Explore every episode of the podcast Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001: A Sound Odyssey | 25 oct. 2026 | 00:59:09 | |
We have reached over halfway through the 2001: A Space Odyssey mini-series! Today's episode (which is episode 3) I will be speaking to an amazing sound designer and a musicologist (yes that's a real job) to delve into the delights of the very spectacular sound design involved in the greatest sci-fi film of all time*. As always, there are spoilers ahead! In addition to ones about 2001: A Space Odyssey there are light to medium spoilers for Odyssey (2026) and Paths of Glory (1957) You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you are feeling rich and generous and would like to be a patron of the podcast, you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
A few notes from the conversation: • Foley Sound Effects were named after Jack Foley who pioneered recording everyday sounds for the use in films in post-production all the way back in the late 1920s when sound was all brand new and shiny. (In film of course, although there is no evidence to suggest the whole world was absolutely silent before he came along. How could we ever know?) • Midge mentions the Moog synthesiser which had actually been invented in 1964 but had not proliferated until Wendy Carlos released Switched on Bach in October 1968. • I seem to have failed to mention the Stargate sequence when talking about dissonance and micropolyphony but the effects are in the background and if you watch the video you'll see it. Apologies.
I am so lucky to have two amazing guests to break down the sound of the film. Midge Costin is Professor Emeritus of Cinematic Arts at USC and a retired Hollywood sound designer of multiple Blockbuster films. She is also produced & directed the award winning, and very fantastic, feature documentary, Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound. (Honestly this is a very inspirational and engaging documentary and I would highly recommend it!) Christine Gengaro is a professor of music at Los Angeles City College, she has a PhD in Musicology and is author of the book Listening to Stanley Kubrick: The Music in His Films.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:58 Sound in Cinema 07:59 2001: Before the Dawn of Man 12:21 Also Sprach Zarathustra 18:11 Micropolyphony and what it does 22:18 Silence in Spaaaaace! 26:08 Breathing (in Spaaaaace!) 27:58 POV sound 29:54 HAL 31:42 Cultural context of the cold cosmonaut 34:25 The choice of old-fashioned music 41:55 The twee nature of Waltzes 44:51 Ligeti's lawsuit 48:33 Bookends 53:09 Legacy 56:49 Recommendations
Recommendations Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019) Gravity (2013) Interstellar (2014) Kubrick: An Odyssey by Robert P Kolker and Nathan Abrams
THE NEXT EPISODE! The next episode we will be discussing the man behind the movie! Kubrick experts Nathan Abrams and Rodney F Hill will grace us with their wonderful brains! IN the meantime you can watch Night of the Living Dead (1968) as we will be heading for a zombie flavoured detour after the mini-series is over.
*Almost | |||
| 2001: Special Effects That Changed Cinema | 09 oct. 2026 | 00:59:47 | |
"Please read the show notes!" She screamed into the void of a blank page. (I realise no one apparently reads the show notes but this time I genuinely think it might be useful to you.) This is episode two of the 2001: A Space Odyssey mini-series! I like to keep episodes under an hour to make them digestible but there is a 15 minute longer version of the episode available for Patreon members or to buy as a one off for £3 or $3. You can find it here: https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm It is being released early because I am going on holiday and I have no idea how great my internet is going to be or how often I'll be able to check it while I am away. (I do know that in the summer of 2024 it once took somewhere between 3 and 6 hours to upload the podcast from my mum's house.) We have two more episodes to go (one about the sound and the other about Kubrick). If you missed the first episode I would suggest you go and take a listen to both parts. If you have not watched 2001: A Space Odyssey you can find an overview of it here on the Wikipedia page. I have also mentioned the IMDB page during the episode and the full list of credited cast and crew can be found here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062622/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm This episode is about some of the mind-blowing, ahead of their time (by at least 11 years or so when Star Wars came along) and fantastical special effects of the film. I never watch videos for podcasts