John Bleifer, an actor whose career spanned several decades, made notable contributions to cult cinema with his appearances in State Penitentiary (1950) and Heavy Traffic (1973). In The 27th Day (1957), he navigates the complexities of alien encounters, while Footsteps in the Night (1957) showcases his ability to evoke tension in a noir setting. Bleifer's work reflects the gritty realism and experimental storytelling that defines the genre, making him a significant figure in the landscape of cult film.
The 27th Day
Five individuals from five nations, including the USA, USSR, and China, suddenly find themselves on an alien saucer, where an alien gives each a container holding three capsules. The alien explains that no power on earth can open a given container except a mental command from the person to whom it is given, then anyone may take a capsule and, by speaking a latitude and longitude at it, cause instant death to all within a given radius: thus each of the five has been provided with the power of life and death. Then, they are given 27 days to decide whether to use the capsules, and returned to the places from which each one came...
