Rating: 
Summary: Eerie little film
Review: I saw this one as a kid at the movies, when it first came out. It always stayed with me, especially the last five seconds when Milland decides to put a permanent stop to his x-ray vision (rumor has it the last line--"I can still see!"--was cut). The premise is one I've never seen before--Milland, as a doctor, develops a serum which gives him x-ray vision. At first it's fun; he sees through women's clothes at a party (they're doing the Twist, of course). His vision is even helpful. It gives him the ability to do better operations. But later on...it's not so amusing. He begins to see a glowing blob of light. What is it? God, maybe? He finds, to his horror, he can't turn his vision off. He ends up in a tent-show revival..and that's where he decides to stop his strange gift once and for all. Not a great film, but certainly a quirky one.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining 1960s-era Allegory a la Roger Corman
Review: If you take X: THE MAN WITH X-RAY EYES literally, you probably won't like it. Scientific implausibility, a melodramatic plot, and histrionics from some minor players will turn off viewers who don't have the ability to see beyond the reflective surface of a movie script. However, if you're the kind of viewer who loves to ride through a film looking for hidden messages, director Roger Corman takes you on one hell of a trip.Disguised as a low-budget sci-fi thriller about a medical doctor who discovers the secret to x-ray vision and consequently spirals into madness, X: THE MAN WITH X-RAY EYES is really a social allegory with two possible interpretations. First, it is a comment on how an ethically and morally unfettered quest for knowledge can lead to personal and professional damnation. And secondly, it is a warning about how irresponsible drug use--even in the quest for knowledge or self-enlightenment--is ultimately self-destructive. (In the commentary that is provided as one of the bonus features on the DVD version, Corman reveals that his original concept for this film did not revolve around a medical doctor involved in risky research, but instead centered on a jazz musician who develops x-ray vision via the use of illicit drugs.) The acting in this film is quite adequate. Ray Milland turns in a very affecting performance as Dr. James Xavier, a medical researcher obsessed with learning how to chemically enhance the range of human vision (both optical vision and intellectual vision). At times his acting is reminiscent of Colin Clive's in 1931's FRANKENSTEIN--which is interesting since the main plot device in both movies is a medically and scientifically improbable procedure that ultimately becomes the springboard for social allegory--and he is able to evoke that same sort of pathos that makes the audience care about a character in spite of the character's culpability for his own fate. Diana Van der Vlis also does a nice job portraying Dr. Diane Fairfax, Xavier's associate and implied love interest, and caustic comedian Don Rickles gives an interesting, though at times histrionic, performance as a carnie. Some of the minor players aren't as strong, but in some ways this only adds to the sublime surrealism of the film. The special effects are, as in many Corman productions from the 1960s, obviously low-budget, but they serve their purpose adequately enough. Besides, flashy FX would only be an upstaging nuisance anyway, as the real star of this show is the allegorical subtext. Roger Corman is a legendary director because he knows how to overcome obstacles such as a lack of funds and still shoot an engaging picture. And the master doesn't let down his league of horror fans, either, delivering an ending that is both gruesomely shocking and a bit gory. (In the DVD's bonus commentary, Corman calls the ending "low-budget Greek tragedy"). Admittedly, parts of X: THE MAN WITH X-RAY EYES are dated. But these are limited mainly to incidental details such as clothing and hairstyles. If you want to watch a riveting horror movie that has been artfully and lovingly crafted, you usually can't go wrong with one of the classic Roger Corman flicks. And this film is a case in point.
Rating: 
Summary: Ray Milland gives energetic performance.
Review: Imagine a surgeon being able to remove a tumor without having to look at an xray. Dr Xavier (Ray Milland) develops eye drops which allow him to do this. Unfortunately, his good efforts are misunderstood. He tries his experiment on himself which leads to his downfall. He keeps using the eye drops which allow him to see deeper into something that "only God can see." It is unclear what it is only God can see but apparently it leads to madness. Dr Xavier's special ability helps him save a little girl's life, being exploited as a carnival freak, making a bundle at Las Vegas, and running from the law. Roger Corman directs this film at such a brisk pace that you don't notice the lapses of logic in the plot such as Dr Xavier being a fugitive from the while constantly drawing attention to his "x-ray vision". The cast is energetic and seems to be having a good time making this movie. There is a really cool retro look to the film. Made in 1963, the cast wears cool looking clothes; Diane van der Vlis as a pretty lady doctor sports a big blonde flip hairdo; and Dr Xavier has to wear some Blues Brothers style sunglasses. There is a great party scene with everyone doing the twist. This DVD is part of a new series called Midnight Marquee and it's a great deal. The picture is a beautiful widescreen presentation with excellent sound quality. Extras include commentary by Roger Corman. And it's priced right. Great buy. And very pleased with other Midnight Marquee picks. Can't wait to see what else they will be bringing out.
