Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

As always there are spoilers ahead! Scroll down to read a brief synopsis of the film. The idea is to watch the film in advance before tuning in but apparently many of you listen without prep which is lovely albeit confusing! Next episode’s film is also listed below.  Roger Corman began his career in film in 1950 and would go on to leave a huge mark on the industry by mentoring many filmmakers in the 1970s (Peter Biskind’s book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls is a great read if you’re interested!).  The Wasp Woman from 1959 was produces and directed by Corman and rounds of the podcast’s fantastic foray into the 50s.*  A film that focuses on the CEO of Janice Starlin Enterprises: Janice Starlin herself! The company is suffering and Janice is ageing but scientist Dr Eric Zinthrop had discovered the secret to youth in extracts of royal jelly taken from queen wasps.  My two amazing guests are here to enlighten us on wasps, women and workplace* etiquette. 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.  Sherryl Vint is Professor of Science Fiction Media Studies at the University of California, Riverside. She has written/edited many books about science fiction.   Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:00 Roger Corman 07:06 Women in 1959, the Mad Men era and real life women CEOs 09:38 The Fly: death, face reveals and campiness 15:52 The 1995 remake 18:13 The parasitic wasp 20:59 Royal jelly, royalty and matriarchs 22:50 Office politics: youth, beauty and 50s expectations 32:48 Teen market & production constraints. 35:14 Death of the Wasp Woman 36:42 Susan Cabot’s tragic death 40:00 Legacy of the film 46:38 Recommendations for the listener  Synopsis of The Wasp Woman Dr Eric Zinthrop has been research the royal jelly of queen wasps and has discovered an elixir of youth that changes grown animals into baby ones. He is exactly what Janice Starlin, the ageing CEO of the hugely successful but failing cosmetics brand Janic Starlin Enterprises needs to change her and her companies fortune around.  A couple of the men who work for Janice do not trust Zinthrop. They enlist Janice’s secretary Mary to spy on her boss. Although Janice can see the effects of the new drug she impatient with the slow results and Zinthrop’s cautious attitude. She goes to the laboratory and injects herself to speed up results.   Meanwhile Zinthrop realises his formula makes his test animals crazy but before he is able to warn Janice he gets into a car accident. Janice cannot find him and so decides to continue to self-administer doses of the serum and begins to look increasingly younger. When Zinthrop is finally found by Janice she pays for and takes over his care sleeping at the office. She also discovers the serum has an unfortunate side effects of turning her head into that of a huge wasp and causing her to kill! This all leads to a big fight at the end in which Janice Starling’s wasp form is attacked and thrown off a high floor balcony.   NEXT EPISODE! We will be shimmying into 1960 with the classic HG Wells adaptation The Time Machine. The film is available to buy or rent online from major outlets including Apple. You can check the Just Watch website to see where the film is available in your region.      *I would like a gold star for alliteration please.  

Hello wonderful people!   You can follow the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.   Thank you so much to Patreon subscribers! If you would like to support the podcast and get ad free versions you can subscribe for $3 or £3 a month at https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm   The idea behind the podcast is we all watch the film (with film choices and where to watch given in the show notes of the previous episode) and then you can listen to the podcast after two weeks and learn more about the film.   It has been brought to my attention (thank you, Olivia!) that sometimes a synopsis might be very helpful to know what on earth is going on. It seems not everyone is watching these films before listening. So, I have added more information further below. As always there are spoilers ahead!   The Tingler (1959) was released in cinemas with the expectation that cinema owners would install “Percepto!” under certain seats. This was a small electric buzzing device that would be triggered during key moments of the film.   Director William Castle was known for these kinds of interactive, promotional gimmicks and had used them many times before. The tradition of “Ballyhoo” in cinema is an old one and involves enticing audiences to the movies with various types of marketing stunts.   Vincent Price plays the hammy lead with a gravitas very few people can pull off. I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable film despite the lack of “Percepto!” in my own home.   As always, I am lucky to have two excellent guests joining me.   Scott Higgins is Professor of Film at Wesleyan University as well as being the Curator of the Wesleyan Cinema Archives.   Matthew Rule Jones is a senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Exeter.   Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:57 William Castle the King of Ballyhoo 04:21 William Caste’s background 10:19 The death of Florence Lawrence and movie myth-making 13:50 The Avant Garde, The Grand Guinol and The Surrealists 18:40 Red blood in a black and white film 21:50 A brink film: LSD, insanity and the impending Psycho 25:53 Loose ends and ethical loopholes 29:03 Vincent Price as the part-time mad scientist 33:33 The bad wife 34:57 The Tingler, teen audiences and a screaming crescendo 40:07 Manly screaming and scream queens 42:33 The silent era references 46:32 Legacy 52:14 Recommendations   NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about The Wasp Woman from 1959 directed by Roger Corman. I believe the film is in the public domain and is easily available online for free or to buy and rent on many streaming services.   It is also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpPAN6frZmU   Synopsis of The Tingler The Tingler begins with the director William Castle addressing the audience about how they are about to experience a tingling sensation that no audience has ever experienced before. Relief can be gained by screaming!   The story involves Dr Warren Chapin (played by Vincent Price) investigating the cause of why some inmates are frightened to death before their executions. A man names Olly Higgins visit Dr Chapin and tells him that it is his brother-in-law that Chapin is doing an autopsy on. Chapin is convinced there is something physical in the body that causes death by fear!     Olly Higgins runs a silent cinema with his deaf-mute wife Martha.   Warren Chapin is  obsessed with his work and ignores his wife who has decided to spend her time cavorting with other men! Her sister Lucy is good, kind and the epitome of idealised 1950s femininity. Lucy is in love with Dr Chapin’s assistant David.   In his experiments Dr Chapin pretends to kill his wife to scare her, tests LSD on himself (a relatively new drug that is in 1959 legal and used by psychologists) and experiments on animals and potentially on Martha Higgins with LSD although that part isn’t really clarified.   In an x-ray of his wife (who he has frightened into believing she’s dead – we can’t expect things to make sense) Dr Chapin discovers there is a long caterpillar-like creature that hugs the spine when people are terrified.   Dr Chapin visits Martha Higgins to give her some medication which may or may not be LSD. After this she experiences many frightening experiences including a bath filled with red blood (in a black and shite film). Martha is terrified of blood and collapses.     Olly Higgins brings his wife Martha to Dr Chapin. She is very sick or dead. Dr Warren declares Martha dead but after she moves he gets permission to find out why. He discovers and extracts the tingler!   Shenanigans commence involving a murderous wife, an escaped tingler in the silent cinema and Martha’s revenge!

You can follow the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.   Thank you so much to Patreon subscribers! If you would like to support the podcast and get ad free versions you can subscribe for $3 or £3 a month at https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm   As usual there are spoilers ahead!   This film is silly. And I love that for me. I hope many of you will enjoy something much more lighthearted after the heavy topic of nuclear annihilation from the last episode.   Teenagers from Outer Space (1959) was the work of Tom Graeff who wrote, produced, directed, edited and acted in the film.     As previously mentioned, the film is silly but I found it very enjoyable. Stilted dialogue that is often out of sync, special effects that are very simple and yet effective, space fascists with rayguns and a sweet hearted rebel finding his way in the unfamiliar new world of Earth. How many sci-fi tropes can you possibly fit into a film made on the tightest of budgets?   The film made me laugh a lot which admittedly isn’t too difficult to do but it was a much needed laugh after the beautifully bleak misery of On the Beach.   I am not the only person who has a soft spot for this film. I am very lucky to be joined by two wonderful guests who are definitely avid fans of this alien invasion adventure.   Marc Longenecker is an Associate Professor of the Practice of Film Studies at Wesleyan University.   Blair Davis is a Professor of Media and Cinema Studies at DePaul University. He has written a lot about cinema and comics and including the book The Battle for the Bs: 1950s Hollywood and the Rebirth of Low-Budget Cinema.   Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:37 Why do you love this film? 08:41 Distribution and reception 12:48 “Bad” film 18:15 The tragic life of Tom Graeff 25:53 Derek the hero: the rebel anti-fascist with daddy issues 33:10 Special effects 38:17 Chekov’s Gargon: the lobster monster!          40:58 Space adventures on Earth and teen appeal 44:28 Thor! A bad guy with great comedic value 47:04 The ending 50:18 King Moody: from space fascist to Ronald McDonald 50:54 Recommendations for the listener     NEXT EPISODE! Next time we’ll be discussing the film The Tingler (1959) starring Vincent Price. The film is readily available on multiple streaming services to rent or buy and also on some free services in some regions. The Just Watch website gives a good overview of where you can find films in your region.

