The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 science fiction film directed by Nicolas Roeg, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, about an extraterrestrial who crash lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet, which is suffering from a severe drought. The film maintains a strong cult status for its strong use of surreal imagery and its performances by David Bowie (in his first starring film role), Candy Clark, and Hollywood veteran Rip Torn. The same novel was later remade as a less-successful 1987 television adaptation. A 2007 film remake is in production as of July 2007. blank">The Man Who Fell to Earth (2007)" at the _Internet Movie Database; accessed July 5, 2007.

In 1987 The Man Who Fell to Earth was made into a pilot for an attempted television series based on the 1976 film and the 1963 science fiction novel by Walter Tevis. There are some distinct changes from the novel. Most notably, the names of the main characters have been changed - while the World Enterprises retains its name from the source material, Thomas Jerome Newton's name has been changed to John Dory (played by Lewis Smith), Oliver Farnsworth's name becomes Felix Hawthorne (played by James Laurenson), and Nathan Bryce's name becomes Vernon Gage (played by Robert Picardo). Yet, in spite of these changes, the plot itself and much of the detail remains intact from the source material; when John Dory meets Hawthorne the dialogue is almost identical to the original dialogue between Newton and Farnsworth.

In some ways, this adaptation was closer to the source material than the 1976 film adaptation - the alien's affection for oatmeal is retained in this adaptation, as is his tendency to sleep rarely. With improved special effects, one can see him remove his human contact lenses, the earlobes, and other elements of disguise, rather than simply relying on implication. The name of his home planet, Anthea, is disclosed aloud in this version, whereas it remained unnamed in the previous cinematic adaptation.

However, this adaptation takes also takes some liberties with the literary material as well. The Betty Jo character, known as Eva Milton in this version (played by Beverly D'Angelo), is a resident of New York and has a kleptomaniacal son named Billy (played by Wil Wheaton), a new addition to the cast of characters. Rather than a set of identical golden rings, Dory carries with him a pouch of diamonds. Alcohol has no effect on him, but tomato juice intoxicates him. Anthea's destruction is the consequence of meteor showers rather than nuclear war. Rather than pills to ease his nausea, he carries a small glowing crystal that would allow him to heal himself and others, as well as provide some telekinetic abilities. Also, in addition to Dory, four other Antheans fly with him in his spacecraft, but are killed in the crash-landing on earth; their remains add to the government's investigation of Dory's alien origins.

This rendition of the material also borrows from Roeg's film - the Dory owns a wall of many television sets, which are simultaneously tuned to different channels. The World Enterprises base in New Mexico is identical to the original film. John Dory's appearance in his natural alien form is identical to that of Thomas Jerome Newton, as portrayed by David Bowie in 1976, when his prosthetics are removed.

John Dory is, however, characterized as more clever and less naive than Thomas Jerome Newton in previous adaptations. He is observant of others attempting to discover his secret identity - he easily locates a hidden camera in his house, realizes that his phone line is being tapped, and prevents a secretary from acquiring a sample of his blood from a stained handkerchief. When the antagonist, Agent Richard Morse tape records him, he knowingly quips "I think your tape's run out."

Vernon Gage, the Nathan Bryce character, is characterized as being far more sadistic in nature than his more reluctant counterparts from previous adaptations. He betrays John Dory, but in this version he deliberately causes him to faint and then steals his healing crystals. Gage then interrogates Dory while he is strapped to a table in a laboratory. The subsequent conversation is identical to Newton's friendly confession in the novel, but with Gage keeping Dory restrained to his table. Gage then tortures Newton, but accidentally destroys his own lab and kills himself in the process.

The pilot follows the basic plot of the book, however, it ends with Dory ending his relationship with Eva, who defends her son Billy, who disclosed Newton's secret identity to Vernon Gage. Dory, though hindered by Vernon Gage, remains optimistic about his chances of getting back to Anthea, hence, this pilot, which encompasses the basic conflict of the novel without an ending of sound defeat, leaves the series open for subsequent unrealized episodes.

he man is practicing how he will greet the first Earthling he meets.] hn Dory: I have no money, so there is no reason to mug me.

Thomas Jerome Newton is a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to get water for his dying planet. He starts a high technology company to get the billions of dollars he needs to build a return spacecraft, and meets Mary-Lou, a girl who falls in love with him. He does not count on the greed and ruthlessness of business here on Earth, however. Written by Gene Volovich