RELEASED TO TV IN 1977 and written & directed by Kenneth Johnson, "The Incredible Hulk" is the pilot movie for the series that ran for five seasons from late 1977 to early 1982. Bill Bixby stars as Dr. David Banner, a grieving research scientist whose experiments with gamma radiation curses him with the propensity to morph into a jade monster (Lou Ferrigno) when undergoing extreme emotional stress. Susan Sullivan plays David's caring colleague while Jack Colvin appears as the annoyingly nosy reporter who smells a big story.
This first movie incarnation of the Hulk was limited by its TV budget and no CGI, which meant that the creature was far less powerful than in the comics and the future theatrical versions where the Hulk could throw tanks around and bounce around the landscape with his powerful leg thews. What I like about this rendition is the totally serious take on the story, which contains elements of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein and werewolf sagas. Despite its comic book origins, this is a tragic tale with a melancholic vibe. The haunting piano theme is Exhibit A.
If you're used to the Hulk from the movies of the new millennium I can see why you'd scoff at this presentation. It's extremely low budget by comparison and you can tell by the spare cast, limited locations and one-dimensional script: Everything revolves around Banner's frustrating grief, his research and the ramifications of his accidental overexposure to gamma radiation. However, the moving close revolving around Sullivan's character wins the day, not to mention Ferrigno's exuberant efforts as the angry behemoth. Moreover, Sullivan shines in the female department, as does Lara Parker in a small role as Banner's wife. Perhaps most important of all, Bixby carries the movie (and series) as the brilliant, sympathy-inducing protagonist.
THE FILM RUNS 94 minutes and was shot in California (Santa Clarita, Valencia, Universal City, Burbank, Inglewood and Los Angeles).
GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)
This first movie incarnation of the Hulk was limited by its TV budget and no CGI, which meant that the creature was far less powerful than in the comics and the future theatrical versions where the Hulk could throw tanks around and bounce around the landscape with his powerful leg thews. What I like about this rendition is the totally serious take on the story, which contains elements of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein and werewolf sagas. Despite its comic book origins, this is a tragic tale with a melancholic vibe. The haunting piano theme is Exhibit A.
If you're used to the Hulk from the movies of the new millennium I can see why you'd scoff at this presentation. It's extremely low budget by comparison and you can tell by the spare cast, limited locations and one-dimensional script: Everything revolves around Banner's frustrating grief, his research and the ramifications of his accidental overexposure to gamma radiation. However, the moving close revolving around Sullivan's character wins the day, not to mention Ferrigno's exuberant efforts as the angry behemoth. Moreover, Sullivan shines in the female department, as does Lara Parker in a small role as Banner's wife. Perhaps most important of all, Bixby carries the movie (and series) as the brilliant, sympathy-inducing protagonist.
THE FILM RUNS 94 minutes and was shot in California (Santa Clarita, Valencia, Universal City, Burbank, Inglewood and Los Angeles).
GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)