Thomas Jerome Newton (David Bowie) is a humanoid alien from a drought-stricken planet. He is on Earth to find a way to send water back home. Using the advanced technology from his civilization, Thomas becomes a very successful inventor and businessman, head of the conglomerate "World Enterprises".
While visiting New Mexico, he meets Mary-Lou (Candy Clark), an attractive lonely elevator operator at his hotel. They have a love affair and she teaches him about Earth customs such as fashion, alcohol and sex. Thomas becomes alcoholic and obsessed with TV. His friend Nathan Bryce (Rip Torn) and Mary-Lou discover that he is an alien.
Waiter: "I think perhaps Mr. Newton has had enough, don't you?"
Bryce: "I think... perhaps... you're right."
Mary-Lou: "What are they like, your children?"
Thomas: "They're like children. Exactly like children."
Thomas tries to travel in a spaceship but is captured by the government because Bryce has betrayed him. Many of his business partners are killed and Thomas is examined and tested like a lab animal. He says, "We'd have probably done the same to you, if you'd come 'round our place." Eventually Mary-Lou visits him and leaves his prison unlocked so he can escape.
Because he has failed to save his dying planet, Thomas is lonely, bitter, and very sad. He records a good-bye message for his planet. Mary-Lou and Bryce are old at this time, but Thomas is still young. He is basically an alcoholic cripple, almost human, with no interest in his planet anymore. His fatal mistake was not to understand the capitalistic greed and corruption on Earth.
THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH is a loose adaptation of Walter Tevis' 1963 novel. The movie is quite different from the book in many regards. Thomas's planet is called Anthea, Mary-Lou is Betty Jo and Kentucky is the setting rather than New Mexico. And unlike the book, there are no dates, calendars, or clocks mentioned in the film.
This movie is an entertaining but weird intellectual sci-fi thriller. The obscure scanty narrative makes it mysterious, ambiguous, and enigmatic. It's imaginative, original, memorable, depressing, and somewhat pretentious in the metaphysical department. The acting is quite good and the movie looks surreal and bizarre. No wonder it's a cult classic.
Others in the cast include: Buck Henry (Oliver Farnsworth), Bernie Casey (Peters), Jackson D. Kane (Professor Canutti), Rick Riccardo (Trevor), Linda Hutton (Elaine), Hilary Holland (Jill), Adrienne Larussa (Helen), and many others. Paul Mayersberg wrote the script. Original music is by John Phillips and Stomu Yamashita. Non-original music is by Gustav Holst and Marlin Skiles. Nicolas Roeg directed. This is David Bowie's second film and his first lead role.
The film was later loosely remade as a pilot for a TV series, "The Man Who Fell to Earth" in 1987.