Rating:
Summary: deserves better than this
Review: now i know every ones siding with this one so please dont cridisise me ok? First of all this is an interesting movie and an interesting idea but i deserves better than this. ok, the budget was measly but no excuss, those scences through the eyes were so cheaply done and most were just a garbled images. the movie was too short for the plot and didnt give time to develope the charicters as well as the ending with ended the movie abruptly, not resolving anything. One question to leave you with, how can he pluck out his eyes in 1/4 of a second? My advise is it is worth seeing at least once. i look forward to seeing the sequal
Rating:
Summary: The most atypical and probably the best Roger Corman film
Review: One of the reasons that "X - The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" looks half-way decent in Ray Milland's film career is that when he started his spectacular drop from winning the Oscar for his performance in 1945's "The Lost Weekend" he was still almost a decade away from making "The Thing With Two Heads." I always figured this 1963 film from director Roger Corman was inspired by the infamous add for X-Ray specs that appeared inside the front cover of virtually every comic book produced when I was a kid. However, the screen play is credited to Robert Dillon ("Muscle Beach Party," "French Connection II") and Ray Russell ("Mr. Sardonicus"), based on a story by Russell. The plot is as simple as the ad: Dr. James Xavier (Milland), is a world famous scientist who is experimenting with human eyesight and develops a serum that will allow him to see fun things like ultraviolent rays and (gasp!) through objects. Of course, this is one of those things that seems like a good idea at the time... The film is really much more of a science fiction film than it is the traditional sort of horror film you expect from Corman, who has a script that suits his ability to bring out the weirdness in situations. The film has remarkably little to do with voyeurism and actually more to do with the nature of reality. It is ultimately a psychological drama, because as Xavier sees human beings reduced to their skeletons, he becomes incapable of dealing with them on a personal level. In terms of movies where the mad scientist goes off the deep end with a god complex, this one makes the main character the victim of his own experiments (contrast this with Claude Reins in "The Invisible Man"). After accidentally killing a colleague, Xavier hides out in a carnival sideshow where he works as a faith healer. Clearly his x-ray vision functions as a metaphor for the ability to have insight into the sad side of life, but, ironically, Xavier cannot see where his own life is heading. His "visions" become increasingly worse until a fateful meeting with an evangelist at a revival meeting in the desert. Although not a traditional horror or monster movie, "X - The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" has a sense of bleakness that becomes rather overwhelming by the end. As always, Corman is working with a limited budget, and while this does not affect his direction, it does limit the film's effectiveness because the special effects (i.e., optical tricks) can barefly suggest the depths of Xavier's "visions." However, if you get into the spirit of things you can let your imagination carry the load. Considered by many to be Corman's masterpiece, it remains a most atypical Corman film, which makes a kind of sense. Certainly, this has the most unforgettable ending of a Corman film.
Rating:
Summary: The most atypical and probably the best Roger Corman film
Review: One of the reasons that "X - The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" looks half-way decent in Ray Milland's film career is that when he started his spectacular drop from winning the Oscar for his performance in 1945's "The Lost Weekend" he was still almost a decade away from making "The Thing With Two Heads." I always figured this 1963 film from director Roger Corman was inspired by the infamous add for X-Ray specs that appeared inside the front cover of virtually every comic book produced when I was a kid. However, the screen play is credited to Robert Dillon ("Muscle Beach Party," "French Connection II") and Ray Russell ("Mr. Sardonicus"), based on a story by Russell. The plot is as simple as the ad: Dr. James Xavier (Milland), is a world famous scientist who is experimenting with human eyesight and develops a serum that will allow him to see fun things like ultraviolent rays and (gasp!) through objects. Of course, this is one of those things that seems like a good idea at the time... The film is really much more of a science fiction film than it is the traditional sort of horror film you expect from Corman, who has a script that suits his ability to bring out the weirdness in situations. The film has remarkably little to do with voyeurism and actually more to do with the nature of reality. It is ultimately a psychological drama, because as Xavier sees human beings reduced to their skeletons, he becomes incapable of dealing with them on a personal level. In terms of movies where the mad scientist goes off the deep end with a god complex, this one makes the main character the victim of his own experiments (contrast this with Claude Reins in "The Invisible Man"). After accidentally killing a colleague, Xavier hides out in a carnival sideshow where he works as a faith healer. Clearly his x-ray vision functions as a metaphor for the ability to have insight into the sad side of life, but, ironically, Xavier cannot see where his own life is heading. His "visions" become increasingly worse until a fateful meeting with an evangelist at a revival meeting in the desert. Although not a traditional horror or monster movie, "X - The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" has a sense of bleakness that becomes rather overwhelming by the end. As always, Corman is working with a limited budget, and while this does not affect his direction, it does limit the film's effectiveness because the special effects (i.e., optical tricks) can barefly suggest the depths of Xavier's "visions." However, if you get into the spirit of things you can let your imagination carry the load. Considered by many to be Corman's masterpiece, it remains a most atypical Corman film, which makes a kind of sense. Certainly, this has the most unforgettable ending of a Corman film.
