Explore every episode of Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*
Dive into the complete episode list for Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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13 Apr 2025
The Mysterians: 1957 Sci-Fi Space Invaders in Postwar Japan
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.
And so we begin! The very first episode. Before we start the journey of examining every single sci-fi film ever* we must understand what science fiction is. In this episode I speak to science fiction scholars Lisa Yaszek and Glynn Morgan about the definitions of this well-known genre. What is the difference between science fiction and fantasy? Are superhero movies sci-fi? Are the we the real monsters? Please be warned: as always there are spoilers ahead! Link for the next film is at the bottom. *Almost
Lisa Yaszek has known sci-fi very well for very many years. Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech, she researches and teaches science fiction and has authored, compiled, and edited numerous books on the topic. Her Future is Female books not only draw attention to the huge contribution of women writers in the genre but also have wonderful retro covers! (I am not judging a book by its cover but I am judging the cover!)
Lisa was President of the Science Fiction Research Association from 2009-2010 and serves as an advisory board member for About SF. She has won many awards for contributions to science fiction and serves as a juror for sci-fi writing awards.
Glyn Morgan is Curator of Exhibitions at The British Science Museum and put together the Science Fiction: Voyage to the Edge of Imagination exhibition which has moved on from London, UK and is currently showing in Hong Kong. He is a lecturer and former editor of Vector, the Critical Journal of the British Science Fiction Association. He has written extensively about sci-fi and speculative fiction and has served as an award judge.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to show and guests 02:58 Lisa’s definition: Darko Suvin and his three criteria 10:24 Glynn’s definition: Damon Knight’s one criteria 16:50 Are superhero films science fiction? 18:38 Magic Vs science 20:28 The history of comic books, superheroes and science fiction 26:36 Mysticism in science fiction 34:12 What even is science? 37:44 Is everything in space sci-fi? 43:57 Aliens and monsters 49:40 AI, robots and fembots 55:34 Time travel and multiverses 59:57 Dystopia, utopia, and Star Trek 01:12:13 Conclusion
NEXT EPISODE! George Melies' Le Voyage Dans La Lune from 1902 will the focus of episode 2. It is available to watch on YouTube. Or you can check here for UK or here for US options. DVDs of the film are also available.
Award-winning podcast producer and sci-fi film enthusiast Ayesha Khan volunteers for the task. Her continuing mission: to explore strange old films, seek out the experts, and to boldly bring them to you.
We will begin our journey with an episode dedicated to finding out what science fiction actually is.
Then we move to Paris, 1902, to watch and discuss the first sci-fi film ever: Le Voyage Dans La Lune.
Occasionally we will take some detours to hear some fascinating people discuss their favourite sci-fi film. Episode three features Stanford neuroscientist, best-selling author, and the host of the Inner Cosmos podcast David Eagleman. He tells us why The Creator (2023) made it straight to the top of his list.
Join me in watching a film and then hearing some clever, heavily decorated connoisseurs release knowledge torpedos. For us! For posterity!
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.
The 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.
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.
The Creator: David Eagleman's favourite sci-fi film ever
00:29:39
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.
The 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.com
Chapters 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.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chapters
00:00 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.
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 Recommendations
NEXT 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.
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.
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.
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.
Flash Gordon: From Buck Rogers Rip-Off to Space Opera Legend
00:52:51
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 Recommendations
NEXT 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.
Mad Scientists: Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll & Boris Karloff
00:52:46
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 outro
NEXT 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.
Alien: Romulus (2024) trailer reaction with The Lorehounds
00:32:24
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 Outro
NEXT 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.
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.
Robert Duncan Milne: A Lost Pioneer of Science Fiction
00:40:48
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.
The Thing from Another World: Howard Hawks and the Cold War
00:52:24
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 listeners
NEXT 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.
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 recommendations
NEXT 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.
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 recommendations
NEXT 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.
It Came from Outer Space: Bradbury, 3D & 1950s Teens
00:55:23
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.
Interstellar Science: Einstein, Wormholes and Gravity with Claudia de Rham
00:40:33
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.
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.
Creature from the Black Lagoon: Horror, Politics and Passion in 1954
00:55:36
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 listeners
NEXT 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.
Them! The 1954 Horror Sci-Fi that Spawned Big Bug Cinema
00:53:14
As usual there are spoilers ahead!
For the full show notes without character limits you can head to the website here.