myself, but I would perhaps consider it for this episode as Paul expresses the practicalities of special effects quite well with hand gestures. There are clips of the special effects you may want to look at. You can find the video on YouTube and on Spotify. As always, there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. The special effects for 2001: A Space Odyssey were shocking in 1968 but still amaze almost sixty years later. I have managed to procure two heavyweight guests to talk us through this mammoth achievement. (I wanted to make an ape pun but I remembered I don't actually like puns.) Paul Franklin is a Special Effects Supervisor for many blockbuster films including the Dark Knight series and has won Oscars for his work on Interstellar and Inception. Julie Turnock is Professor of Media and Cinema studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign she has written extensively about special effects in cinema including in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Chapters 0:00 Intro 01:35 Special vs Visual Effects 06:12 Impact of 2001 A Space Odyssey special effects 12:45 Douglas Trumbull and more 29:03 The Discovery centrifuge 33:38 A slow visionary film 39:35 Defying gravity 41:47 Joy Sneddon's moon 43:51 The floating pen 45:34 Front projections on The Dawn of Man 49:53 Legacy 54:36 Recommendations
Recommendations: The Lost Worlds of 2001 by Arthur C Clarke Bodies in Space: Film as "Carnal Knowledge" by Annette Michelson: https://www.artforum.com/features/annette-michelson-on-stanley-kubricks-2001-a-space-odyssey-210883/
NEXT EPISODE! I shall be speaking about the music and sound of 2001: A Space Odyssey so no need to watch any films in the meantime. If you are extra eager about what comes after the mini-series, I will be taking a detour (kind of) to discuss the 1968 origin of the modern zombie: The Night of the Living Dead. | |||
| 2001: A Space Odyssey (Part 2) | 27 sept. 2026 | 00:51:30 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 2. If you have arrived here before treading the ground of part 1 turn back now! The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification. (Yes I'm repeating the same text from part 1. Do you even know how busy I've been and now I must copy and paste to get this out on time!) You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece. Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner. Clarification: The quote I use near the beginning "Politics and religion are obsolete. The time has come for science and spirituality" originates from Indian philosopher Vinoba Bhave. Arthur C Clarke used the quote in a keynote address. Kubrick underlines the second half in his copy of the speech. (Michael then goes on to open his fantastic book with this quote.) 28:25 The concept of a technological singularity is a theoretical scenario in which technology increasingly becomes so advanced that is has unpredictable and irreversible effects ono humanity. 34:13 JPL is short for Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. 48:23 Mad magazine's parody of 2001 is available to view here: https://www.tumblr.com/keirdullea/34795391907/201-minutes-of-space-idiocy-a-mad-magazine Lastly: I concede that my internet search for the giant baby may have led me to some very dubious sources.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 19:00 The Sublime 11:30 Kubrick's minimalism 20:32 HAL 34:58 Doug Trumbull and George Lucas' Star Wars droids 37:57 Slow pace and filming restrictions 39:58 Legacy 46:50 Recommendations for the listener
Recommendations Childhood's End and The Sentinel both by Arthur C Clarke 201 (minutes of) A Space Idiocy by Mad Magazine. (Link above)
NEXT EPISODE! In the next episode we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001 in two weeks' time! | |||
| 2001: A Space Odyssey (Part 1) | 27 sept. 2026 | 00:54:36 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! As we chronologically venture through science fiction history it is finally time to examine one of the heaviest of heavyweight sci-fi films. 2001: A Space Odyssey. The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 1. Part 2 is also out. (Why two parts? Because I prefer a more digestible length of podcast.) Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm This is the longest episode I've ever recorded (hence the two parts) and I simply couldn't cut much of it down because of my phenomenal guests. Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece. Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner (which we will get to in good time). 34:48 The literal translation of "alte kackers" which is how Stanley Kubrick's wife Christiane described the people at the premiere is "old shitters".
