Episodit
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As usual there are spoilers ahead!
For the full show notes with no character limits you can visit the website.
Description
Creature from the Black Lagoon released in 1954 is in many ways the epitome of 1950s science fiction cinema. Jack Arnold (director), William Alland (producer) and Richard Carlson (the leading man) were all people who has become associated with the increasingly popular genre. It also has a beautiful and stylish Julie Adams as the heroine, scientists on a mission and of course the monster. But there are no themes of nuclear radiation, Russian invasion or small town shenanigans here. The film was filmed in 3D although the peak of 3D popularity had faded and most viewers saw this film in 2D.Two absolute heavyweights of sci-fi research join me to enlighten us.
The Experts
Jay Telotte is a Professor Emeritus of film and media studies at Georgia Tech. He has written/edited numerous books and articles about science fiction film.
Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has also written/edited extensively about science fiction cinema.
You can take a look at the Forbidden Planet poster mentioned amongst others that have the same trope by viewing my instagram post here.Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the film and guests
02:16 Little Jay goes to the cinema
03:19 Universal monsters and comebacks
06:20 The mythical origin of the story
10:03 The monster, its maker and dangerous desires
21:37 Human invaders and Jack Arnold
23:22 Everybody loves Kay
28:59 Man, nature, science and the environment
29:12 Evolution: The Scopes Monkey Trial
33:32 1950s sci-fi: Space opera to the dangers of the depths
38:55 The Legacy: Sequels
45:00 Legacy cont: The Shape of Water
53:10 Recommendations for listenersNEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be taking a closer look at Them! (1953). You can check Just Watch to see where it can be found in your region and the film is available to buy or rent at many outlets including Apple TV. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
Earlier this year I approached a brilliant theoretical physicist about whether she would like to come on the podcast to speak about her favourite science fiction film but instead she wanted to speak to me about the science of the film Interstellar (2014).
I apologise in advance for my own level of understanding of physics which is a mix of decades old lessons in school, a tiny handful of pop science books and a number of science fiction films.
Interstellar was released ten years ago in November 2014.
Theoretical physicist Kip Thorne was the main consultant to director Christopher Nolan on the science of the film which is packed with scientifically accurate scenarios (and a few scientifically fantastical ones too).
The Guest
Claudia de Rham is a theoretical physicist at Imperial College, London. Her expertise lies at the interface between Quantum Field Theory, Gravity, Gravitational Waves, Cosmology, Particle Physics, Numerical Simulations and Theoretical Mathematical Physics.
She is also the author of the book The Beauty of Falling: A Life in Pursuit of Gravity.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the show and guest
01:20 Claudia’s first viewing: Science, emotion and the world you leave behind.
03:25 A quick overview of the premise
04:37 Wormholes: folding paper and spacetime
17:17 Kip Thorne and gravitational anomalies
11:14 Time dilation and black holes
15:14 Time is relative, gravity is multi-dimensional and the transition to science fiction
16:49 Going beyond Einstein’s theory of general relativity to the holy grail of science
19:34 Differences in singularities and being pulled apart by black holes
21:47 The tesseract and extra dimensions
24:50 Gravity as communicator
29:38 Gravity vs light
33:20 Direct detection of gravitational waves, interferometers and LISA* in space
35:06 Observation of the shadows of black holes
36:50 Claudia’s love of gravity
Next Episode:
The next film we will be looking at is Creature from the Black Lagoon from 1954!
You can check JustWatch for where you can find the film in your region. It is available to rent or buy in various places including Apple TV. Sequels Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us are trickier to track down though there are some online streaming services. The Shape of Water (2017) which is heavily inspired by the original film is available to rent or buy in various places and is also available for those who have a Disney+ subscription.
* The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna -
Puuttuva jakso?
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As always there are spoilers ahead!
If you want to read the full show notes you can click the episode on this page and
scroll down.
Description
Are we sick of alien invasion films? I certainly hope not! Although this one is a little different as the aliens just want to leave. It Came from Outer Space (1953) was directed by Jack Arnold who would make a name for himself in the 1950s as a director of many sci-fi films. Although the script was written by Harry Essex the treatment for the film was by none other than the famous Ray Bradbury. The film is a mix of schlocky sci-fi and poetic soliloquies set in small town USA. To help us dig a little deeper into this film I have two fantastic guests.
The Experts
Scott Higgins is a Professor of Film at Wesleyan University as well as being the Curator of the Wesleyan Cinema Archives.
Phil Nichols is a visiting lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton and a researcher with a special interest in Ray Bradbury. He is Senior Consultant to the Ray Bradbury Centre at Indiana University and editor of The New Ray Bradbury Review. He is also the man behind the Bradbury 100 podcast and the Science Fiction 101 podcast.Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the show and guests
01:40 The beginnings of a sci-fi film director Jack Arnold
04:30 Ray Bradbury’s influence on the film
09:40 The schlocky and elusive Aliens
15:54 Bradbury’s politics in the 1950s
18:22 Bradbury’s treatment vs Harry Essex’s screenplay
21:38 Small town USA: provincial views, scandal and something simmering beneath the surface
28:11 Teenage culture: post war boom, TV and rock n roll
33:26 Body snatching
36:00 3D cinema!
