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An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he has a longer and stranger past than they can imagine.
“The Man from Earth” is a wondrous achievement. Shot on a shoestring budget, the film addresses timeless themes surrounding history, superstition, ideology, and philosophy.
David Lee Smith plays John Oldman, a well-regarded small-town college professor who is leaving unexpectedly after ten years in residence. None of his colleagues understand why and decide to throw a going away gathering as a way to probe the issue further. In the process, the college faculty gets more than they bargained for as John proceeds to develop a hypothetical exercise of sorts suggesting that he is 14,000 years old. He then traces his “life” through the centuries in a very plausible, engaging fashion.
His fellow faculty members in the room include an archaeologist, biologist, theologian, historian, psychologist, and anthropologist. In short – the perfect group to evaluate and challenge Oldman’s’ claims of near immortality. While there are hints of “Highlander” in the premise, “The Man from Earth” proceeds confidently along its own unique path.
Most interesting is that while Oldman lived through the bulk of human civilization, it was not possible for him to be in all places at once. Thus, like the rest of us, he had to learn much of his history from the textbooks. Over time, he was able to merge recorded history with his own experience as an individual wandering the earth for thousands of years.
The players comprise a group of accomplished screen actors best known for their supporting roles. Tony Todd, John Billingsly, Ellen Crawford, Annika Peterson, and Richard Riehle form the foundation of the solid cast. But perhaps most surprising is the inclusion of William Katt, a Robert Redford look-alike in his youth, who played The Sundance Kid in “Butch and Sundance: The Early Days” way back in 1979. Katt was intrigued by the screenplay that his agent didn’t want to show him – and in fact, went against his agent’s advice by taking the part. After that, Katt got a new agent.
The friction that occurs because of the way John’s incredible story shakes the faculty down to their very core is a joy to behold. Watching a thoughtful group of people unable to reconcile this potent mind game makes for a delightful viewing experience. It is an interesting intellectual exercise that apparently resonated with large segments of society across the globe. Although rampant piracy prior to its formal release makes it unclear how much the movie actually earned, “The Man from Earth” became a viral sensation and eventually a stage play as well.
The Special Edition includes an 88-minute documentary that provides fascinating information about the making of the film, essentially rehearsing on location for six days and shooting for the next six. In addition, the disc includes background on the work of Jerome Bixby, the screenwriter. One of the reasons for the film’s success has to do with the fact that Bixby was a legend in the science fiction community. His writing dates as far back as “The Twilight Zone” series that ran from 1959-1964. Perhaps most notably, Bixby’s “Mirror, Mirror” “Star Trek” Original Series episode is considered one of the five best of all time (The undisputed number one episode is “The City on the Edge of Forever” written by the also legendary Harlan Ellison.)
Given the density of the insightful dialog, “The Man from Earth” rewards repeated viewings – arguably better the second or third time around. Suffice to say, this Special Edition Blu-ray + DVD release gives a classic film the gold-plated treatment it genuinely deserves.
“The Man from Earth: Special Edition” is now available on Blu-ray