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:43 Childhood cinematic experiences of the film 07:31 Not understanding the film 09:57 The impact on sci-fi cinema 10:28 The proverbial good science fiction film 14:35 The philosophical nature of science fiction 17:09 Kubrick and Clarke in the mid 60s 21:26 Initial intentions 25:46 Special effects and immersion 33:04 The reception of the film 46:32 The ape arm throws a bone 51:15 Kubrick and improvisation 53:52 Outro to part one
NEXT EPISODE! The next episode is already out and it's part 2 of this discussion! After that we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001: A Space Odyssey in two weeks' time. | |||
| Planet of the Apes: Evolution, Supremacy, & the Death of Liberty | 13 sept. 2026 | 00:56:37 | |
As usual there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm The novel Planet of the Apes was released in 1963 in France by French author Pierre Boulle. In that same year publicist Arthur Jacobs bought the screen rights while he was looking for something "like King Kong". Five years later in 1968 the film was released with one of the most famous twist endings of cinematic history. The film is a fun "off-planet" sci-fi adventure story with heavy commentary on societal expectations and standards. I have two lovely guests to help us understand this sci-fi classic. John Wills is a Professor of American Media and Culture at the University of Kent. He has written lots about popular culture including his new book Doom Town USA Phil Nichols is Senior Consultant to the Ray Bradbury Center at Indiana University, and formerly Film & Television course leader at the University of Wolverhampton. The Scopes trial was a 1925 case in the USA in which a teacher was accused of violating the law by teaching evolution in schools. The trial was set up on purpose to challenge the Butler Act which prevented the teaching of evolution. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Book vs film 03:53 Arthur Jacobs 06:28 From astronaut to animal 11:10 Simian society 15:43 Concepts of civility 20:07 Western vibes 22:39 The Trial 26:40 Race 32:46 1968 USA 39:25 The twist ending 42:34 Liberty in ruins 47:37 Legacy 52:18 The brains behind the ending 53:19 Recommendations
Recommendations Inherit the Wind (1960) Soylent Green (1973)
NEXT EPISODE! Eep! It's finally here. I tried to put it off for as long as I could but the 2001: A Space Odyssey mini-series will begin next week with a two-part first episode. The film is available widely. According to Just Watch (where you can find the availability in your region) it is included in the HBO subscription in the USA and Australia. In Canada it's included in the Crave subscription. In the UK it's Prime video and Now Cinema. But the film can also be bought or rented online from many outlets including Apple, Fandango, Spectrum and Prime. Or you could buy a fancy DVD of it to add to your collection. | |||
| Barbarella 1968: Pop Art, Sex & Space Opera | 30 août 2026 | 00:57:49 | |
As always, there are spoilers ahead. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Graphic novels and comics were widely considered to be for children in the early 1960s. It was a relatively small number of artists and publishers who were working to have comics seen as a viable form of art as well as making comics for adults. Although the history of comics for adults is definitely older, this period marks a surge in European interest in the medium. Famous film producer Dino de Laurentiis helped this when he bought the filming rights to adult comics Diabolik (from Italy) and Barbarella (from France) turning them both in to movies in the 1960s. De Laurentiis originally wanted Bridget Bardot for the title role and after she turned it down, he looked to Sophia Loren who did the same. His third choice was Jane Fonda who initially rejected the script until her then husband Roger Vadim convinced her to take it. Vadim joined as Director and the rest is kitschy sci-fi history. I have two fantastic guests to talk through this swinging 60s sci-fi space opera oddity. Lisa Yaszek is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and has written/edited extensively on science fiction. Hugo Frey is Professor of History at the University of Chichester. He has a special interest in graphic novels and is co-author of the 2026 book The Look of the 1960s. Barbarella and the Pulp Pop Comics. CORRECTION: In the question about the legacy of Barbarella I say Star Trek when I mean Star Wars.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:17 Sci-fi precedence 03:45 Barbarella comic origins 06:31 1960s France and the rise of adult comics 09:37 Jane Fonda playing it straight 10:59 Jean Claude Forest 12:22 Jane Fonda: Body dysmorphia and sexploitation 14:01 Censorship 19:19 Pop Art and design 26:56 Big hair and science fiction 32:24 Terry Southern 35:50 UK vs US reception 41:48 Government girl with a gun 44:22 A progressive Barbarella? 46:48 Masculinity and femininity 55:37 Recommendations
Recommendations: Born in Flames (1983) Bardot, Deneuve and Fonda: The Memoirs of Roger Vadim Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024)
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about The Planet of the Apes (1968). Planet of the Apes is available to rent or buy from major online platforms including Apple TV. It is also available on Disney+ in the UK. You can check the Just Watch website to find where it may be streaming in your region. | |||
| Je t'aime, je t'aime (1968): Time Travel, Memory and Loss | 16 août 2026 | 00:58:44 | |
Translation for the intro: A race against time. Office time against outside time. Who's winning? I don't know yet.