As always there are spoilers ahead! Trigger warning for a lot of discussion of suicide with analysis of the plot along with a side of dark humour. If you would like to support the podcast and get ad free versions you can subscribe for $3 or £3 a month at https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm You can follow the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you want to watch the film before you listen you can check the Just Watch website to see where it is available in your region. On the Beach is available online to buy and rent from Apple and other sources in many places. I can’t believe I am almost done and dusted with this film! I did really like the film and have to admit that perhaps I have been giving it a hard time.  Perhaps because it gave me a hard time! There are moments of fun, flirtation and enjoyment but it is all within the backdrop of undeniable impending annihilation. I am definitely someone who prefers some depth and thematic discussion of the ethics of humanity in my science fiction (as well as some good old pew-pew led heroism) but I did find this film to be so very sad. Luckily I have two absolutely wonderful guests to keep me company and help me keep a stiff upper lip in the face of doom. 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. John Wills is a Professor of American Media and Culture at University of Kent. He has written lots about popular culture including 1950s American and Nuclear film. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Nuclear war is apparently not fun 08:09 Not your usual sci-fi 09:21 Scope, scale and cultural impact 13:43 We are ALL doomed 15:58 Gregory & Ava: Dwight & Moira 20:51 Fred Astaire as the scientist! 23:45 Peter and Mary contemplate suicide and murder 27:27 Love in the time of annihilation 30:03 Submarine: Signals and San Francisco 36:58 The Final Ferrari Race 39:30 Suicide 46:16 Legacy 49:09 Recommendations Correction:  At 9:54 Tom mentions the film has not been revived but a joint US-Australia TV film released in 2000 was made. NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be discussing Teenagers from Outer Space (1959). It is a low budget indie film which seems to fit into the “bad film” category and so will not be for everyone! But I found it a relief full of lots of sci-fi tropes, funny parts, a coherent plot and likeable characters. The film is in the public domain. You can watch it on the Internet Archive website and there is also a weirdly colourised version of the film on YouTube where you can also find the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 episode on the film. I found that very funny too.

As usual there are spoilers ahead!   You can follow the podcast on social media: Instagram, Threads and BlueSky. You can support the podcast and get ad-free episodes on Patreon. Please be aware that we touch upon sexual assault in this episode due to the content of the film. Description USA in 1959 was on the brink of a decade that would see major changes in the country in terms of race. But never without opposition. It was also the year in which Harry Belafonte, at the peak of his fame, would star in The World, the Flesh and the Devil. The film centres Belafonte’s character, Ralph Burton, as the last man on earth. A Black man at a time when the country was wrangling with desegregation. Ralph is joined by Sarah and Ben: White survivors who enter what was for a while his world. This episode focuses on race and racism and I am so lucky to have two amazing guests to help us put the plot and frustrations into context. Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has written/edited extensively about science fiction cinema.   Stéphanie Larrieux is the associate director of the Centre for the study of Race and Ethnicity at Brown University. She wrote about the World, The Flesh and the Devil as part of her PhD.   Chapters (times may vary slightly due to advertising!) 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Why is this film largely unknown? 03:10 Source material 10:05 Harry Belafonte 16:25 An empty Manhattan 18:53 The last man on earth 23:12 Double sight and racial panopticism 24:26 Cultured and capable 28:03 Sarah’s unnerving feet 31:31 The frustrations of this film 35:26 Free, white and 21: Ralph and Sarah’s relationship 39:25 The hair cutting scene 41:42 Ben comes to town: Mel Ferrer 45:31 The ending 47:09 Inger Stevens 48:29 Ben’s “idealism” 49:47 The title 50:28 Black protagonists in science fiction 53:36 Legacy   NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about On The Beach (1959) starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins. You can visit Just Watch in your region to find out where you can watch this film although it seems to be easily available to rent or buy online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you would like to support the podcast and get ad free versions you can subscribe for $3 or £3 a month at https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm   You can follow the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.   Although science fiction cinema did not begin in the USA it seems that by the 1950s Hollywood had tapped into the ravenous appetite the public had for the genre.   The period is now known as the Golden Age of Science Fiction with an array of films ranging in style, topic and quality. Themes of space travel, alien invasion, nuclear fears and cold war paranoia are strewn across the decade.   Meanwhile in Czechoslovakia Karel Zeman was working on making some cinematic masterpieces made for children based on the works of Jules Verne and other late 19th century authors. In 1958 he made the film Invention for Destruction based on Verne’s novel Facing the Flag. In 1961 this was dubbed in English and retitled The Fabulous World of Jules Verne and distributed by Warner Bros.   The visual style is based on late 19th century etchings and illustrations of Verne’s novels which you can take a look at on this Instagram post.   The film went on not only to inspire many prominent filmmakers like Hayao Miyazaki, Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam but also a cohort of writers who cite his film as being the origin for the style of steampunk science fiction.   I spoke to two wonderful guests to understand the historical context and ongoing influence of the film.   Thomas Lamarre is a Professor of Film, Media, and East Asian Languages and Civilisations at the University of Chicago. He is also the author of the Steam Punk cinema chapter in the Oxford Handbook of New Science Fiction Cinemas.   Mary Heimann is Professor of Modern History at Cardiff University. She is also the author of the book Czechoslovakia: The State that Failed.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the show and Karel Zeman 03:51 Post War Czechoslovakia 06:52 A Christmas Dream and Hermina Týrlová 07:25 Global animation after World War 2 10:48 Journey to the Beginning of Time 12:47 Why haven’t I heard of this film*? 15:37 Science Fiction in Czechoslovakia 18:27 Steampunk! 23:08 Thomas’ experience of the film 24:58 The Czech perspective 26:12 The Czech New Wave and the Prague Spring 30:58 Milos Forman and filmmakers in exile 32:19 The messaging and nature of the film 35:56 Legacy 41:41 Recommendations for the listener 44:44 Ads and subscription details     NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be speaking about another lesser known science fiction film: The World, the Flesh and the Devil from 1959. You can find out where the film is streaming in your region on the Just Watch website and an internet search brings a few leads for the full film online.   *Possibly because I am stupid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can find the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.  In 1992 Ishiro Honda sat down for his final interview with journalist David Milner. When asked about which of his own films were his favourite Honda listed Godzilla (1954), Gorath (1962) and The Mysterians from 1957.   The Mysterians is a visually beautiful film full to the brim with sci-fi tropes. A technologically advanced but desperate alien race, affected by radiation, is invading earth and wants to take our healthy women for breeding purposes. There’s also a groovy space station and the first mecha-kaiju in the form of Moguera. A film made at a time when Japan seems to be wrangling with what it means to be a post imperial, post nuclear tragedy country with a growing economy and a booming film industry.   I have two wonderful experts to help shed light on the context of this trope laden sci-fi classic.   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 book Selling Science Fiction Cinema.   Yuki Miyamoto is Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Humanities Center at DePaul University. Her work focuses on the ethics around nuclear discourse.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:56 Japanese Golden Age of Cinema: censorship, art vs big budget & the USA 08:47 Pacifism and militarism 14:04 Toho studios 15:36 Glorious colour, Toho-scope and cinema culture 19:57 Tradition, science and military might 27:55 Taking our women: occupation, war & marketing 36:55 Message of collaboration 39:50 The US market 44:51Battle of the Planets 45:55 Shout outs: Akira Ifukube and Eiji Tsuburaya 48:10 Legacy and Recommendations     NEXT EPISODE! In two weeks we will be speaking about a film that shocked me with its striking visual style. The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (1958), also known as Invention for Destruction or in its original Czech: Vynález zkázy. You can look to find the film on Just Watch but people in mainland and central Europe may find it easier to find with mainstream streaming services. The Criterion Channel also has the film available and there may be some Central and Eastern European services that you may be able to sign up to. I believe there may be a copy on YouTube but I am unsure of its quality or validity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can find the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.  I Married a Monster from Outer Space was released as part of a double bill (with The Blob) in 1958. The story focuses on newlywed couple Marge and Bill Farrell but unbeknownst to his new bride and the whole town Bill has been replaced by an alien on the eve of their wedding.  