The Power (1968) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A scientific investigation into human endurance becomes a deadly conflict between hidden superhuman minds.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Endurance Experiment

A committee studying human survival capacity discovers evidence of extraordinary mental power. A collective psi-wheel test turns scientific inquiry into a threatening mystery.

Key Events

• Endurance Research Begins — The committee studies human survival capacity for the space program. Location: Committee research center
• Anonymous Screening Tests — Anonymous questionnaires are used to identify people with unusual endurance. Location: Research center
• Super-Intellect Announcement — The committee hears that one member may possess extraordinary mental abilities. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Committee meeting room
• The Psi Wheel Test — The committee concentrates together, causing the psi wheel to spin. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Committee meeting room

Murder Among Researchers

The lead researcher is murdered in a laboratory, leaving behind a cryptic name. Suspicion falls on a committee member when his academic history appears falsified.

Key Events

• Laboratory Murder — The lead researcher is found murdered inside the human centrifuge. Location: Laboratory centrifuge
• The Mysterious Name — A paper bearing the name of a childhood friend is discovered in the office. Location: Researcher's office
• Childhood Identity Explained — The murdered researcher's widow identifies the name as his childhood friend's. Location: Private residence
• Credentials Come Under Suspicion — An investigator becomes the prime suspect after his academic records disappear. Location: Research center

The Invisible Attack

Hallucinations and psychic violence threaten the suspected investigator. He travels to the researcher's hometown to uncover the truth behind the mysterious identity.

Key Events

• Hallucinations Begin — The suspected investigator experiences bizarre hallucinations after the murder. Location: Unspecified interior
• Psychic Assault Survived — The investigator narrowly survives an apparent psychic attack. Location: Unspecified interior
• Journey to the Hometown — The investigator travels to the hometown to investigate the mysterious identity. Location: The researcher's hometown
• Conflicting Descriptions — Residents provide contradictory descriptions of the suspected superhuman. Location: The researcher's hometown
• Old Commands Remain — Several people still obey commands issued by the suspected superhuman years earlier. Location: The researcher's hometown

The Committee Falls

More committee members are killed or exposed as connected to the hidden superhuman. The investigation returns to the research center as distrust reaches its peak.

Key Events

• Committee Search Intensifies — The investigator and an ally search for the remaining committee members. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Research center
• Second Committee Murder — A committee physicist is murdered during the investigation. Location: Unspecified location
• Another Attack Staged — Arthur Nordlund apparently survives another psychic assault. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Unspecified location
• Ally Revealed and Killed — A committee member is revealed as an ally of the hidden superhuman and is then murdered. Location: Unspecified location
• Research Center Confrontation — The investigator confronts a suspected superhuman while police approach. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Research center

Power Revealed

Arthur Nordlund is exposed as the attacker and launches a final psychic assault. His intended victim awakens matching powers and turns them against him.

Key Events

• Research Center Confrontation — The investigator confronts a suspected superhuman while police approach. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Research center
• Fatal Police Misjudgment — The frightened suspect is shot by police after pleading for his life. Location: Research center
• Arthur's Hidden Identity — Arthur Nordlund is revealed as the hidden superhuman behind the attacks. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Final confrontation site
• Psychic Duel — Arthur launches another psychic assault against his remaining rival. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Final confrontation site
• Power Turns Against Arthur — The investigator awakens his own psychic powers and kills Arthur with them. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Final confrontation site
• The True Subject Identified — The survivor realizes that the endurance tests had identified him as the true superhuman. Characters: Arthur Nordlund Location: Final confrontation site

Story Breakdown

• Scientific Premise — The committee researches survival capacity as part of a space program.
  • Endurance Research — Researchers study the body's ability to withstand pain and physical stress.
  • Anonymous Screening — Questionnaires are designed to identify unusually resilient subjects.
• Mental Power Discovery — The committee learns that one member may possess extraordinary intellectual and psychic abilities.
  • Super-Intellect Theory — A hidden individual is believed capable of controlling other human minds.
  • Psi Wheel Test — Collective concentration causes a simple wheel to move.
• Murder Investigation — A laboratory killing transforms the research project into a criminal investigation.
  • Centrifuge Victim — The lead researcher is found dead inside a human centrifuge.
  • Cryptic Clue — A paper bearing a childhood friend's name is found in the office.
• Framed Suspect — Missing records and unexplained experiences place the investigation's central figure under suspicion.
  • Erased Credentials — Academic records apparently documenting the suspect's past have vanished.
  • Psychic Assaults — Hallucinations and attacks threaten the suspect's life.
• Hometown Mystery — Travel and interviews reveal that the hidden superhuman has influenced people for years.
  • Conflicting Appearances — Different witnesses provide incompatible descriptions of the same mysterious person.
  • Dormant Commands — Some people continue obeying commands given to them long ago.
• Committee Collapse — The search for the truth is accompanied by murders, betrayal, and apparent psychic attacks.
  • Further Killings — Additional committee members are murdered during the investigation.
  • Hidden Ally — A committee member is exposed as an ally of the hidden superhuman before being killed.
• Final Power Struggle — The surviving investigator confronts Arthur Nordlund and discovers his own latent abilities.
  • Arthur Unmasked — Arthur Nordlund is revealed as the superhuman orchestrating the attacks.
  • Awakened Power — The investigator uses newly awakened psychic powers to kill Arthur.

Directed by

Byron Haskin

Key Cast

• George Hamilton — Jim Tanner
• Aldo Ray — Bruce
• Suzanne Pleshette — Margery Lansing
• Richard Carlson — N. E. Van Zandt
• Yvonne De Carlo — Sally Hallson