Apologies as I am coming down with a heavy cough and need sleep. I am so out of it that I almost forgot that it is release day! But I jumped out of bed with quite a shock and here you have the episode. Phew! As always, there are spoilers ahead. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
1968's Je t'aime, je t'aime (AKA I Love You, I Love You). A wonderfully unusual science fiction film about memory, love and loss by French New Wave director Alain Resnais. If you would like an overview of the plot you can find it on the Wikipedia page here. The time code after the beep (indicating the discussion about sexual violence is done) 50 minutes and 40 seconds. I have two magnificent guests! 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. Mani Sharpe is a lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Leeds. He is the author of the book Late-Colonial French Cinema: Filming the Algerian War of Independence. At one point Mark mentions Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius by Jorge Luis Borges and I'm mentioning it here as I had to look it up and it might be on interest. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:42 Alain Resnais 07:20 France in 1968 11:27 Cancelled Cannes Film Festival 13:51 Editing and Chronology 20:10 Continuity conventions 24:33 Editing words and memories 33:23 Unreliable Narrator 39:05 The film watching experience 44:21 Loss and heartbreak in sci-fi 50:55 Legacy 55:05 Recommendations
Recommendations New Rose Hotel (1998) by Abel Ferrara Alain Resnais by Emma Wilson
NEXT EPISODE! Wish me luck as I attempt to arrange an episode on Barbarella in two weeks. As this hasn't been finalised I would suggest that you might also like the watch Planet of the Apes just in case should the fates be tricky! Both of these films are quite easy to find to rent. | |||
| Destroy All Monsters 1968: Godzilla's Kaiju in Combat | 02 août 2026 | 00:51:34 | |
Translation for Intro: "Fire Dragon can reduce Tokyo to ashes in just a few hours." Godzilla ROARS. "It's Godzilla!" As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have like to wear a monocle and talk about fancy artisan cheeses maybe you would like to be a patron of the podcast? Luckily neither of those things are a requirement! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm If you are interested in the plot of the film you can read an overview on the wikipedia page here. Correction: In the intro I say Japanese Air Base when I mean Japanese Moon Base. Welcome to the podcast! TIME FOR PANIC TO ENSUE!!! We are in 1968! It's finally here! Am I ready for the 2001: A Space Odyssey? No, I am not! But I'm getting there. Please bear with me. In the meantime, I shall distract you with a chat about one of the most visually delightful of Kaiju Films (Although one of our guests' recommendations may have it beat in visual delights). You can see an array of the stills from Destroy All Monsters on my Instagram account. This is the swinging 60s Japan style! In 1968 ToHo studios decided to wrap up the Godzilla Franchise with a big bang! A Kaiju extravaganza featuring 11 monsters. Let me list them for you.
Due to international success the franchise continued on. Hoorah! I have two gargantuan guests for you. (They actually are, as far as I am aware, human sized although I have no proof.) 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. 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 Introduction 01:33 Sci-Fi films from 1950s to 1968 03:14 Comparison to Godzilla 1954 05:23 1960s Japan 08:49 Blair's love of the film 09:59 The intentions behind the film 11:14 The 'Monster Rally' tradition 13:53 Visual delights 14:36 The first 10 minutes 18:22 The island connections 21:14 The Showa Era and Japan on the global stage 24:49 Aliens! The Kilaaks 29:38 The Izu Peninsula and Shogun 30:16 The Kaijus 40:17 The final battle 43:12 A changing Godzilla 46:52 Legacy 49:26 Recommendations
Recommendations: Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) Godzilla in Hell by James Stokoe
NEXT EPISODE!
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| Sci-fi & Architecture: Visions of the Future | 19 juil. 2026 | 00:55:52 | |
There are spoilers ahead! For many films I'm afraid. I would especially avoid the episode until you have watched Ex-Machina (which you really really should immediately it really is phenomenal) as Jes does talk directly about the ending between 53:23 till 53:46. I have made a list of the films and books mentioned below. This is another detour episode and perhaps you're thinking I'm trying to avoid the very big task of recording 2001: A Space Odyssey content. And perhaps you're right. But I hope you enjoy this discussion. If you try to think of a futuristic city your mind may be drawn towards a real place but it could just as easily be drawn towards the great science fiction films that render our future on our screens. Films like Blade Runner, Minority Report, Fifth Element and (the granddaddy) Metropolis have all shown us what human futures could look like. Sometimes these visions are intimidating, terrifying or occausionally aspirational. These images in turn can affect and inform own understanding of what an unwritten future should be like. I have two wonderful guests to talk through the somewhat symbiotic relationship of science fiction and architecture Amy Brookes is an architect and an Associate Professor at the University of Reading. She has written extensively about architecture and one of her special interests is Architecture in science fiction literature and film. Jes Deaver is an award-winning architect as well as a filmmaker and writer. She is the author of the article The Architecture of Imagination which explores the parallels between science fiction and architecture. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:32 The SF-Architecture connection 06:40 How the symbolism of the tower changes 14:38 Anxieties in architecture 17:00 The reciprocal relationship 27:10 Fears of suburbia 30:27 Non place and virtual space 33:43 Apocalyptic futures 40:02 Hopeful alternatives 49:04 Favourite architectural sci-fi films 53:46 Recommendations Recommendations: And He Built a Crooked House by Robert Heinlein Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements
Films mentioned in the episode:
Books mentioned:
TV Shows mentioned:
Other links of interest:
NEXT EPISODE! The next episode will be about Destroy All Monsters which features lots of Kaiju, a Japanese Moonbase, evil aliens who look like beautiful women and groovy 60s outfits. You can rent the film on Apple TV (at least in the UK) but take a look at Just Watch and Rotten Tomatoes to see where the film is showing in your region. DVDs and Blurays of the film are also available for relatively reasonable prices. | |||
| Quatermass: Nigel Kneale, Hammer and Mid-Century Britain | 05 juil. 2026 | 00:59:56 | |
There is a longer version of the podcast available which includes more tangential topics on Patreon for paid subscribers or for a $3 or £3 fee! The long version is just under one hour and twenty-five minutes. If you would like to become a Patreon patron and get all the podcast episodes ad free (as well as the longer edit) you can do that on: https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. As mentioned on the podcast here is an outline of the Quatermass offerings: FILM 1955: The Quatermass Xperiment AKA The Creeping Unknown (dir, Val Guest) 1957: Quatermass 2 AKA Enemy from Space (dir. Val Guest) 1967: Quatermass & the Pit AKA Five Million Years to Earth (dir. Roy Ward Baker) 1979 The Quatermass Conclusion (recut from TV series, dir. Piers Haggard) 2005 The Quatermass Experiment (Live TV movie, dir. Sam Miller) 1996: The Quatermass Memoirs TV Series 1953: The Quatermass Experiment 1955: Quatermass II 1958-59 Quatermass and the Pit 1979 Quatermass (AKA Quatermass IV or The Quatermass Conclusion) 2005 The Quatermass Experiment (Live)
Professor Bernard Quatermass was created by British superstar screenwriter Nigel Kneale and aired on the BBC in 1953. The TV series went on to great popularity and Hammer Films eventually came knocking for film rights. Nigel Kneale did not have any rights over the character due to being a staff writer at the time but would eventually go on to international fame especially in sci-fi and horror circles with John Carpenter (amongst others) being a vocal fan. Despite all this many people have not heard of Quatermass. Although there have been many attempts to revive the franchise none have come to fruition. But that won't stop me seeking out two of the best academics to talk excitedly about their passion for this early TV sci-fi pioneer. 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. Matthew Rule-Jones is a senior lecturer in film studies at the University of Exeter. A doctor of science fiction who likes to write about cinema including the book Science Fiction Cinema and 1950s Britain: Recontextualising Cultural Anxiety. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:24 Nigel Kneale 06:28 Rudolph Cartier and changes in TV 08:22 Hammer films and Quatermass 13:09 The many iterations of Quatermass 22:04 The traditional tinkering British scientist 26:47 From TV to Film 32:44 Quatermass 2 and the 1950s 41:30 Aliens! 48:58 Kneale and Victorian influences 52:21 Legacy 57:47 Recommendations
Recommendations Sapphire & Steel (1979-1982, TV series) Event Horizon (1997)
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we take a break from science fiction films to talk to two experts about science fiction and architecture. Then we're heading into 1968 so wish me luck! | |||
| The Face of Another 1966: Scars & Identity in Post War Japan | 21 juin 2026 | 00:59:03 | |
Trigger warning: This discussion includes talk about sexual assault and sexual violence. This is a theme apparent in the film and the source material. It is mentioned a few times. The topic is not spoken about in detail, but I wanted to share a general trigger warning for those that would prefer to avoid the topic altogether. Subtitles for the intro: "It's not that I specialise in treating fingers. I'm a psychiatrist in fact. Inferiority complexes dig holes in the psyche, and I fill them in." As always, there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you have fancy pants and would like to be a patron of the podcast please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm If you are interested in the plot of the film you can read an overview on the wikipedia page here. In 1964 Director Hiroshi Teshigahara's film Woman in the Dunes won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes. The film was the second of four in which Teshigahara would collaborate with writer Kōbō Abe.