Joe Dante on

The Invisible Boy

Released 1957
Distributor MGM

Sci-fi icon Robby the Robot followed his breakthrough role in Forbidden Planet with a comparative B picture which nonetheless gave him better billing. Despite its many amusing qualities this one has pretty much slipped through the cracks and is seldom mentioned in the company of more famous A.I. pix like Colossus: The Forbin Project and 2001. But it’s arguably the first of the computers vs. mankind movies. Although Robby’s subsequent career has had its inevitable ups and downs (an unfortunate over reliance on motor oil sidelined him for awhile) he’s still a popular model for Japanese toys and has his own Wikipedia page.

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About Joe Dante

Joe Dante is a lifelong film buff who turned his obsession into a career. He got his start cutting trailers for Roger Corman and later directed the hit movie Gremlins, as well as Gremlins 2: The New BatchInnerspace and Small Soldiers for producer Steven Spielberg. His feature films include The HowlingPiranhaMatineeThe ‘burbs , Looney Tunes Back in ActionThe Hole (first winner of the 3D Persol Award at the Venice Film Festival) and the zom-com Burying the Ex. His TV directing work includes: Police SquadAmazing Stories, the HBO film The Second Civil War, the Masters of Horror titles Homecoming and The Screwfly Solution, and episodes of Eerie, IndianaCSI: NYHawaii 5-0Witches of East EndLegends of Tomorrow and Salem. His most recent big screen credit is an episode of the anthology film Nightmare Cinema. He’s currently consulting producer on the Amblin Television/Warner Bros. Animation hit, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. Joe is also the frequent co-host of Trailers From Hell’s official podcast, The Movies That Made Me, available everywhere podcasts are streamed and downloaded!

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