The most famous Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode centered around Manos: the Hands of Fate. The 1966 film, which languished in obscurity for years, achieved cult fame through the show – resulting in a sequel 50 years later.
When the creative team at Mystery Science Theater 3000 set their satiric sights on an odd little film from public domain, little did they know that they would be creating a cult phenomenon. In the early 90s, when the show was enjoying an extended run on Comedy Central, Manos:the Hands of Fate was found inside a box of videos approved to air. The El Paso lensed film, which was barely released in 1966, was just the sort of bizarre obscurity that the show was founded on. Featuring hypnotically bad production levels and a cast at once bored and bewildered, Manos was comedy gold even without the patented MST3K snark.
Written, produced and directed by Harold P. Warren, an insurance salesman with a limited production background, the film was put together using money he managed to raise through local investors. Manos told the story of a family on vacation who get lost and end up staying in the home of a polygamist cult leader with mysterious powers. Michael, played by Warren, his wife Margaret (Diane Mahree) and their young daughter Debbie are greeted by limping servant Torgo (John Reynolds) who reluctantly offers the travelers refuge – though strongly suggests this would be a bad idea. The cult leader, referred to as The Master, worships a god called Manos, who aids in his collection of wives, all of whom are kept enslaved in a hypnotic state.
MST3K’s Most Famous Film Got A Sequel 50 Years Later
The Master was played by El Paso actor Tom Neyman, whose young daughter, Jackey, played Debbie. Neyman and his wife also helped with the props and costumes, providing Warren with essential creative components for free. The resulting film was an embarrassment for the cast and crew, who witnessed the poorly-made production during a highly touted premiere. Warren sold the film to a distributor who exhibited the film as a co-feature in drive-in programs for a few years. It was thought lost until the fateful finding of that tape by the MST3K producers. The episode in which it was featured turned the bizarre curio into a genuine cult sensation with adoring adulation similar to The Room.
Fans grew from repeated viewings skewered by comedian Joel Hodgson, who Kickstarted the latest iteration, and his robot sidekicks. Their interest led to releases of the film, sans snarky commentary, in a variety of muddy video and disc versions. Since the film was in public domain any company that found a print could legally sell a copy. Fan films, puppet shows, cosplayers and a 2K restoration of the original cut all reflected a renewed interest in the production. Neyman and his now-grown daughter started appearing at film conventions where requests for a sequel were often heard from rabid fans. 50 years later, filmmaker Tonjia Atomic was able to interest Neyman and his daughter (now Neyman Jones), as well as actress Mahree (now Adelson), to reprise their original roles. This is one of the longest stretches between films in a franchise, beating both Blade Runner (35 years) and Halloween 2018 (40 years).
Manos Returns was completed in 2019 where it began making the festival circuit. Co-written by Rachel Jackson, Atomic, and Neyman Jones, it features another group of unlucky travelers who happen upon the new Manos home which is now overseen by Debbie, who is a conduit for The Master. The Manos: Hands of Fate sequel is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime, albeit without Mystery Science Theater 3000's classic commentary.