42:57 Ray Bradbury’s treatment
45:22 The legacy of the film
50:56 Recommendations
NEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be taking one of my pesky detours! I speak to brainiac theoretical physicist Claudia de Rham about the science of Interstellar which is ten years old on November 6th 2024. Interstellar (2014) is available to rent or buy at an array of outlets. You can check JustWatch to check which platforms it is available in your region. -
As always there are spoilers ahead!
If you want to read the full show notes you can click the episode on this page and scroll down.
Description:
After the classic film The Day the Earth Stood Still we move forward to 1953 and yet another Alien invasion. This time the aliens are definitely not looking to be friends. The War of the Worlds was written by HG Wells and published in 1897 in Pearson’s magazine. There have been many adaptations of the text including the famous radio play from Orson Welles in 1938 and the film adaptation by Steven Spielberg in 2005. I mention the drawings of the Martian tripod machines early in the episode. You can take a look at these wonderful images on this Instagram post.
To help us with their brilliant insights I have two wonderful guests.
The Experts
Keith Williams is a Reader in English Literature at the University of Dundee where he runs the science fiction programme. He is the author of the book H.G. Wells, Modernity and the Movies.
Ian Scott is a Professor of American Film and History at The University of Manchester. He has written extensively about politics and film in Hollywood.Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the show and guests
02:26 HG Wells original text and his place in science fiction history
09:00 The 1938 Orson Welles CBS radio play
12:46 1953 USA: paranoia and morality
15:04 The differences from the novel: jingoism, religion and diversity
21:32 California: Manifest Destiny and small town attitudes
24:52 Race and racial segregation
28:55 Science, religion and salvation
36:04 The spectacle of the film
38:31 The 2005 Spielberg rendition
43:35 The legacy of the film
47:22 Related recommendationsNEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be taking a closer look at It Came from Outer Space (1953). You can check Just Watch to see where it can be found in your region and the film is available to buy or rent at many outlets including Apple TV. -
As usual there are spoilers ahead!
If you want to read the full show notes you can click the episode on this page and scroll down.
The Day the earth Stood Still was released in 1951 just like The Thing from Another World. And just like that film The Day the Earth Stood Still is based on a story from Astounding Science Fiction magazine.
The flying saucer craze of 1947 has obviously made its impression on Hollywood and The Day the Earth Stood Still delivered a seamless sleek futuristic saucer along with an imposing shiny robot and a polite humanoid alien who comes in peace to deliver an ultimatum to a world wrangling with the atomic age.
The Experts:
Glyn Morgan is Curatorial Lead at the Science Museum in London and is a science fiction scholar.
Peter Gottschalk is a Professor of Religion at Wesleyan University with a special interest in the South Asian region, empire and science. He also teaches a class called “Awesome Cinema”.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the show and guests
02:22 Astounding magazine, The Manhattan project and the Peace Offensive
5:55 From pulps to peace: Sci-fi amid the red scare
11:28 The Flying Saucer
14:00 A benevolent invader and the United Nations
19:39 Gort the robot - Klaatu, Barada Nikto!
25:55 The sane scientist
29:06 Christian themes
34:36 Media frenzy
38:24 The 2008 remake
42:44 Bernard Hermann’s seminal score
44:06 Legacy and recommendationsNEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be taking a closer look at The War of the Worlds (1953). You can check Just Watch to find out where it can be found in your region. It is available to buy or rent at many outlets including Apple TV.
If you wanted to listen to the famous 1938 radio play from Orson Welles you can hear it here on YouTube.
And if you want to hear Richard Burton’s hypnotic reverberating voice in Jeff Wayne’s Musical version of War of the Worlds you can hear that here on YouTube. -
As always there are spoilers ahead!
For the full show notes with no character limits you can click the episode on the website watch page here.
Description:
We are finally in the 1950s! The Golden Era of science fiction cinema.
Although the 1950s are known for may B Movies The Thing from Another World was produced (and possibly directed) but the very famous Howard Hawks and came from RKO which was a big name studio at this time.
This film capitalised on the growing appetite for science fiction in the USA which was up until this recently largely in print but also a little on television although studios were still wary of the science fiction label. Based on the John W Campbell novella Who Goes There? from 1938 there were a few significant changes made to the story.
The Experts
Jay Telotte is Professor Emeritus of film and media studies at Georgia Tech. He has written/edited numerous books and articles about science fiction film including the 2023 Selling Science Fiction Cinema.
Marc Longenecker is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Film Studies at Wesleyan University.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the show and guests
02:40 The 1950s sci-fi explosion
06:34 The studio aversion to science fiction and the paramount decree
09:55 Howard Hawks, Howard Hughes and who really directed this film?
