The Projected Man

The Projected Man

Year: 1966

Runtime: 77 mins

Language: English

Director: Ian Curteis

Science FictionHorror

Horror of Horrors! Matter-transmitter sabotage leaves a British scientist (Bryant Halliday) disfigured and full of amps.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Projected Man (1966)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Projected Man (1966). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

The events unfold in a contemporary 1960s setting, blending laboratory environments with corporate intrigue. The period vibe emphasizes rapid technological progress and the ethical tensions that accompany it. Scientific ambition collides with safety concerns, reflecting Cold War-era anxieties about control and responsibility.

Location

Research Institute, Blanchard's House, Lembach's House, Sheila's Apartment, Power Plant, Construction Site, Bank

The primary setting is a modern research institute where the projection device is developed. The story also moves through Blanchard's private residence and Lembach's house, showing the interplay between scientific ambition and personal ambition. Action shifts to a power plant and a construction site tied to a bank heist, highlighting the device’s reach into urban life and crime.

🏭 Industrial 🧪 Scientific 🧠 Innovative

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:59

Main Characters – The Projected Man (1966)

Meet the key characters of The Projected Man (1966), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dr. Paul Steiner

A driven physicist whose projection device promises near-omniscient reach, yet leaves him with a dangerous new power after an error. He remains fixated on perfecting the device, even as it corrupts his body and ethics. His resolve is tested by sabotage, betrayal, and the moral cost of his discovery.

🔬 Scientist 🌀 Ambitious ⚡️ Dangerous

Dr. Christopher Mitchell

Steiner’s rational colleague who helps diagnose the device’s fault and advocates for safety over sensationalism. He acts as a stabilizing influence, trying to steer the project away from catastrophe while supporting Steiner’s goals.

🧭 Rational 🧑‍🔬 Loyal 🛡️ Steady

Dr. Patricia Hill

A key scientist who assists in correcting the device’s error and resists premature spectacle. She becomes a moral counterweight to the drive for glory, emphasizing ethical considerations in experimentation.

💡 Ethical 🧑‍⚕️ Collaborative 🛡️ Compassionate

Dr. Blanchard

Steiner’s boss and the institute head who is coerced by Latham’s blackmail into pressuring an early presentation. He embodies institutional ambition and moral compromise, setting the trap for the project’s downfall.

👔 Manipulative 🧪 Ambitious 🕳️ Calculating

Mr. Latham

A blackmailer who seeks credit for Steiner’s discovery, colluding with Blanchard to push the project forward. His scheming escalates tensions and accelerates the device’s perilous trajectory.

🗂️ Scheming 💵 Opportunistic 🕵️ Calculating

Inspector Davis

The police inspector who investigates the gang murders connected to the sabotage and pursues Steiner as the culprit. He embodies the pursuit of order in a world where science runs ahead of law.

👮 Detective 🧠 Determined 🕵️ Steady

Sheila Anderson

Steiner’s secretary who aids in operating the device but becomes entangled in the danger surrounding the project. Her involvement highlights the human cost of technical obsession.

💼 Secretary 🧭 Resourceful 🕊️ Caught in danger

Dr. Lembach

A professor and authority figure who reviews the project; he represents the scientific establishment that must decide whether to renew faith in Steiner’s device after evidence of tampering surfaces.

🎓 Academic 🧭 Cautious 🕊️ Resolute

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:59

Major Themes – The Projected Man (1966)

Explore the central themes of The Projected Man (1966), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧬 Science and Consequences

A groundbreaking projection device promises to move objects at a distance, but trials with living beings prove deadly. The allure of scientific breakthrough clashes with the brutal costs of failure, forcing characters to confront the limits of experimentation. The narrative uses Steiner’s struggle to fix the device amid sabotage to question responsibility in science.

💰 Greed and Betrayal

Blanchard is pressured by Latham’s blackmail to rush the project for credit, exposing the enterprise to manipulation and danger. The pursuit of money and prestige clouds judgment and fuels sabotage. The plot hinges on how financial motives contaminate scientific progress and trust.

👤 Identity and Humanity

Steiner’s accidental transformation grants him lethal power and mutilates part of his body, sparking a crisis of self and humanity. As the device spirals out of control, personal loyalties fracture and the line between savior and threat blurs. The film probes whether morality can survive when technology alters the very sense of self.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:59

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The Projected Man Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Projected Man, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Projected Man Summary

The Projected Man Timeline

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The Projected Man Timeline

More About The Projected Man

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