The Boy Who Turned Yellow

The Boy Who Turned Yellow

When John meets an alien who feeds on electricity, things start to go wrong

1972 · 55 min · ★ 5.6 · Family, Science Fiction

John and his class visit the Tower of London, where he loses his pet mouse. He falls asleep during a lesson on electricity, but with some help, he learns about it, invades the Tower, and saves his pet.

Directed by Michael Powell · Written by Emeric Pressburger

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

BFI Player Amazon Channel

Cast

Make it a double feature

2h 36m together

The Boy Who Turned Yellow

Peeping Tom

Both from Michael Powell.

More from Michael PowellSee all →

EspionageEspionage · 1963
Espionage
10.01963
SeriesAction & AdventureDrama
Pulled from actual case histories and utilizing newsreel and documented narratives, the activities of spies from various countries are depicted as far back as the American Revolution and as recent as the Cold War.
The RaspThe Rasp · 1932
The Rasp
9.01932
MovieDrama
When cabinet minister John Hoode is murdered at his country house, his secretary, Alan Deacon, is the prime suspect and is arrested. Reporter Anthony Gethryn determines to unmask the real murderer.
The Red ShoesThe Red Shoes · 1948
The Red Shoes
8.01948
MovieDramaRomance
A fledgling ballerina falls in love with a brilliant composer, but the jealous head of the ballet company plots to drive them apart.
A Matter of Life and DeathA Matter of Life and Death · 1946
A Matter of Life and Death
7.81946
MovieRomanceFantasy
A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.
Black NarcissusBlack Narcissus · 1947
Black Narcissus
7.51947
MovieDrama
A group of Anglican nuns, led by Sister Clodagh, are sent to a mountain in the Himalayas. The climate in the region is hostile and the nuns are housed in an odd old palace. They work to establish a school and a hospital, but slowly their focus shifts. Sister Ruth falls for a government worker, Mr. Dean, and begins to question her vow of celibacy. As Sister Ruth obsesses over Mr. Dean, Sister Clodagh becomes immersed in her own memories of love.
The Life and Death of Colonel BlimpThe Life and Death of Colonel Blimp · 1943
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
7.51943
MovieWarDrama
General Candy, who's overseeing an English squad in 1943, is a veteran leader who doesn't have the respect of the men he's training and is considered out-of-touch with what's needed to win the war. But it wasn't always this way. Flashing back to his early career in the Boer War and World War I, we see a dashing young officer whose life has been shaped by three different women, and by a lasting friendship with a German soldier.
Peeping TomPeeping Tom · 1960
Peeping Tom
7.51960
MovieHorrorThriller
Loner Mark Lewis works at a film studio during the day and, at night, takes racy photographs of women. Also he's making a documentary on fear, which involves recording the reactions of victims as he murders them. He befriends Helen, the daughter of the family living in the apartment below his, and he tells her vaguely about the movie he is making.
The Thief of BagdadThe Thief of Bagdad · 1940
The Thief of Bagdad
7.11940
MovieAdventureFantasy
When Prince Ahmad is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar, he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu to win back his royal place, as well as the heart of a beautiful princess.
The Tales of HoffmannThe Tales of Hoffmann · 1951
The Tales of Hoffmann
7.11951
MovieMusicFantasy
A melancholy poet reflects on three women he loved and lost in the past: a mechanical performing doll, a Venetian courtesan, and the consumptive daughter of a celebrated composer.
I Know Where I'm Going!I Know Where I'm Going! · 1945
I Know Where I'm Going!
7.11945
MovieRomanceDrama
Plucky Englishwoman Joan Webster travels to the remote islands of the Scottish Hebrides in order to marry a wealthy industrialist. Trapped by inclement weather on the Isle of Mull and unable to continue to her destination, Joan finds herself charmed by the straightforward, no-nonsense islanders around her, and becomes increasingly attracted to naval officer Torquil MacNeil, who holds a secret that may change her life forever.
49th Parallel49th Parallel · 1941
49th Parallel
7.01941
MovieWarThriller
In the early days of World War II, a German U-boat is sunk in Canada's Hudson Bay. Hoping to evade capture, a small band of German soldiers led by commanding officer Lieutenant Hirth attempts to cross the border into the United States, which has not yet entered the war and is officially neutral. Along the way, the German soldiers encounter brave men such as a French-Canadian fur trapper, Johnnie, a leader of a Hutterite farming community, Peter, an author, Philip and a soldier, Andy Brock.
OrlandoOrlando · 1992
Orlando
6.91992
MovieDramaFantasy
England, 1600. Queen Elizabeth I promises Orlando, a young nobleman obsessed with poetry, that she will grant him land and fortune if he agrees to satisfy a very particular request.
A Canterbury TaleA Canterbury Tale · 1944
A Canterbury Tale
6.91944
MovieMysteryWar
Three modern-day pilgrims investigate a bizarre crime in a small town while on their way to Canterbury.
I Hired a Contract KillerI Hired a Contract Killer · 1990
I Hired a Contract Killer
6.91990
MovieComedyCrime
After losing his job and realizing that he is alone in the world, a businessman opts to voluntarily end his life. Lacking courage, he hires a contract killer to do the job. Then, while awaiting his demise, he meets a woman and promptly falls in love.
The Small Back RoomThe Small Back Room · 1949
The Small Back Room
6.71949
MovieDramaWar
As the Germans drop explosive booby-traps on 1943 Britain, the embittered expert who'll have to disarm them fights a private battle with alcohol.
One of Our Aircraft Is MissingOne of Our Aircraft Is Missing · 1942
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
6.61942
MovieWarDrama
During a raid on Germany, a British bomber crew is forced to bail out after their plane is damaged. They land in Holland, where they're aided by Dutch civilians.

