The Satan Bug
1965 film by John Sturges based on the 1962 novel
title: "The Satan Bug" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1965-films", "1960s-science-fiction-thriller-films", "1960s-spy-thriller-films", "american-science-fiction-thriller-films", "american-spy-thriller-films", "films-about-infectious-diseases", "films-based-on-british-novels", "films-based-on-science-fiction-novels", "films-based-on-works-by-alistair-maclean", "films-directed-by-john-sturges", "films-scored-by-jerry-goldsmith", "films-set-in-california", "films-shot-in-california", "films-with-screenplays-by-james-clavell", "united-artists-films", "films-with-screenplays-by-edward-anhalt", "1960s-english-language-films", "1965-american-films", "english-language-science-fiction-thriller-films", "english-language-spy-thriller-films", "1965-science-fiction-films"] description: "1965 film by John Sturges based on the 1962 novel" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satan_Bug" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1965 film by John Sturges based on the 1962 novel ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | The Satan Bug |
| image | Thesatanbugposter.jpg |
| caption | Theatrical release poster |
| director | John Sturges |
| producer | John Sturges |
| screenplay | James Clavell |
| Edward Anhalt | |
| based_on | |
| starring | George Maharis |
| Richard Basehart | |
| Anne Francis | |
| Dana Andrews | |
| music | Jerry Goldsmith |
| cinematography | Robert Surtees |
| editing | Ferris Webster |
| studio | The Mirisch Corporation |
| distributor | United Artists |
| released | |
| runtime | 114 minutes |
| country | United States |
| language | English |
| budget | $6 million or $1.8 million |
| :: |
::callout[type=note] the 1965 feature film ::
| name = The Satan Bug | image = Thesatanbugposter.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = John Sturges | producer = John Sturges | screenplay = James Clavell Edward Anhalt | based_on = | starring = George Maharis Richard Basehart Anne Francis Dana Andrews | music = Jerry Goldsmith | cinematography = Robert Surtees | editing = Ferris Webster | studio = The Mirisch Corporation | distributor = United Artists | released = | runtime = 114 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $6 million or $1.8 million | gross =
The Satan Bug is a 1965 American crime science fiction suspense film from United Artists, produced and directed by John Sturges, that stars George Maharis, Richard Basehart, Anne Francis, and Dana Andrews. The screenplay by James Clavell and Edward Anhalt was loosely based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Alistair MacLean, written under the pseudonym Ian Stuart. The film score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith. The film featured the first use of a stabilized camera mount, invented by Nelson Tyler, placed on a helicopter.
Plot
Lee Barrett, a former intelligence agent, is approached by a man offering him a job to join a political organization against bioweapons. However, the man turns out to be an impersonator sent by Barrett's former boss, Eric Cavanaugh, to test his loyalty. Cavanaugh asks Barrett to investigate the murder of the security chief and the disappearance of Dr. Baxter, the head scientist at Station Three, a secretive bioweapons laboratory.
Barrett and Cavanaugh arrive at the laboratory and are advised by Dr. Hoffman to seal the laboratory using concrete. Hoffman reveals that there are two deadly bioweapons inside — a strain of botulinus that oxidizes after eight hours and a newly developed virus called the "Satan Bug" that could wipe out all life on Earth. Barrett enters the sealed laboratory and finds Dr. Baxter dead, with the vials containing the "Satan Bug" and botulinus missing.
Barrett receives a mysterious telegram from his former flame, Ann, who is also assigned to work with him on the investigation. They discover the dead body of another scientist from the laboratory and trace the suspect to Charles Reynolds Ainsley, a reclusive millionaire, and pharmaceutical tycoon. Ainsley threatens to release the viruses unless Station Three is destroyed.
After a demonstration of the botulinus in Florida, Ainsley threatens to release more in Los Angeles County unless the laboratory is closed. Barrett and Ann follow a lead to an abandoned car and find the missing vials. They are confronted by armed men who take them to Dr. Hoffman's home. Unbeknownst to the henchmen, they are being followed.
At the home, the henchmen realize they are being followed by security agents. In a confrontation at an abandoned gas station, Barrett convinces the henchmen to keep Ann hostage while he escapes the garage, which is set on fire. Barrett stops a passing car driven by Hoffman, who is revealed to be Ainsley. They strike a deal to locate the vials in Los Angeles. As they are intercepted by security agents, Ainsley is arrested. Barrett realizes the agents are actually Ainsley's security guards, defeats them and confronts Ainsley again. A helicopter arrives to pick up Ainsley and Barrett goes with him.
Meanwhile, the authorities discover the other botulinus flask hidden in the ice of a concession stand at Dodger Stadium and disarm the boobytrap attached to it.
During a struggle, Barrett throws the pilot out of the helicopter and grabs the Satan Bug flask. Ainsley jumps out of the helicopter to his death and Barrett safely takes control of the helicopter. Barrett prepares to land at Los Angeles International Airport and tells General Williams by radio that he will give him the Satan Bug flask, "and we're right back where we started".
Cast
- George Maharis as Lee Barrett
- Richard Basehart as Dr. Gregor Hoffman
- Anne Francis as Ann Williams
- Dana Andrews as General Williams
- John Larkin as Leonard Michaelson
- Richard Bull as Eric Cavanaugh
- Frank Sutton as Donald
- Ed Asner as Veretti
- Simon Oakland as Tasserly
- John Anderson as Reagan
- John Clarke as Raskin
- Hari Rhodes as Johnson
- Martin Blaine as Martin
- Henry Beckman as Baxter
- Harry Lauter as Fake SDI agent
- James Hong as Yang ::data[format=table title="Uncredited (in order of appearance)"] | Lawrence Montaigne | uniformed specialist in military radar, tracking the path of the helicopter carrying Hoffman, who says, "Now here's the helicopter, sir. We've kept everything away from it, but we think it's the one." | |---|---| ::
Release
Critical response
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote, "The cast is a sturdy, competent one, able to move when allowed to, and do lively tricks with fists and guns." The Variety staff wrote, "The Satan Bug [has] certain unexplained, confusing elements which tend to make plot at times difficult to follow."
References
References
- Glenn Lovell, ''Escape Artist: The Life and Films of John Sturges'', University of Wisconsin Press, 2008, p. 243.
- Tino Balio, ''United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry'', University of Wisconsin Press, 1987, p. 185.
- Stuart, Ian. (2020). "The Satan Bug". [[HarperCollins]].
- P. 49 Montandon, Mac ''Jetpack Dreams'' Da Capo Press 2008
- (14 December 2014). "Cameras in the Sky by Richard Wirth - ProVideo Coalition".
- Crowther, Bosley. (April 15, 1965). "The Satan Bug' Brings a Talented Cast". [[The New York Times]].
- . (December 31, 1964). ["The Satan Bug"](https://variety.com/1964/film/reviews/the-satan-bug-1200420732/). *[[Penske Media Corporation]]*.
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