16:20 If it walks like a Hawk: Hallmarks and the Hawksian woman
21:52 The Cold War, flying saucers and “the group”
34:05 Jay’s comparison to The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
36:26 The influence on John Carpenter and The Thing (1982)
44:21 The legacy of the film
48:56 Recommendations for listenersNEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be taking a closer look at The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). You can check Just Watch to find out where it can be found in your region and is available to buy or rent at many outlets including Apple TV. -
Unlike most episodes there are no film spoilers ahead!
For full detailed show notes please click the episode on this page and scroll down.
This episode we take a huge jump back to the end of the 19th century and a side step to science fiction literature rather than film.
Robert Duncan Milne is a lost pioneer of science fiction literature. Milne’s work had largely vanished despite a book drawing attention to him in 1980. Born in Scotland in 1844 he died in San Francisco at the dawn of the 20th century. During his time in San Francisco he worked as a journalist as well as writing science fiction short stories.
In the many stories Milne wrote he included themes of time travel, alien life, teleportation, cryogenic preservation, remote surveillance and much much more.
My fantastic guests today have spent many years researching and compiling Milne’s work and trying to discover as much as possible about his life and work.
The Experts
Keith Williams is a Reader in English Literature at the University of Dundee where he runs the science fiction programme. He has a special interest in the pre 1945 period.
Ari Brin completed her Masters at the University of Dundee where she began her PhD research which focuses on the life and work of Robert Duncan Milne.The book that Ari and Keith have been working on will be released in January 2025. It is available for pre-order for the ungodly price of £117 in the UK or $175 in the USA. We all hope a cheaper, consumer friendly version will be released in the future.
Shownotes:
00:00 Introduction
01:59 Why was this pioneer’s work lost?
03:21 Milne’s contemporaries and the topics he wrote about
06:57 The promising young man who vanishes from Scottish society
12:32 San Francisco: an exciting literary hub in the late 19th century
14:18 Milne’s excessive drinking and the Keeley cure
19:27 Milne’s journalism and how it fed into his fiction
22:20 The Great Moon Hoax of 1835
25:51 Milne, Wells and visions of the future
33:17 The death of Milne and his work
36:32 Keith and Ari’s book and the crazy price
NEXT EPISODE!
WE ARE IN THE 1950s!!!!! It is an exciting but overwhelming time so please bear with me.
The next film we will be speaking about The Thing From Another World (1951). You can find out where you can watch it on Just Watch: https://www.justwatch.com/
It is available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play and other outlets. If you are in the USA I believe you can watch it for free (with ads) on Tubi. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
For full detailed show notes (without character limits) you can choose the episode on the watch page here: https://www.everyscififilm.com/watch
This is a special crossover episode with The Lorehounds podcast. To learn more about The Lorehounds and their extensive coverage of multiple TV series you can visit their website here.
Description
It has been 45 years since the first Alien (1979) film released in the cinema receiving lukewarm reviews. Perhaps the impact of a different kind of science fiction film was completely lost on film critics having to deal with the many clasher films of the 70s and a slew of Star Wars rip offs? But since then, Alien has cemented its reputation as a sci-fi film classic. Although there were many sci-fi horrors in the 1950s B-movies this film was different. There is no dashing hero, no damsel in distress waiting to be rescued, no bug eyed monster that takes away from the gritty realism of the film. This film set science fiction cinema on a different course.
The Experts
Roger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He specialises in literature, film, and cultural history from the 19th century to the present. He has written/edited a crazy number of articles and books including the BFI Film Classics book on Alien.
Jason Eberl is a Professor for Health Care Ethics at St Louis University with a special interest in biotechnology, human enhancement and the philosophy of human nature. He has also written extensively including a range of books that examine the philosophy of various mainstream media such as Star Wars, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica.
Co-Host
David is one third of The Lorehounds and is joining as co-host for this special crossover episode.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to the show and Alien’s bad reviews
02:55 The Origins of Alien
06:22 Why was Alien such a success?
08:06 Alien’s departure from the slick sci-fi aesthetic
09:15 Truckers in Spaaaace! Grittiness and the late 1970s political landscape
17:13 The protagonist: breaking away from gender stereotypes
24:00 Giger’s art and the Xenomorph's life cycle
26:50 A lack of eyes, Charles Darwin and Francis Bacon
30:31 The ship and the alien
33:43 The other monsters: Ash the android and the company
39:39 The history of heads speaking the truth
41:12 The Company: The factory line, Joseph Conrad & Belgians in the Congo
46:17 Jones the cat
51:22 The Philosophy of Alien
53:38 Recommendations
58:02 Outro
NEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we have a discussion about a long-lost pioneer of science fiction literature from the late 19th Century. Robert Duncan Milne’s work had largely vanished despite a book drawing attention to him in 1980. Milne was born in Scotland and died in San Francisco just before the dawn of the 20th century. Much of his legacy and work is thought to be lost due to the huge earthquake in San Francisco in 1906. My two wonderful guests are working hard to have him and his work recognised. -
Be warned: There are some potential spoilers ahead. Neither of us have watched Alien: Romulus yet but there is a lot of talk of the franchise and what we are expecting of the new film including a very clever theory from David which could be a spoiler.