More Like This

The Man Who Fell to EarthThe Man Who Fell to Earth · 1976
The Man Who Fell to Earth
6.51976
MovieScience FictionDrama
Thomas Jerome Newton is an alien who has come to Earth in search of water to save his home planet. Aided by lawyer Oliver Farnsworth, Thomas uses his knowledge of advanced technology to create profitable inventions. While developing a method to transport water, Thomas meets Mary-Lou, a quiet hotel clerk, and begins to fall in love with her. Just as he is ready to leave Earth, Thomas is intercepted by the U.S. government, and his entire plan is threatened.
The ThingThe Thing · 1982
The Thing
8.11982
MovieHorrorMystery
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
Superman ReturnsSuperman Returns · 2006
Superman Returns
5.82006
MovieScience FictionAction
Superman returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel.
Galaxy QuestGalaxy Quest · 1999
Galaxy Quest
7.11999
MovieComedyScience Fiction
For four years, the courageous crew of the NSEA Protector — Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, Lieutenant Tawny Madison, and Doctor Lazarus — set off on a thrilling and often dangerous mission in space... until their series was cancelled! Now, twenty years later, aliens under attack have mistaken the Galaxy Quest television transmissions for "historical documents" and beam up the crew of has-been actors to save the universe. With no script, no director, and no clue, the actors must turn in the performances of their lives.
StalkerStalker · 1979
Stalker
8.11979
MovieScience FictionDrama
Near a gray and unnamed city is the Zone, a place guarded by barbed wire and soldiers, and where the normal laws of physics are victim to frequent anomalies. A stalker guides two men into the Zone, specifically to an area in which deep-seated desires are granted.
Kids vs. AliensKids vs. Aliens · 2023
Kids vs. Aliens
5.32023
MovieHorrorScience Fiction
All Gary wants is to make awesome home movies with his best buds. All his older sister Samantha wants is to hang with the cool kids. When their parents head out of town one Halloween weekend, an all-time rager of a teen house party turns to terror when aliens attack, forcing the siblings to band together to survive the night.
SlitherSlither · 2006
Slither
6.52006
MovieHorrorScience Fiction
A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.
The X-Files: I Want to BelieveThe X-Files: I Want to Believe · 2008
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
5.92008
MovieMysteryScience Fiction
Mulder and Scully are called back to duty by the FBI when a former priest claims to be receiving psychic visions pertaining to a kidnapped agent.
The FacultyThe Faculty · 1998
The Faculty
6.61998
MovieHorrorScience Fiction
When creepy things start happening at Herrington High, the students begin to suspect that their faculty is being controlled by body-snatching aliens.
Invasion of the Body SnatchersInvasion of the Body Snatchers · 1956
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
7.51956
MovieScience FictionHorror
A small-town doctor learns that the population of his community is being replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.
Lilo & StitchLilo & Stitch · 2002
Lilo & Stitch
7.62002
MovieAnimationFamily
As Stitch, a runaway genetic experiment from a faraway planet, wreaks havoc on the Hawaiian Islands, he becomes the mischievous adopted alien "puppy" of an independent little girl named Lilo and learns about loyalty, friendship, and ʻohana, the Hawaiian tradition of family.
War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds · 2005
War of the Worlds
6.62005
MovieAdventureThriller
Ray Ferrier is a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife and her new husband drop off his teenage son and young daughter for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down.
Predator 2Predator 2 · 1990
Predator 2
6.31990
MovieScience FictionAction
A police chief in the war-torn streets of Los Angeles discovers that an extraterrestrial creature is hunting down residents - and that he is the next target.
Mars Attacks!Mars Attacks! · 1996
Mars Attacks!
6.41996
MovieComedyFantasy
A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
PredatorPredator · 1987
Predator
7.61987
MovieScience FictionAction
A team of elite commandos on a secret mission in a Central American jungle come to find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.
Star Trek: InsurrectionStar Trek: Insurrection · 1998
Star Trek: Insurrection
6.51998
MovieScience FictionAction
When an alien race and factions within Starfleet attempt to take over a planet that has "regenerative" properties, it falls upon Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise to defend the planet's people as well as the very ideals upon which the Federation itself was founded.
K-PAXK-PAX · 2001
K-PAX
7.22001
MovieScience FictionDrama
Prot is a patient at a mental hospital who claims to be from a far away planet. His psychiatrist tries to help him, only to begin to doubt his own explanations.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter