FLY HIGH

["The Fly" Reaction Paper]
Danielle Elisha F. Ching
2013-68141

Without the high definition quality and effects the current movie industry utilizes, the 1958 film “The Fly” was a refreshing film for me. It’s glad to take a break from all the dystopian, zombie apocalyptic, or post-modernized fairy tale movies dominating the theatres for the past few years. “The Fly” was entertaining and interesting for it has a different charm and technique from the movies I grew up watching. The movie started off a mystery, and that hooked me up throughout the film. There were also shocking and intriguing elements like the fly-human hybrid and the talking fly which reflected the unconventional imagination of the film makers in its decade.

The film basically emphasizes the importance of professionalism in science. When Andre’ built the teleporter, he performed several tests and runs, perfecting his invention before revealing it to the public. He represents a scientist who is purely devoted to scientific discoveries rather than commercialization technology. As explained by Francois’ to Philippe on how his father died, Andre’ died doing one of the most dangerous studies in humanity, but also one of the most important—the search for the truth. The film was a morality play in a way that it highlights certain moral values a scientist or any human being should have. For example, the use of animals in scientific experiments should be done systematically, without harming the animal and applying the rules of animal ethics. This value was emphasized when Andre’ used the family cat as his experimental subject, and he had a breakdown realizing what he did after the test failed.

As a whole, the movie reflects the 1950’s as a period of scientific discovery, which focuses on the purpose of searching for the truth of the world and humanity. When Andre’s test failed, he turned into a monstrous hybrid of a fly and a man. Although he and his wife exerted much effort to reverse what happened to him, he was not able to. In the end, he had to sacrifice himself. This demonstrates the belief that science and technology are high powers which should be developed, but could not be tamed, therefore dangerous. A person pursuing science should be ready to make a sacrifice for a worldly cause.

#