This is a bonus episode which is part of my first ever crossover podcast!
Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* is joining The Lorehounds podcast as both are a little too excited about a certain franchise.
Alien (1979) is 45 years old this year and Alien: Romulus is being released on the 16th of August. To celebrate we have this bonus episode is myself and David from The Lorehounds having a short chat about the trailer for the new film. The next full episode will be on Alien (1979) released on Sunday the 18th of August. The Lorehounds and myself will be having a fan discussion about Alien (1979) on their podcast and finally you can catch a discussion about the Alien: Romulus film over at The Lorehounds after its release.
For more details about The Lorehounds you can visit their website here.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on the Alien franchise. You can leave me a voice message here or catch up with what I’m working on or researching on my Instagram page.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to the show and the crossover project
04:06 Alien: Romulus synopsis and production details
05:57 Kids in Spaaaace!
08:02 Sound design
12:36 Infused with the original
13:05 Practical effects
16:10 Cultivating the next generation of fans
19:00 Expectations: Ayesha
20:36 Expectations: David
23:51 David’s brilliant theory (and potential spoiler!)
25:40 The Blade Runner and Alien universe
28:51 OutroNEXT EPISODE!
As mentioned above the next episode will be a discussion with David from The Lorehounds and myself speaking to two wonderful guests about Alien (1979). All the Alien films are available on the Disney Plus channel but are also available to buy or rent in many places including Apple TV. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
For full detailed show notes (without character limits), including the titles of the films mentioned or shown, you can choose the episode on the watch page here: https://www.everyscififilm.com/watch
Description:
The idea of the ‘mad scientist’ has been with us for a very long time. In the early 1930s science fiction (and horror) films proliferated with the trope. Metropolis (1927) had already had the remarkable Rotwang who was a prototype that would go on to be referenced in Stanley Kubrick’s character Dr Strangelove (1964) with his black-gloved hand.
But why has the mad scientist become a staple of cinema? And why were the 1930s and 40s a time when Dr Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and the many other crazed scientists (including several played by Boris Karloff) became so commonplace? Luckily we have two wonderful brains ripe for picking!*
The Experts
Thomas Doherty is a professor of American Studies at Brandeis University; he is a cultural historian with a special interest in Hollywood cinema on which he has written extensively.
Xavier Aldana Reyes is a Reader in English Literature and Film at Manchester Metropolitan University with a special interest in the Gothic. His books include the fiction anthology Promethean Horrors: Classic Tales of Mad Science.
*Disclaimer: No human brain transplants were carried out on unwilling participants during the making of this podcast.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:05 The Great Depression and the Hays Code
06:24 How World War I changed perceptions of science
07:38 Frankenstein, Faust and forbidden knowledge
11:33 The male mad scientists and the lack of female ones
16:13 Religion, magic and science
20:20 Eugenics, miscegenation and The Code
25:26 Anti-authoritarianism, psychoanalysis, Leopold and Loeb
33:34 Einstein, real science and the beneficial scientists
43:00 The legacy of the mad scientist
48:12 Recommendations for the listeners and outroNEXT EPISODE!
I have a lot of detours planned ahead (which you can learn about in the outro). One of the films I will definitely be covering very soon will be Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) for a crossover episode with The Lorehounds podcast. Alien can be found to buy or rent on many channels as well as hard copies.
To keep up to date with what’s coming next you can join me on Instagram. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
For full detailed shownotes (without character limits) you can choose the episode on the watch page here.
If you would like to watch the Flash Gordon or Buck Rogers film serials they are available on YouTube. (Warning: the serials are repetitive and there are three Flash Gordon serials and one Buck Rogers!) The 1980 Mike Hodges Flash Gordon film is available to rent or buy at an array of outlets including Apple TV.Although it was Buck Rogers that triggered an array of copies after the comic strip was published in 1929, it is Flash Gordon (one of those copies) that went on to have a film serial made with a lavish budget by Universal Pictures in 1936. Buck Rogers has had a significant impact in popular culture but the trajectory of Flash Gordon has eclipsed it in many ways.
This week’s experts bring you all their knowledge about how this came to be.
The Experts
Jay Telotte is Professor Emeritus of film and media studies at Georgia Tech. He has written/edited numerous books and articles about science fiction film.
Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has also written/edited many books on science fiction cinema.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to show and guests
01:39 Why a Flash Gordon film serial?
09:58 The full bill cinema experience in 1936
11:55 The origins of the misaligned Space Opera
14:29 Star Wars, George Lucas and his 1930s influences
16:08 Post Star Wars Space Opera
19:55 Pushing beyond a space adventure to social commentary
21:48 Flash Gordon: The damsel, the hero and the good scientist
27:34 Ming the Merciless: Asian stereotypes, representation and racism
32:42 Aliens, post code reshoots and the sexual current
37:25 The 1980 Flash Gordon: Mark gushes while Jay waits
42:45 Jay’s reaction
45:06 The legacy
49:45 RecommendationsNEXT EPISODE!