Description Them! (1954) is the 6th film we are covering from the 1950s. Hollywood is beginning to realise that sci-fi is a money making genre! The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms from the year before was a big hit for Warner Brothers and Them! followed suit. Another nuclear monster but this time it’s giant ants! Them! was the very first big bug feature and is often considered the greatest of the genre. It sits firmly between the horror and sci-fi and leaves a legacy that echoes beyond just big bugs into films like Aliens and A Quiet Place.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:23 The first Big Bug film: Atomic to hydrogen bombs 03:49 The quality of Them! 05:24 Matt’s first experience of watching Them! 10:08 Boredom v terror, the silent generation and flame throwers in Japan 14:48 US vs UK interpretations in the post-war period 20:15 Scientists and heroes 25:15 The Ants! 28:38 Feminism 31:08 Sounds design and the Wilhelm Scream 33:51 The horror in Them! 39:01 The LA river 40:00 1954 Brown vs Board of Education: the seeds of change 43:10 Legacy 50:41 Recommendations
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode there is an “end of year” episode which will include parts of conversations over the last nine months (since the launch) that were edited out before release. There are some bits I planned for the end of the year and others that I reluctantly took out because I like to keep my podcast episodes to 45 minutes. (And yes, I know I fail almost every single time!)
CORRECTION: I stupidly say Alien at 49:50 when I obviously mean the sequel Aliens.
Cuts, Comics and Creatures: A Sci-Fi Podcast Retrospective
00:52:01
The end of 2024 is nigh!
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.)
Welcome to an end of year special! A compilation of some interesting parts of conversations from the podcast in 2024 that were edited out. I edit the podcast down to a more digestible length but this means I often lose parts of conversations that are really fun or insightful so here is a collection of those.
I also wanted to give a shout out to some amazing independent podcasters who (like myself) do not have huge teams or budgets to put together their shows. They’ve also offered me some sense of camaraderie in the crazy world of obsessing over something and then making podcasts about it.
You can find The Lorehounds crew and offerings which include conversations and recaps on some of the best sci-fi shows around on their website.
Em at Verbal Diorama is absolutely lovely, passionate about films (especially The Mummy) and does deep dives into many popular movies. Her research skills are fantastic and she is a fellow winner on the Ear Worthy podcast awards for 2024. Her website is here.
Mark Steadman is a fantastic and knowledgeable digital producer who knows lots about the podcasting business. He will be launching Undo: How history’s outliers got stuff done in January. You can learn more about him and it here.
Details of the guests and shows featured in this end of year episode: • Jess Nevins and Julian Chambliss were guests on episode 10: Pulps, Comics and the Rise of Superheroes. • Mark Bould and Peter Conolly Smith were guests on episode 8: King Kong: The Origin of a Cinematic Titan. • Sonja Fritzsche and Noah Isenberg were guest in episode 5: Metropolis: The Most Influential Sci-Fi Film Ever*. • Thomas Doherty and Xavier Aldana Reyes were guests on episode 12: Mad Scientists: Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll & Boris Karloff. • Keith Williams and Ari Brin were guests on episode 14: Robert Duncan Milne: A Lost Pioneer of Science Fiction. • Jay Telotte and Marc Longenecker were guests on episode 15: The Thing from Another World: Howard Hawks & the Cold War. • Scott Higgins and Phil Nichols were guests on episode 18: It Came From Outer Space: Bradbury, 3D & 1950s Teens • Thomas Doherty and Mathew Rule Jones were guests on episode 21: Them! The 1954 Horror Sci-Fi that Spawned Big Bug Cinema. • Jay Telotte and Mark Bould were guests on episode 11: Flash Gordon: From Buck Rogers Rip-Off to Space Opera Legend.
Chapters: 00:00 Intro and indie podcast shoutouts 02:06 Comics and Pulps: Who is your favourite superhero? 05:46 King Kong: Hays Code, covert wars and Frank-N-Furter 10:17 Metropolis: Rotwang the prototype 15:35 Mad Scientists: Favourites 20:55 Robert Duncan Milne: From page to screen 30:35 The Thing from Another World: Themes of seeing 34:15 It Came From Outer Space: 3D cinema and unions 36:28 Them! Drive-ins, degenerates and dingy cinemas 46:53 Flash Gordon: Casting choices
NEXT EPISODE! The next film we’ll be focusing on is the original Japanese version of Godzilla (1954). This is surprisingly difficult to get hold of although you can purchase a DVD from many outlets. In the US it is available on Apple TV and Max (previously HBO Max) as well as on Tubi. You can check the Just Watch website to see if it might be streaming in your region. I just wanted to add that the opening credits and music are just phenomenal in my opinion.
Godzilla in 1954: Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare and Sci-Fi Legacy
00:52:18
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.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Pod People & Paranoia Since 1956
00:55:14
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.
Description Invasion 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 Experts Barry 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.
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.
The Incredible Shrinking Man: 1950s Masculinity in Crisis
00:55:51
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.
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!)
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!)
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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
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.
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