives and to gain knowledge. Some of the results of their experimentations were very beneficial and exceptional, but still, others are harmful and disastrous.

Barbosa, Camille Anne C.

2013-01010