The next episode will be covering an array of films about ‘Mad Scientists’ from the 1930s and early 40s.
I will share some of the titles here but it will be a topical discussion. Boris Karloff who came to fame for playing the monster in Frankenstein (1931) plays the role of the mad scientist in multiple films during this period, many that stray away from the science fiction genre or have a strong crossover with horror film. Some of these are: The Man Who Changed his Mind (1936), The Invisible Ray (1936), Black Friday (1940) and The Man with Nine Lives (1940).
Aside from those we also have the film Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), The Island of Lost Souls(1932) and both Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde films (1931 and 1941). Metropolis (1927) has the scientist Rotwang who is an excellent earlier example of this trope.
You can check JustWatch to find where these films are available to buy, rent or stream in your region. I have found many on Apple TV and some are available on YouTube. -
Whilst researching the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers film serials of the 1930s I was delighted to find far too much information about the pulp and comic book origins of these heroes. So we are taking a detour to speak with people who really have their heads wrapped around this topic.
For full shownotes for this episode without character limits you can visit here.
We will be talking about Flash Gordon (and a little about Buck Rogers) in the next episode. Scroll down to get more information on where to watch the 1930s film serials.
The Experts
Julian Chambliss is a scholar and a professor at Michigan State University. He is the author of multiple books including Ages of Heroes, Eras of Men: Superheroes and the American Experience.
Jess Nevins is an Author and research librarian who has annotated multiple comics and written the Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, The Encyclopedia of Pulp Heroes and The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4,000-Year History of the Superhero.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to the show and guests
02:14 The origins of pulp fiction
04:14 The western frontier and the American hero
06:23 Superheroes in the pulps and ancient civilization
09:42 WW1 and Hugo Gernsback’s Amazing Stories
11:21 Buck Rogers, race and rapid change
15:13 From pulp to comic strip: Buck Rogers and Tarzan
15:39 The success of Flash Gordon
16:55 Racial politics of Flash Gordon
19:16 The true first superhero
20:38 Phantom’s international popularity
21:38 The Great Depression, superpowers and The New Deal
25:35 The Jewish influence
28:44 Superman as the good immigrant
32:25 Women: from pulps to comics
35:55 The rediscovery of black creators
40:44 Moral panic, senate hearings and the Comics Code Authority
48:34 The future of the hero
NEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be focusing on the Flash Gordon (and Buck Rogers) film serials of the 1930s. You can check JustWatch to see where you can access them: https://www.justwatch.com/
There are also available on YouTube including some strangely colourised versions.
I would also highly recommend watching the 1980 version of Flash Gordon which is ridiculously good fun in my opinion. It is available to rent or buy in various places including on Amazon and again you can check on Just Watch where it may be streaming in your region. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
For full detailed shownotes (without character limits) you can choose the episode on the watch page here.
I would love for you to join in by watching The Invisible Man here.
You can follow what I'm researching and working on next on the podcast Instagram page @everyscififilm.
Description:
When HG Wells wrote The Invisible Man in 1897 he was in a world in which the telephone, the phonograph and even the invention of the radio brought the idea of disembodied voices to an increasing number of people. In the 1933 film director James Whale (who also directed Frankenstein) imbued the film with themes of mass communication more relevant to an age of radio broadcasts and film newsreels.
Although it is a part of Universal Pictures classic monsters it often feels more like a comedy than a horror. The film was a great success with the special effects impressing moviegoers and critics. This week’s wonderful experts break down the themes and history of the film. We also have a little discussion about Things to Come (1936) which is also based on an HG Wells story and touch upon the infamous War of the Worlds radio play (1938) which (apparently) led people to think aliens were invading.
The Experts
Keith Williams is a Reader in English at the University of Dundee with a special interest in the pre 1945 period and HG Wells. He is the author of the book H.G. Wells, Modernity and the Movies.
Marc Longenecker is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Film Studies at Wesleyan University and wrote an article titled A Brief History of Invisibility on Screen.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:35 Invisibility on film and by HG Wells
10:28 Humour, satire and prejudice
14:26 A man walks into a pub
15:28 Rags to riches: Whale, Wells and Rains
20:12 The invisible actor
22:02 Phonographs, radio and Hitler
27:18 War of the Worlds (1938 radio drama)
29:58 The special effects
35:37 HG Wells Vs the movies
41:00 Things to Come (1936)
46:42 Legacy
49:08 Conclusion
51:32 RecommendationsNEXT EPISODE!
No film to watch for next episode as we will be discussing the development of early pulp fiction magazines and comics and their relationship to science fiction. You can start catching up with the Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers film serials of the 1930s as I am working on an episode based on them. You can check JustWatch to see where you can access them.
