Four-Sided Triangle
(1953), dir. Terrence Fisher, Hammer Film Productions
Moving back in the Hammer library, we go to what is
considered their first foray into the genre of mad science. With Fisher at the
helm and a story based on the novel by William F. Temple, the story showed some
of the same themes would pop up in their Frankenstein series.
Told in flashback by Dr. Harvey (James Hayter), we learn of
Bill Leggat (Stephan Murray) and Robin Grant (John Van Eyssen) two childhood
friends who both loved Lena Maitland (Barbara Payton). Bill and Robin were also
scientists, developing something they call the Reproducer, an amazing device
which could perfectly copy any physical object down to the tiniest detail.
They promptly forget about this when Lena returns to their
village. Both men promptly forget about their amazing device and try to woo
her, Robin only succeeding when he tosses the science nonsense and go to work
for his father.
Bill, on the other hand, remembers the whole ‘machine that
can copy anything perfectly’ and has Lena sit in front of the machine. The
double (named Helen) is an exact copy of Lena, including the whole dumping him
in favor of Robin.
Bill, deciding to handle this the mature way, straps Helen
into a crude electroshock treatment machine and sends an untold amount of
electricity into Helen’s brain. The machine also explodes. There is only one
survivor. Is it Lena or Helen?
Science fiction can be a tricky thing to do, but there are
just too many moments in the film that give my face a palm shaped imprint.
Hammer would later mature with their science fiction films, giving us
Frankenstein and the Quartermass series, but this has rightly been dropped into
the dustbin of memory. It should stay there.
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