Themes of marriage, resentments and gendered expectations are as rife as can be expected in the 1950s. We have two insightful experts help shine a light on these themes.  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.  Sherryl Vint is Professor of Science Fiction Media Studies at the University of California, Riverside. She has written/edited many books about science fiction.  Chapters  00:00 Introduction  01:58 Science fiction golden age and the marriage melodrama  05:27 The female led sci-fi film and Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique  08:40 Patriarchal expectations of 1950s men  13:24 Changes in post war America  16:33 The Hays production code and the scandalous double bed  21:19 The Alien: looking good and learning to love  26:14 Marge’s dilemma 30:42 Romantic, sexual and gendered anxiety  39:20 Devil Girl from Mars: Aliens are coming to take our men!  41:36 Legacy  45:59 Recommendations for the listeners NEXT EPISODE!  Next episode we will be hopping slightly back in time and discussing The Mysterians from 1957. The film was made in Japan by Toho studios. It is quite difficult to buy or rent a copy but is available in some regions on FlixFling, The Criterion Channel and some other internet sites.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As usual there are spoilers ahead!  Somewhere in the late 1950s society began to come to terms with the idea of the teenager. Teens were heading to the cinema leaving younger siblings and parents at home. The Blob (1958) isn‘t a tale of rebellion or film warning about teenage delinquency but a thoroughly enjoyable time with a catchy theme tune.  I have two wonderful guests to help us unravel this classic 1950s sci-fi.  The Experts  Roger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He has written/edited numerous  of articles and books on cultural history and film.  Matthew Rule Jones is a senior Lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Exeter and the author of Science Fiction Cinema and 1950s Britain: Recontextualising Cultural Anxiety.  Chapters  00:00 Introduction  03:22 The origins of the film  06:05 Moral panic, the teenager and the AIP film formula 11:36 Red scare as red herring: Jello and suburbia   16:25 The intention vs the interpretation of films  17:32 The Blob   20:00 The theme song vs the earnest tone  24:15 The cinema scene and self-reflection  28:32 The double bill offering  29:56 Steve McQueen: The adult teen  39:10 What are we gonna do?  39:40 Legacy: Sequels and the education system  48:55 Recommendations for the listener The Next Episode!  The next episode we will focus on the film I Married a Monster from Outer Space. You can buy or rent the film from many outlets or check the Just Watch website to see where it may be streaming in your region   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this bonus episode I’ve teamed up with the excellent History Daily podcast.  Very exciting!  History Daily tells fascinating stories of what happened “on this day” in history with a new episode every weekday. The early 1950s in the USA stand out as not just a time of economic prosperity but also one of paranoia. The country faced the fear of the atomic bomb, the Red Scare and a moral panic around juvenile delinquency. (Teenagers were new and unpredictable!) During this time Joseph McCarthy’s power to seek out and persecute perceived communists was at its peak but the tide was about to turn. In 1954 it took journalist Ed Murrow guts to stand up to the influential senator. You can learn more about History Daily on their website here.  (And please just indulge me in telling you that it is a complete coincidence that this episode release aligns with this day in history! 9th March 1954 is when Ed Murrow aired his report on Joseph McCarthy!) You can hear more from me on social media platforms Threads, Instagram and somewhat gingerly also on Bluesky.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can find the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.  The Worst Film of All Time by The Worst Director of All Time. So claimed the 1980 book The Golden Turkey Awards by Michael and Harry Medved regarding the film Plan 9 from Outer Space and director Edward Wood Jr AKA Ed Wood.  But this very title is one of the reasons behind the revival of the film and of Ed Wood. The film has issues with continuity, set design, dialogue and a coherent ‘Plan 9’ but something about the film appeals to a subset of film lovers. Perhaps it’s the flashes of style, the joy in its failings or perhaps it’s a recognition of something beyond the traditional and often formulaic nature of mainstream narrative filmmaking. Today I speak with two wonderful film academics and fans of the film.  The Experts  Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has written/edited extensively about science fiction cinema.  Rodney F Hill is a Professor of Film at the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University and has written extensively about film.  