You can also watch them on YouTube. There are also some colourised versions. There were three Flash Gordon serials and one Buck Rogers serial
Flash Gordon (1936)
Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars (1938)
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)
Buck Rogers (1939)
CORRECTION: at 24:09 Keith Williams misspeaks and says 1933 was the year of the Nazi coup. This was the year the Nazis came to power in a landslide election. The Beer Hall Putsch was in 1923. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
For full detailed shownotes (without character limits) you can choose the episode on the watch page here.
I would love for you to join in by watching the film King Kong here.
Description:
In early March 1933 the US welcomed Franklin D Roosevelt as their 32nd president. The longest lasting presidency in US history.
That same weekend the original King Kong opened in theatres in New York. The huge ape was a big success and continues to wow audiences almost a century later.
Although I have many dear friends and family members who adore this creature I have never been enraptured by him. I wanted to find two experts who really had love of this film as well as the knowledge and insight that would put the movie into context.
The Experts
Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has written/edited multiple books on science fiction and the 1933 King Kong is one of his favourite films.
Peter Conolly Smith is an Associate Professor of History at Queens College, CUNY. He specialises in American studies and also considers King Kong as one of his favourite films.
Chapters00:00 My reading plans, a big thank you intro
00:46 Introduction
02:00 Why Mark loves the film
03:40 Why Peter loves the film
06:57 The meaning and relevance of pre-code films
09:25 The great travelling filmmaking adventurers
13:06 The Depression Era as King Kong
19:28 Racism: inherent and the allegory
27:32 The Scottsboro Boys trial
30:28 Beauty and the Beast: the contamination of civilization
36:08 Boyish adventure!
39:04 Groundbreaking special effects
41:53 The humanisation of Kong
43:26 The legacy: Kong, Kaiju and Jurassic Park
50:39 Conclusions
51:10 Recommendations for listeners
NEXT EPISODE!
The next film we'll be speaking about it The Invisible Man. You can watch it here. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
For full detailed shownotes (without character limits) you can choose this episode on the watch page here and scroll down.
I would love for you to join in by watching the film Just Imagine which is available here.
If you would like to share your thoughts on the film or the episode you can do that on Instagram.
Description
How did the US make a lighthearted, musical rom-com in answer to the grand German dystopia of Metropolis?
Just Imagine was made by David Butler who was hot off the success of another musical: Sunny Side Up (1929).
Just Imagine was released in November of 1930 a little over a year after the Wall Street Crash. Sound had become commonplace in movie theatres and musicals were drawing in the crowds. Just Imagine had a budget of approximately $1.1 million.
The film is set in 1980. Unsurprisingly there are no synth bands or shoulder pads. There is, however, a glorious retro-futuristic glimpse into what the vision of the future looked like for the people of 1930. The film is very different to its big budget predecessors Aelita Queen of Mars and Metropolis. Just Imagine is a light-hearted, musical rom-com and offers very little anxiety about technology or the future. I had considered titling the episode 'Just Imagine Being Optimistic About the Future!'. Luckily I have procured some heavyweight experts to explain how techno-optimism was par for the course in the machine age USA.
The Experts
Jay Telotte is a Professor Emeritus of film and media studies at Georgia Tech. He has written extensively about film history for decades including many books and articles on science fiction cinema. He wrote the article Just Imagine-ing the Metropolis of Modern America in 1996.
Lisa Yaszek is back with us! She is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech, has written/edited multiple books on science fiction and teaches Just Imagine as part of a futurism, fashion, and science fiction design class. She was recently received the SFRA Award for Lifetime Contributions to Science Fiction Scholarship.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro to the show and guests
01:41 The perfect storm for a musical rom-com sci-fi
04:55 Musicals
08:19 Science Fiction
10:26 Swedish accents, gender and the other queen of Mars
15:10 Optimism, World's Fairs and technocracy
19:53 The futurists and fashion
24:26 Visionary tech hits and misses
28:50 Good and evil of sci-fi fashion
31:47 The death of the big-budget futurist film
33:27 Visual legacy: Flash Gordon, Frankenstein & Buck Rodgers
35:29 Sci-fi musical Vs sci-fi horror
37:34 Conclusions
40:07 Recommendations
NEXT EPISODE!
We will be speaking about the 1933 original King Kong! The film is available to buy or rent on many streaming channels. You can check the 'Just Watch' website to get details on where.
You can also watch the film here. -
We're doing things a little differently this episode. There are still spoilers ahead!
Frankenstein is considered by many people to be a solid first choice for the first science fiction novel. (Before you start jumping up and down in disgust, yes, there are many stories from the 1600s and even ancient tales which are considered to be strong contenders for the first written sci-fi story. That does not take away from the influence of Mary Shelley.)
In 1816 the teenager* went on holiday to Switzerland and came up with the character of Frankenstein and his monster which would then develop into a novel titled Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Over 200 years later there are still films being made based on the characters from the book.
