The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever (1970 TV Movie) User Reviews

Suspenseful and good early 1970s TV movie

[mrb1980 · 7/10 · 3 February 2021]

Stuart Whitman never really hit the big time, but he was an excellent actor who turned in some memorable performances. Here, he plays Dr. Purvis, a brilliant heart surgeon who is recruited by mysterious millionaire Trask (Burl Ives) to perform surgery and research at a remote philanthropic institution in the Rockies. He meets Dr. Bingham (Sandy Dennis) there and falls in love. Purvis and Bingham discover that Trask's motives aren't altruistic at all and must run for their lives.

This film's plotline is strictly standard but the movie is elevated by the performances of the three stars. In particular, it's strange to see Burl Ives playing this kind of character, when his usual roles were rustic country types. Dennis had been in several big productions in the 1960s so it's strange to see her in this kind of TV movie. Whitman is sturdy as usual, he's not flashy or flamboyant but he does a good job with his role, particularly the action scenes. The pair's escape through a snowy mountain wilderness is very well done. Most, if not all, of the supporting characters are completely anonymous; I didn't recognize any of them. This is an above average TV movie of its era, a little dated but made worthwhile by its stars.

A Sinister Philanthropist?

[theowinthrop · 8/10 · 11 June 2006]

This television movie appeared in 1970, and fits an odd series of film roles that were part of the career of Burl Ives. Usually thought of as playing southern or western types, frequently Ives played characters who were millionaires or large land owners. "Big Daddy" in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF owns 10,000 acres of the richest acres of land East of the Nile. Henessey in THE BIG COUNTRY is the large land owner of a ranch that confronts a large one owned by a rival played by Charles Bickford over water rights. The tycoon he played in THE POWER AND THE PRIZE enjoyed the fun of the successful deal and kill in business as much as the monetary results. On television he was the world's richest man in O. K. CRACKERBY. But his performance as T. M. Trask was unique. Although Henessey is mortally at war with his enemy in THE BIG COUNTRY, and the tycoon in THE POWER AND THE PRIZE is not a man to trifle with (as Robert Taylor finds out), neither is the worst type of man. Trask is.

Trask has set up a medical clinic "for research to benefit mankind" in the Canadian Rockies. Two new physicians on the staff, Dr. McCarter Purvis (Stuart Whitman) and Dr. Enid Bingham (Sandy Dennis) discover that Mr. Trask, who lives in the clinic, seems to have an extraordinary agenda outside any benefits to the great public. They find that the clinic keeps special records of those people who happen to share biological similarities to Trask. They also notice that Trask is incredibly fit for a man of his age - some of his organs and body functions are those of a person decades younger than he is supposed to be. And some of the patients who were reasonably healthy seem to suddenly disappear - as though they have died without "warning". Can Trask have something to do with this? And why is it nearly impossible for the staff members to leave the clinic? It was a surprisingly ghoulish story for Ives, but he showed that quiet threatening aspect to his screen persona that few of his roles really developed. Here they blossomed, and he gave a rather memorable performance. Whitman and Dennis, as the team who confront and escape from his clutches were good too, ending the film with an exciting chase on skis. It was an above average television movie.

Much better than I expected.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 15 February 2024]

"The Man Who Wanted to Live Forever" is a made for TV movie that really is well worth finding. I found a copy on YouTube.

Dr. Purvis (Stuart Whitman) is one of the top heart surgeons in the world, so it's not surprising that T. M. Trask is trying to recruit him for his medical research facility. While Purvis is apprehensive for working for Trask, as he has a reputation that definitely precedes him! But Purvis is soon won over by the facilities and all the money Trask has pumped into the place.

A bit later, Dr. Bingham (Sandy Dennis) approaches Purvis privately. She has concerns...really paranoid ones. It seems that in researching the medical records of the staff, nearly all of them have B blood types! Why? Well, see the film and find out for yourself...but it ISN'T very nice!! But, it is exciting!

The film is very well written and well worth seeing....so why is the film only currently rated 5.9? I have no idea...but it is a very good movie and kept me on the edge of my seat.