tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1027241779371329862024-03-20T13:49:00.149-04:00Classic Sci-Fi MoviesExploring Old Science Fiction MoviesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger557125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-12664716093247372062016-10-25T18:54:00.000-04:002016-10-25T18:55:16.083-04:00Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack
Capitalizing on the popularity of its television series “Battlestar Galactica,” ABC, Glen A. Larson Productions and Universal produced a theatrical release entitled: Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack (MGCA, for short). There was no new footage. The film was an edited compilation of three episodes (more on those below). MGCA was a sort of a sequel to the pilot for the TV series, which had a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-50417690234128863252016-09-06T21:04:00.001-04:002016-09-06T21:04:55.966-04:00Sci-fi before World War IIBefore the Second World War ushered in the atomic age, and all the attendant nuclear angst, science fiction films found many other things to feel angsty about. There was less of rocket and aliens -- although there were some of those too -- but more of the mad scientist trope. There were dystopic visions of the future, but amusing ones too. Electricity, rather than atomic radiation, was the genie Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-4450528372488259532015-12-22T11:36:00.004-05:002015-12-22T11:36:58.274-05:00Science catches up with the 50s
On Monday, December 21st, modern science finally caught up with the vision of space technology from the 1950s. SpaceX finally succeeded in making their Falcon 9 rocket return to earth -- under power -- to land upright on legs. You can see a short YouTube video here, that shows the landing as seen from a helicopter.
For fans of sci-fi films from the 50s, SpaceX's accomplishment almost Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-22344768583772116422015-09-17T20:46:00.001-04:002015-09-17T20:46:41.408-04:00Journey to the Center of the Earth
The major studios were still cautious about producing big budget sci-fi. Jules Verne was a safe conservative choice. Journey to the Center of the Earth (JCE) was more adventure fiction or travel fiction than science fiction movie. Verne's novel drew from the science of geology. His literary style was prone to long expository stretches, so the "science" element was more obvious. The 20th CenturyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-16709017982484283422015-07-28T17:42:00.001-04:002015-07-29T21:20:54.398-04:00Sting of Death
Reader “Robin” suggested that Sting of Death (SoD) might be a good addition to this sci-fi collections. Admittedly, SoD was passed over when this study was viewing through films of the 60s as most sources classified it as horror. Upon deeper examination, SoD does have a hint of sci-fi and turns out to be a fitting follow-up to the two recently reviewed films from the 40s, The Bat (’40) and The Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-38016170383334614212015-06-16T16:40:00.000-04:002015-06-16T16:40:01.444-04:00The Flying Serpent
The success or failure of B movies produced by Poverty Row studios was not all that closely tracked. One sure sign of a B movie’s success was that it was copied. Producers Releasing Corporation’s 1940 Devil Bat, starring Bela Lugosi, must have been a hit (so far as B movies ever were “hits”) because PRC put out a copy of it in 1946 entitled The Flying Serpent (TFS). This was not a sequel, but aUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-37422519484411161252015-05-04T18:32:00.000-04:002015-05-04T18:32:20.862-04:00The Devil Bat
Bela Lugosi starred in a low-B grade film in 1940 titled The Devil Bat (TDB). Given his cultural association with Dracula, it was a title and marquee. Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC) was one of the more notable Poverty Row studios. Most of what they turned out (very quickly and cheaply) were westerns (Billy the Kid series) or crime dramas. TDB was, at a nominal level, a crime story withUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-54844726435299769522015-02-28T21:05:00.000-05:002015-02-28T21:05:20.797-05:00Leonard Nimoy in the Golden EraIt was sad news to hear of the passing of Leonard Nimoy. His character, Spock, had become such a cultural icon that Nimoy could play him for decades. Gene Rodenberry created the character Spock the mid 1960s. Nimoy, then in his mid-30s, got the part. Prior that landing the role of Spock, Nimoy had played many bit parts in many westerns during the 50s and 60s. Of course, westerns were big Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-2277068493601368052014-10-24T19:35:00.000-04:002014-10-24T19:35:35.739-04:00The Time Machine ('78)
The second film adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel was a made-for-television movie that appeared as part of ABC’s “Classics Illustrated” series. Normally, television movies are outside of the scope of this study, but this TM makes a handy bridge between the George Pal film of 1960 and the 2002 version. John Beck stars as the Time Traveler, this time named Neil Perry. Priscilla Barns plays Weena. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-40995663321215040352014-08-30T20:30:00.000-04:002014-08-30T20:30:00.126-04:00StarcrashTechnically, Starcrash is the first sci-fi film of 1979. It was released in Italy in 1978, but in America in March of 1979. This Italian/American production made such a minimal impression, though, that sci-fi fans could be forgiven for not remembering it. At best, it seems to get remembered as a bad Star Wars knock-off. Luigi Cozzi (on the credits as Lewis Coates) wrote the story and directed. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-60877857875054043592014-08-05T20:30:00.000-04:002014-10-01T12:53:57.340-04:001977There was a New Moon rising. 1977 is the watershed year that launched the new paradigm in sci-fi. Space and aliens would become friendly and, and even if not-so-friendly, still an extension of our familiar world. The old paradigm of atomic angst, scary space and toothy monsters would linger on, but it was clearly becoming old-school. The gloom, despair and malaise of the 70s had found a breakingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-29276455601494836932014-07-30T20:30:00.000-04:002014-07-30T20:30:00.456-04:00The Ravagers
While The Ravagers (TR) is not the second sci-fi film of 1979, it’s close, AND it is a prefect follow-up to Mad Max. Both feature post-apocalyptic settings. Both feature a protagonist who loses his wife to an evil gang. TR is more of a major Hollywood effort. It stars Richard Harris as Falk (the protagonist). Art Carney and Ernest Borgnine get supporting roles. Ann Turkel plays Faina, Falk’s Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-14513085667388525072014-07-25T20:30:00.000-04:002014-07-25T20:30:01.092-04:00Mad Max
This Australian indie film is the ancestor to a sub-genre of a post-apocalyptic narrative that lives on today, some 35 years later. It is also the first “sci-fi” of 1979. The story, as told, is more of an automotive recast of a Western, and not particularly sci-fi. But the post-apocalyptic-world genre is, by tradition, a sci-fi realm. George Miller wrote and directed Mad Max (MM). A very young Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-65400323450861551582014-07-20T20:30:00.000-04:002014-07-20T20:30:00.886-04:00Beyond Reason
Next up is an obscure indie film from Australia. Beyond Reason (BR) was released in 1970 and probably did not see theatrical release beyond Australia. Yet, it’s nuclear-apocalypse topic has a lot in common with mainstream sci-fi films of the era, so it seemed a fun digression. BR was written, produced and directed by the same man, Giorgio Mangiamele. One-man-band projects usually suffer from Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-87130486970219791032014-07-15T20:30:00.000-04:002014-07-15T20:30:01.037-04:00Blood Beast from Outer Space
Shepperton Studios produced a modest sci-fi film in 1965 called The Night Caller. or Night Caller from Outer Space. When released in the USA, it was retitled Blood Beast from Outer Space (BBOS). The American distributors must have thought the British title was too subtle. John Saxon stars as Dr. Jack Costain. Maurice Denham plays Dr. Morley. Patricia Haines plays Ann Barlow. It is the somewhat Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-85337000596787280632014-07-10T20:30:00.000-04:002014-07-10T20:30:00.555-04:00Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Phillip Kaufman directs this 1978 remake of the original, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (IBS78). Donald Sutherland plays the lead character, also named Bennell. Brooke Adams plays his love interest. Jeff Goldblum and Veronica Cartwright play the “other couple”, the Bellicecs. W.D. Richter’s screenplay follows the ’56 story fairly closely (good for fans of IBS56), but adds some 70s flavor and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-87580946679092447362014-07-05T20:30:00.000-04:002014-07-05T20:30:01.224-04:00Capricorn One
Peter Hyams wrote and directed Capricorn One (C1). It would be the big budget sci-fi movie for 1978. This, in stark contrast to the field of low-budget and marginal indie films that ’78 had seen thus far. The cast of C1 are recognized names in the 70s film world. James Brolin plays the lead as astronaut Charles Brubaker. Brenda Vaccaro plays his wife. Elliot Gould plays the persistent news Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-38265897432328812122014-06-30T20:30:00.000-04:002014-06-30T20:30:01.375-04:00The Alien Factor
Baltimore’s amateur/indie filmmaker, Don Dohler, wrote, produced and directed this obscure sci-fi film. The Alien Factor (TAF) was Dohler’s first feature film project. It was shot locally, with a mostly local amateur cast. Wikipedia states that TAF had a budget of only $3,800, which seems much too low. The monster costumes alone could have cost that much. Yet, there is no denying that TAF was aUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-52199312018893434792014-06-25T20:30:00.000-04:002014-06-25T20:30:00.728-04:00Deathsport
Roger Corman tried to create a sequel to his moderately successful Death Race 2000 (’75) with Deathsport (DS) The setting was also in the dystopian post-apocalyptic future and featured gladiatorial-style combat via vehicles. This time, however, it was dirt bikes. David Carradine stars, Claudia Jennings co-stars. A dozen or so Yamaha dirt bikes, dressed up with welded aluminum faces also co-starUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-20236082375939374082014-06-20T20:30:00.000-04:002014-06-20T20:30:00.836-04:00The Fury
Twentieth Century Fox put out an A-level thriller/horror film in March of 1978 that is sometimes tagged as being sci-fi. The Fury actually has very little sci in its fi. Paranormal powers are on parade. Brian DePalma directs. Kirk Douglas stars as the father looking for his abducted son. Andrew Stevens plays Robin, the abducted teen. Amy Irving plays Gillian, the paranormal young woman. John Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-85732941037997790382014-06-15T20:17:00.000-04:002014-06-15T20:17:00.195-04:00The Amazing Captain Nemo
Irwin Allen tried one more time to get an underwater sci-fi adventure series on television. This time, Allen would revive the legendary Captain Nemo and have him go on weekly adventures aboard his amazingly modern steampunk rendition of SeaView. Warner Brothers must have had enough confidence in the idea to have funded a three-part miniseries as a sort of grand pilot for what they hoped would Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-64410254559573042342014-06-10T20:30:00.000-04:002014-06-11T15:45:29.936-04:00The Incredible Melting Man
In an obvious attempt to coat-tail on the title of a famous 50s film, The Incredible Melting Man (IMM) is essentially a horror picture. Space travel is a sliver of sci-fi pimento in a very large horror film olive. William Sachs wrote the script (such as it is) and directed. Alex Rebar “stars” as the Melting Man, though 95% of his footage is under makeup. Burr DeBenning plays Dr. Ted, the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-34906434204571352582014-06-05T20:30:00.000-04:002014-06-05T20:30:00.031-04:00Laserblast
Charles Band, the producer who brought the world The End of the World (’77), produced an equally obtuse sci-fi in late 1977, released in March ’78. Laserblast is the sort of film that many decry as the worst film since Manos. Yet, Laserblast seems to have its fans as well. Roddy McDowell and Keenan Wynn have small rolls. The cast is mostly obscure folk. Kim Milford stars as Billy. Cheryl Smith Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-4579313226576169362014-05-30T20:30:00.000-04:002014-05-30T20:30:01.077-04:00Fighting Devil Dogs
Republic Studios was cranking out four theatrical serials a year in the 30s. This was the heyday for serials. Republic had several popular characters: The Lone Ranger, Dick Tracy and Captain America. While most serials were westerns or crime mysteries, a few had sci-fi tendencies. One such was Republic’s 1938 Fighting Devil Dogs (FDD). Nominally about the exploits of a group of U.S. Marines, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-102724177937132986.post-72668272666997413392014-05-25T20:30:00.000-04:002014-05-25T20:30:00.515-04:00Nothing But The Night
This British production, released in the UK in 1973, did not get reviewed earlier, as it did not show up on lists of sci-fi films. It did show up on lists of horror films, or as a crime/mystery drama. However, at the urging of a reader that Nothing But The Night (NBTN) really was a sci-fi, it is hereby added to the study. Granted, 95% of the film amounts to a murder mystery, but there is a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8