22.11.05
By Terry Kirby

He believed in extra-terrestrial beings, claimed he could split the world like an apple and suffered from a progressive germ phobia.

And while the name of eccentric Serbian-American inventor and poet Nikola Tesla may be almost unknown today, his electrical discoveries are still widely applicable in every day life.

Now Tesla, who died in 1943 and is regarded as one of the greatest scientists of his era, is to be played on screen by David Bowie, in a new film directed by Christopher Nolan, who was behind Momento and Batman Begins.

It is Bowie's first major acting role for several years.

The film, a thriller entitled The Prestige, is based on a 1996 book by British science fiction and fantasy writer Christopher Priest.

It tells the story of how Tesla was approached by one of two rival magicians in turn of the century London to seek his help in achieving the ultimate major trick.

Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, who play the two lead roles, and Michael Caine, also star in the film, due to begin shooting next January.

Bowie, 58, critically acclaimed for his lead roles in two of his earliest films, The Man Who Fell to Earth and Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, has recently specialised in character supporting roles, such as Absolute Beginners, Labyrinth and Martin Scorcese's Last Temptation of Christ, in which he played Pontius Pilate.

His last two films, Everybody Loves Sunshine, a British gangster movie, and the Canadian fantasy film, Mr Rice's Secret, in which he plays a 400 year-old-man, both sank without trace.

Sam Toy, a writer with Empire magazine, said he believed The Prestige could be a success.

"I'm tipping it to be one of next year's hits. It's based on a book by a good writer and directed by one the hot directors of the moment. And its got two A-listers in the lead roles."

Despite the last two flops, he believed Bowie was a good actor.

"He's not afraid of trying different things. He was very good in Last Temptation of Christ.

"I'm sure he could have made it his career - after all, he's shown that on stage he can adopt different roles and he's not afraid to re-invent himself."

Tesla, who studied electronics and engineering in Europe, moved to the United States in 1884, where he became involved in the rivalry between different electrical systems pioneered by George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison.

Westinghouse, who prevailed, bought the patents to Tesla's alternating current dynamos and transformers.

Tesla also invented the Tesla Coil, an induction coil still widely used in radio technology.

He also proved that the Earth could be used as a conductor.

As he grew older, Tesla became increasingly eccentric, claiming that he had received communications from outer space in his laboratory and that he had invented a death ray, capable of destroying planes from 250 miles away.

- INDEPENDENT