In this episode, we touch upon James Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein film but look at the origins of the story, examine why its monster has such a long lasting legacy, and why these stories resonate with us still.
For full detailed shownotes please click the episode at www.everyscififilm.com/watch and scroll down.
The experts
Roger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He specialises in literature, film and cultural history from the 19th century to the present. He has written many books and numerous articles on science fiction, horror and the Gothic.
Sarah Artt is a Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University. She has taught courses on Frankenstein in film and literature and co-led a 3 year project titled The Age of Frankenstein which examined the origins and legacy of the story. Her book Quiet Pictures comes out in May 2024.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction, thank you and guests
02:08 The origin of the monster
04:51 Mary Godwin: not your average 19th century girl
06:22 The monster is still with us
10:16 Mary Shelley as the monster: my hackneyed take
14:23 The ultimate goth princess
15:02 Knowledge and punishment
16:37 The horror film genre
20:12 Frankenstein’s monster: a child of revolution!
23:16 Why we love monsters
29:58 James Whale and the Bride of Frankenstein
31:38 Godzilla, B movies and pod people
35:50 The Stepford Wives
39:18 The slave becomes the master
40:08 Burning cross, lynching and the mob
42:59 Conclusions: class, prejudice and eugenics
46:06 Recommendations
Next episode
The next film we will be covering is Just Imagine (1930). Is is a musical, rom-com sci-fi set in 1980. You can watch it here: https://archive.org/details/JustImagine_201701
*Correction: I wrongly say at 02:37 that Mary Shelley is 16 or 17 years old when they arrive at Villa Diodati but she is 18. -
*Almost.
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
You can watch Metropolis (1927) here or here:
For full shownotes visit the watch page for this episode on the website: https://www.everyscififilm.com/watch
Description
After losing World War I Germany entered a time of economic hardship and political turmoil. In 1918 the Monarchy abdicated. The country was financially crippled by the reparations enforced by The Treaty of Versailles and German democracy began.
From 1918 until Hitler came to power in 1933 is known as the Weimar period. A time of political upheaval and artistic creativity. German Art and Cinema were thriving while the left and right were wrangling for control of the country.
In 1927 Fritz Lang made what is to this day considered one of the greatest films of all time. It is based on a story by Thea Von Harbou, his wife at the time, who went on to collaborate with Nazi Party on multiple films.
The ongoing influence of Metropolis on film is immense. Films like Blade Runner, Fifth Element, Frankenstein, Batman, and more recently Poor Things have all been influenced by it. And yet, the film itself was not a hit.
Luckily we have two luminary experts to help us understand the film, the society it came from and the themes it portrays.
The experts
Sonja Fritzsche is a professor of German Studies and an author/editor for many books about science fiction. She has taught courses on science fiction, utopia and Metropolis.
Noah Isenberg is a film historian and best-selling author. He is a professor at the University of Texas and editor of the book Weimar Cinema: An Essential Guide to Classic Films of the Era.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction, shownotes clarification and guests
02:30 Weimar: economics, Hitler and creative legacy
11:05 Fritz Lang
15:00 Thea Von Harbou
18:41 Lang’s Jewish heritage and Harbou’s Nazism
21:05 The rediscovery of missing Metropolis reels
22:05 Lang’s visual virtuosity
26:05 Fear of the future and the three faces of Utopia
27:50 The virgin, the whore and the workers unions
31:41 Critical reception Vs visual spectacle
35:32 Religious themes
37:37 The Nazi connection
45:23 Lang’s future: M, Woman in the Moon, Film Noir
48:25 Is Metropolis the most influential sci-fi film of all time?
50:36 Conclusions and recommendations
NEXT EPISODE!
We will be looking at Frankenstein and speaking about monsters and their role in storytelling and science fiction. You can watch Frankenstein (1931) here.
Or check Just Watch for where it is available. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
You can watch Aelita Queen of Mars (1924) here. For full shownotes visit the watch page for this episode on the website: https://www.everyscififilm.com/watch
Lenin, the leader of the Russian revolution and the new soviet Russia declared “cinema is for us the most important of the arts”. He recognised the power of film to reach a wide range of audiences and its potential as propaganda. The country was struggling as was its film industry which was nationalised in 1919.In the first half of the 20th century Russia has been through a world war, a revolution and a civil war which ended in 1923.
Some months later the words “Anta Odeli Uta” started appearing in the press and distributed leaflets. The words are from Aelita Queen of Mars which was Soviet Russia’s first big film. A film they hired acclaimed pre-revolutionary film director Yakov Protozanov to make. This film was intended to make a big impact, to be popular and be a beacon of the new emerging soviet Russia. Although the film was a commercial success, communist critics were harsh in their verdict.
The film has a mishmash of themes which make for confusing viewing. Part communist propaganda (oppressed Martian workers rise up against a cruel king), part romantic drama (jealousy and obsession), part social commentary (corrupt government officials and bumbling policemen) amongst many other things.
Luckily we have two heavyweight scholars to help us rein in the confusion.