If you are interested in finding out how you can help the Prince Charles Cinema you can visit this page here. Chapters  00:00 Introduction  01:28 Ed Wood: Hollywood, Kubrick and Corman  05:04 Glen or Glenda, the production code and censorship  12:39 Plan 9 and the Baptist Church  14:33 Bela Lugosi and the rest of Ed Wood’s crew  20:35 The Amazing Criswell  23:23 Plan 9: An unconventional classic  25:50 Why my guests love the film  34:04 Bad science  35:46 The more traditional aspects Plan 9  37:22 The Worst Film of All Time and The Worst Director of All Time  39:57 Ed Wood the outsider and the Church of Ed Wood  43:14 Comparison to mainstream films  45:21 The Legacy  48:08 Recommendations  50:37 Save the Prince Charles Cinema  NEXT EPISODE!  The next episode we will be discussing The Blob (1958) which is available to rent and buy online in many places. You can also watch the film on the Just Watch website which was quite unexpected! (And remember folks, Steve McQueen is supposed to be 17 years old in this film!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As usual there are spoilers ahead!  I would love to know what you make of the ending of this film if you watched it. Best place to do that is on social media. Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.  1957 USA seems like a country on the brink of huge social change. (Of course, I say this with the benefit of hindsight and with a deep affection for the decade that was just around the corner.) But so many of the events of the year are an indication of what’s to come.  The Civil Rights Act of 1957 was the first of many legislative attempts to bring federal protection for African Americans in the face of growing dissatisfaction in the South towards desegregation of schools and society.  1957 was the year the Little Rock Nine were enrolled into a previously all white school. The photos of nine black children often surrounded by angry and jeering crowds and the presence of US paratroopers are staggering.  It is the year Enovid was approved by the FDA for menstrual problems. Two years later it would become the first FDA approved contraceptive pill.  And in October 1957 Russia launched Sputnik into orbit causing a shock across the USA. Despite anxiety about their biggest rival the country was not ready for such a display of technological accomplishment.  The year prior in 1956 Jack Arnold (who had become somewhat disillusioned by the increasingly schlocky independent sci-fi films of the late 50s) was convinced to return to Universal to make The Incredible Shrinking Man.  Richard Matheson’s story is an unusual examination of a man losing stature both physically and socially. Many consider this Jack Arnold’s greatest science fiction film. We have two wonderful guests to explain why that might be.  Scott Higgins is a Professor of Film at Wesleyan University as well as being the Curator of the Wesleyan Cinema Archives. He has written multiple books and essays about film.  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  01:42 Jack Arnold’s best film?  06:30 Special effects and 1950s horror  09:15 1957 USA: The rumblings of change  13:29 Metaphors and definitions of masculinity  30:43 Kafka, psychoanalysis and The Kinsey Reports  35:22 Women  37:38 The End!  45:17 Legacy  49:55 Recommendations for the listener NEXT EPISODE!  Next episode we will be talking about what the book The Golden Turkey Awards declared as the Worst Film of All Time by The Worst Director of All Time. Plan 9 from Outer Space by Ed Wood is available to rent or buy on various online platforms. Just Watch is a good resource to check where it might be available in your region. Mubi and Pluto are only available in some regions but do offer a decent range of older science fiction films. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As usual there are spoilers ahead!  Forbidden Planet (1956) is a somewhat overlooked 50s classic. Although it often fails to make lists of the greatest sci-fi films of all time it has come across often in my written research and when speaking to guests. It’s a film that not only seems to excite avid fans of sci-fi cinema but also influenced some of the genre’s heavy hitters like both Star Wars and Star Trek. A costly, slick, colourful movie which takes a break from the red scare themes and invites us to delve into the dangers of the human mind.  We mention Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics in the episode which are:  1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.  2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.  3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.  The fourth law also known as Law Zero or Zeroth Law is:  A robot cannot cause harm to mankind or, by inaction, allow mankind to come to harm. I have two amazing guests to help unravel the threads in this space opera.  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 book Selling Science Fiction Cinema.  Glyn Morgan is Curatorial Lead at the Science Museum in London and a science fiction scholar. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the film, some historical context and the guests  02:25 The impact of Forbidden Planet  07:56 MGM does big budget sci-fi  13:52 Robby the Robot: a new type of robot and Asimov’s laws  22:02 Special effects  23:15 Altaira: miniskirts, the Hays Code and sexism  32:44 The monster: Disney, the id and technological hubris  38:01 The sound of electronic music: Bebe and Louis Barron’s breakthrough  43:50 The legacy of Forbidden Planet  50:09 Recommendations for the listeners NEXT EPISODE! The next episode we will focus on The Incredible Shrinking Man. You can buy or rent the 1956 film from many outlets or check the Just Watch website to see where it may be streaming in your region. It is worth checking platforms like Tubi and Pluto if they are available.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As usual there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media: Instagram, Threads and dipping my toes into BlueSky a little too.  DescriptionInvasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) spawned many remakes over the years, each rendition reflecting the anxieties of its time. The original film is one of my absolute favourites with a variety of potential meanings for a mid-century USA grappling with what it means to be American. My heavyweight sci-fi guests help to unravel the multiple threads. The ExpertsBarry Keith Grant is professor Emeritus of Film Studies at Brock University Canada. He has written/edited a huge number of books including the BFI Classics book on Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Sherryl Vint is Professor of Science Fiction Media Studies at the University of California, Riverside. She has written/edited many books about science fiction. Chapters 00:00 Introduction  02:25 From book to screen: different visions, nostalgia and AI  07:24 Invaders from Mars: mistrust and madness  11:58 Sci-fi, Horror and Noir, oh my! The film gets framed with an ambiguous ending  21:21 Sleep, Shakespeare and tranquillisers  25:29 Capitalism vs communism: Corporate culture, McCarthyism and conformity  31:57 Becky: the frothing dress, changing social dynamics and divorce  41:07 The great remake: 1978 and the cynical fade of counter culture  47:22 The benefits of being a pod person  50:52 1993 remake  52:22 Recommendations NEXT EPISODE! The next episode is on one of the most underrated science fiction classics of all time: Forbidden Planet. You can buy or rent the 1956 film from many outlets or check the Just Watch website to see where it may be streaming in your region. It is worth checking platforms like Tubi and Pluto if they are available in your region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As usual there are spoilers ahead! For the full show notes without character limits you can head to the website here.  You can follow the podcast on Instagram and Threads although I am also trying to join in on BlueSky a bit. (It's a bit weird though.) Description Godzilla was released in 1954 in Japan it has gone on to become one of the longest standing movie franchises and began the Kaiju film tradition. Directed by Ishiro Honda, produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka with special effects my Eiji Tsuburaya. It was inspired in part by the 1933 King Kong and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms from the year before. A big difference compared to US 1950s sci-fi films dealing with nuclear themes is the Japanese perspective. The film wasn’t officially released in the US until 2004 but the US re-edit Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956) brought Godzilla to a global audience. My absolutely wonderful guests share their insights on this cinematic masterpiece. The Experts The wonderful Lisa Yaszek is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech. She has written/edited numerous books on science fiction. Yuki Miyamoto is Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Humanities Center at DePaul University. Her work focuses on the ethics around nuclear discourse. Chapters 00:00 Introduction  01:56 A short overview of Japanese science fiction history  04:42 Yuki’s experience of Godzilla in Japan  07:00 1950s sci-fi in the USA  10:40 Japanese cultural context: Post nuclear bomb, radioactive tuna and censorship  16:03 Scientists and flipped themes  22:44 The scientist’s daughter, a demure rebel and the moral centre  27:27 Japanese self-sacrifice  29:27 Godzilla: King of the Monsters! Social critique vs entertainment  40:16 The Legacy of Godzilla  48:55 Recommendations for listeners  51:25 Jean-Luc Picard’s birthday message to me THE NEXT EPISODE! The next film we will be covering is the 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The film is available to buy and rent on many outlets and even some free with ads streaming platforms. You can check the Just Watch website to see where its available in your region.  We will (as usual) be spending some time speaking about the sequels so it might be worth watching the 1978 version as it is considered the best version by many! I loved it but the original holds a very special place in my heart so it will not be replaced by a copy.  The episode hasn’t been recorded yet but the plan is also to speak a little about the 1953 film Invaders from Mars that has many similar themes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.