“Whiskey and soda makes not whiskey and science.”
Dr. Gilbert McKenna (Robert Clarke) is a research scientist. During an experiment he is accidentally exposed to radiation from a new type of radioactive isotope. He is rushed to the hospital. The attending physician Dr. Stern (Robert Garry) is surprised to find that his patient shows no signs of radiation burns. Gil’s co-workers, Ann Russell (Patricia Manning) and Dr. Frederick Buckell (Patrick Whyte) are told that Gil needs to remain in the hospital under observation for a couple days.
All’s well until Gil is taken to the solarium to get a little sun. The ‘solarium’ is the roof. While on the roof Gil falls asleep. The effects of the sun transform him into a, guess what, hideous demon. Dr. Buckell believes that the isotopes have caused a reaction in Gil that reverts him to a prehistoric reptile. A sort of devolutionary event. Dr. Buckell believes that, for now, Gil needs to remain indoors and away from the sun.
For a while Gil stays in all day and only comes out at night. Being an alcoholic, he spends a lot of time drinking. During one of his forays he wanders into a bar and sees a woman, Trudy Osborne (Nan Peterson), at the piano singing. Eventually he returns to the bar and, over the objections of her old boyfriend George, picks her up. Gil and George (Peter Similuk) get into a fight. Gil knocks George out and then drives to the beach with Trudy. They walk along the shore, laugh, make love and fall asleep. When Gil wakes up morning is coming and the sun is beginning to rise. In a panic Gil jumps in his car and races away leaving Trudy stranded on the beach. By the time he gets home the transformation to Mr. Hideous is complete.
In the meantime, Dr. Buckell calls in a radiation poisoning specialist Dr. Jacob Hoffman (Fred La Porta). Gil reluctantly agrees to see him. Dr. Hoffman wants Gil to stay in the house for a couple days. He promises to return with some help. Gil on the other hand goes back to the bar to apologize to Trudy. George is there with some friends. Gil gets beat up so Trudy takes him home. Of course it’s morning again by the time Gil wakes up. Then it’s another go round with Mr. Hideous.
“The Hideous Sun Demon” was released in 1959. The movie was written, directed and stars Robert Clarke. It’s not exactly the worst monster movie I’ve ever seen, but definitely not the best either. The monster make-up is decent for the 50’s. Clarke’s sister-in-law Marilyn King of The King Sisters was supposed to play Trudy, however, she had to drop out due to her being pregnant at the time. King did write and perform the song “Strange Pursuit” that Peterson’s character was lip syncing. As for Peterson herself, it was probably the worst fake piano playing I’ve ever seen. I’m sure the guys couldn’t care less. Her cleavage was real.
Clarke wanted to do a film reminiscent of Jekyll and Hyde. In this low budget affair he used film students and friends as actors, and it shows. Xandra Conkling, who played the little girl who befriends McKenna, is in real life his niece. The old woman on the hospital roof was Clarke’s mother-in-law. The radio announcer in the film was his sister-in-law's fiancé, and his nephew played a newsboy. Still it’s a decent late night creature feature.
In some prints there is a few seconds of film where Mr. Hideous squishes a rat to death. I’m sure it was a fake rat filled with some kind of milky substance. Also, be aware of the scene with the dog and a big rock. Otherwise, it’s basic monster on regular people violence.