The experts
Denise Youngblood is Professor of History Emerita at the University of Vermont. She is a specialist on the history of Russian and Soviet cinema from 1908 to the present. She has written extensively on the subject, including seven books and numerous articles and film reviews. Denise has a PhD from Stanford and was one of only three Americans who studied Soviet film history at VGIK (the Soviet state film institute in Moscow) during Soviet times.
Rachel Morley is Associate Professor at UCL's School of Slavonic & East European Studies where she is also co-chair of Russian Cinema Research Group. She has published widely and presented papers on Russian film.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to show and guests
02:43 The pre-revolutionary master returns
07:01 Where is the communist propaganda?
13:00 Anta Odeli Uta and the critics Vs fans
18:34 Is the protagonist meant to be unlikable?
23:12 Women: past, present and future
28:34 The working class
32:17 A vision of the future: costumes and set design
35:22 Russian sci-fi after Aelita: Stalin Vs Khrushchev
38:38 Aelita: a warning to Soviet filmmakers
40:53 Did Aelita inspire Fritz Lang’s Metropolis?
43:12 Protozanov’s future
44:27 Stalin’s restrictions on the film industry
48:02 Conclusion
NEXT EPISODE!
Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is next! It is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of the silent era. You can watch it here at the internet archive or here on YouTube. Or you can check here for UK or here for US options. DVDs of the film are also available
(There are many versions of the film due to editing, lost footage and restorations. There is also a 1984 Giorgio Moroder version with an 80s soundtrack!) -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead!
Every once in a while we take a break from watching and learning about old science fiction films and speak to a guest about their favourite sci-fi film. In this episode I speak to David Eagleman about The Creator and what about this 2023 film made it to the top of his list.
For full shownotes with references to the subjects mentioned in this episode you can visit https://www.everyscififilm.com/the-creator-david-eagleman-s-fvouriteThe guest
David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford University, a best-selling author of multiple books, and an entrepreneur. He is cofounder of Cognito Entertainment, a production company that focuses on science-based films and documentaries and he also directs the US based Center for Science and Law. David is the host of the Inner Cosmos podcast that delves into topics about the human brain and perception. You can find out more about him at https://eagleman.comChapters
00:00 Introduction of show and guest
01:19 Overview of The Creator (with spoilers)
03:24 Why The Creator resonates with David
05:38 Consciousness, AI, and neuroscience
10:16 Human tribalism and prejudice
14:28 AI: friend, foe, fear, and the future
17:50 Mimicry, humanity, and the potential of AI
19:15 Can AI adapt and excel beyond the human brain?
23:01 Sad robots and subjectivity
24:52 Religious AI, heaven, and the cynical ending
NEXT EPISODE!
The next film we will be looking at is Aelita Queen of Mars. A 1924 film from Soviet Russia. You can watch the film here on YouTube. In some locations you can check where it is available to stream, rent or buy at JustWatch. The film is available to buy on Amazon in some places. DVDs of the film are available though not common. -
As with all episodes of this podcast there are spoilers ahead! I would love for you to join in by watching the film, Le Voyage Dans La Lune here. The film was made by the pioneer French film director George Méliès in 1902. It is widely considered to be the first sci-fi film ever. There is a small rumble of a potential contender which I have added at the bottom of the full shownotes.
For full shownotes with references to the subjects mentioned in this episode you can visit https://www.everyscififilm.com/the-first-science-fiction-film-everThe experts
Richard Neupert is the Charles H. Wheatley Professor of the Arts and a Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor at the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Georgia. He has written extensively on film including numerous books. His book French Film History, 1895-1946 was published in 2022.Bert Ulrich probably has one of the best jobs in the world! He acts as NASA’s liaison for film and TV collaborations. He is a film and visual arts author. In 2022 his essay A Legacy of Spectacle: The Impact of George Méliès on Science Fiction Filmmaking was published in the academic journal Film International.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to show and guests
01:37 How the son of a successful bootmaker became a theatre performer
04:14 George Méliès watches a Lumiere brother’s screening
06:35 A quick overview of the film
08:12 Méliès satire and style
12:30 The father of special effects
15:27 France’s Belle Époque: optimism, industrialism, and exploration
20:47 Success and piracy
23:42 The pros and cons of Méliès’ solo working style
27:54 Méliès’ decline
31:27 Rediscovery of his work
33:49 The development of Sci-fi cinema since 1902
44:18 Concluding thoughts
NEXT EPISODE/S!
Next episode I will be speaking to David Eagleman, Stanford neuroscientist and best selling author, about his favourite Sci-fi film The Creator. This 2023 film is streaming on Disney+. You may be able to check where you can rent or buy the film at JustWatch.
The next film we will be looking at is Aelita Queen of Mars. A 1924 film from Soviet Russia. You can watch the film here on YouTube. You can check where it is available to stream, rent or buy at JustWatch. The film is available to buy on Amazon in some locations. DVDs of the film are available though not common. - Näytä enemmän