Rating:
Summary: Strange View
Review: Produced and directed by Roger Corman, it is still a shame to see a fine actor like Ray Milland wind down a career with a film like this. He deserved much better rolls for an actor of his stature and accomplishments. Ray Milland was originally from Neath, Glamorganshire, Wales. In 1945 Milland proved his serious dramatic abilities with a convincing and Oscar-winning role as an alcoholic writer in Billy Wilder's THE LOST WEEKEND. THE MAN WITH X-RAY EYES is a product of its time and a classic of the genre. Still, I find myself in a disparaging mood speaking from outside the genre. For an actor of Milland's stature it is hurtful to see some of the repugnancies this script puts him through. Without any pretensions this is as low as some low-budget science-fiction thrillers come. Maybe that's what makes these kinds of films so appealing. However, it does introduce some innovative ideas and does not spare us from a lesson in morality on man's scientific curiosity gone awry.
Rating:
Summary: My candidate for a remake
Review: Ray Milland stars as Doctor Xavier, a dedicated scientist searching for a better x-ray. He finds it, but he also finds that light isn't all it's cracked up to be. A terrific story with a shocker ending, this is one of those films that cries out for a remake...today's special effects would send this one over the top!
Rating:
Summary: Cool contact lenses!
Review: Ray Milland's movie career took an interesting turn in the early 1960's...he signed on to do three films for American International Pictures, an outfit far removed from the majors like Paramount and 20th Century Fox. At the time, AIP was well-known for cranking out black and white cheapie fliks for the teenage matinee crowd, stuff like "The Day the World Ended" and "The She Creature." By 1963, when "The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" was released, AIP was enlarging their budgets by adding color, better sets, and employing good writers (Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont) and actors (Vincent Price, Hazel Court, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Karloff). Milland's involvement was one more step up the "prestige" ladder for AIP. Mr. Milland had won an Academy Award (Best Actor, "The Lost Weekend" 1945) and was a touch of Hollywood royalty that AIP would not let go unexploited. The first film he did under their banner was "The Premature Burial," directed by Roger Corman. Then came "Man With the X-Ray Eyes," an interesting and philosophical sci-fi thriller. It contains an excellent Milland performance as "Dr. Xavier," who concocts a serum that allows him to see through any object. Eventually, overuse of the drops results in the doctor being able to see into Infinity...and what he finds there is enough to drive anyone insane (or is it? Check out the film!). Production values are good, if a little "TV-like," and director Corman keeps things moving at a quick pace. Mention should be made of Don Rickles (?!) contribution as a sleazy carnival hustler--he's truly obnoxious and completely believable! Not to mention surprisingly skinny! I loved the film's ending, and I, too, heard the legend about the cut line. Corman, in a commentary, remarks on it, giving us the full scoop on whether the scene was ever filmed. Even without this coda, the conclusion is a shocker! I love all of MGM's Midnite Movies--the quality of their presentation is beyond criticism, as far as I'm concerned. Beautiful prints, rich, vibrant colors, with great extras! What more could you ask for, especially at such a bargain price! Snatch "The Man With the X-Ray Eyes," pronto! And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that "Premature Burial" and Milland's third AIP feature--"Panic in Year )"--will soon make it to DVD!
Rating:
Summary: An interesting Concept on Medical REsearch Hubris
Review: Roger Corman struck gold with this film. Ray Milland plays a dr. who develops special drops which allow him to see the ultra-long spectrum, i.e. x-rays. Using this power, he is able to save a little girl's life, only to be condemned for bucking established procedure.
Needing more money to continue his experiments, he runs the table at Vegas, only to run afoul of the mob. Fleeing from them, he runs afoul of the law.
It's a commentary on how research, for whatever supposed good, must be guided by ethics and morality. Since machines were capable of providing the same info, Milland's desire is pure egotistical, to do something no one else can.
He gives a stellar performance, with good supporting roles. Corman once again demonstrates his social satire skills on a low budget.
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