* The Face of Another rode the coattails of Woman in the Dunes but was nowhere near as successful. Although both films have a very bleak undertone, The Face of Another feels more jarring and less abstract in its confrontations. The story is of a man horribly disfigured from an accident in the lab where he works. He manages to find a possible solution to the isolation and desperation he experiences when he is given the opportunity to have a new face with which to navigate life. The story has many philosophical themes set in a Japan that is still wrangling with its post war cultural identity. Thankfully I have managed to procure two big brained and generous guests! Roger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He has written/edited numerous articles and books on cultural history and film. Jennifer Coates is a Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Sheffield. She has written extensively about Japanese cultural history and cinema and is the President of the British Association of Japanese Studies. During the intro to the show I mention a video essay that I watched during research for the film which I found very interesting. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yarOXWeZlzY Although this is not directly relevant to the film, one of the earliest shots is an x-ray of a skull in conversation. This is reminiscent of the very early 1996 film usually known as Macintyre's X-Ray Film. Just a small historical film curiosity which you might be interested in. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqMYHawAKmA
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:35 Source Material: Kobe Abe's book 06:33 Abe and Teshigahara's collaboration: Woman in the Dunes 07:38 Face Masks 10:55 The manufactured Japanese New Wave 14:31 Japan in the 1960s 19:39 Alienation and Philosophy 24:47 Boundaries and skin 26:17 Moral boundaries 30:52 The skin, Japan and saving face 34:14 Scarring and the bomb 41:05 Identity and Japan 47:40 Visual delights 52:46 Legacy 55:03 Face transplants 56:51 Recommendations
Recommendations: When the Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960) Eyes without a Face (1960) Suture (1993)
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be having a giant sprawling chat about the scientist Bernard Quatermass. You can watch the three earlier Quatermass films, The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), Quatermass 2 (1957) and Quatermass and the Pit (1967) in all sorts of places including major streaming platforms. The series (if you want to get really nerdy about it) are available as a boxed set on Apple TV and from other retailers. At least some of those episodes are available on YouTube. The first season of the TV series (1953) only has a few episodes as the rest were lost forever!
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| Blade Runner: Paul Franklin's Favourite Sci-Fi Film | 07 juin 2026 | 00:46:17 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! Blade Runner was not a huge hit in 1982 but it did gain a fair few fans on its initial release. One of those fans was a teenager from Cheshire by the name of Paul Franklin who would go on to work on numerous big budget films and win two Oscars for his work as a Special Effects Supervisor on Interstellar and Inception. I spoke to Paul about his first impressions of the film, what makes it special and how it influences Batman Begins and The Dark Knight Rises. Apologies for the abrupt ending to this episode. It is late, I've been quite busy and I have other work I really must tend to. Details of the next episode at the bottom of the show notes. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to support the podcast you can become a patron and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free versions of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:47 Paul's first impressions 07:11 Influences on Blade Runner 14:01 Syd Mead's design 17:52 A future without Blade Runner 21:28 PK Dick & Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep 23:36 The plight of the androids 27:18 Deckard as replicant 32:01 Influence of Blade Runner on Paul's work 40:45 Vangelis 41:58 ET vs Blade Runner NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be discussing the rather striking and uncomfortable 1966 Japanese film The Face of Another. The film is available on Criterion Channel in the US and Canada and on YouTube. You can check the Just Watch website to see where the film is available in your region. | |||
| Fantastic Voyage: Psychedelic Nanotech in 1966 | 24 mai 2026 | 00:57:19 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast and help an indie podcaster out, you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm An extra huge thank you to my wonderful guests as this episode had to be re-recorded due to a major problem with the audio file the first time. You can find the synopsis of the film on Wikipedia here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Voyage#Plot In 1966 20th Century Fox chose a steady pair of hands in Richard Fleischer (the son of animation superstar Max Fleischer) to helm what at the time was both the tiniest and the biggest science fiction adventure. Tiny because of the nano science storyline and biggest because of it being the most expensive science fiction film ever made (at that time) costing over five million dollars. I talk to two top tier guests about the film. 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 his upcoming books Before Trek: Building American Science Fiction Television. Lisa Yaszek is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and has written/edited multiple books on science fiction including her upcoming book Mothership Rising: Afrofuturism in the Radium Age. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Big budget scifi 05:45 Richard Fleischer 09:10 The history of Nanotech sci-fi 16:41 Sci-fi and scale in cinema 19:42 Richard Feynman and small science 22:55 1950s influences 25:53 James Bond and Spy-fi 27:05 Psychedelic scifi 31:22 Harper Goff, Disney and design 33:36 1960s crew dynamics 42:48 Asimov's novelisation 44:24 Secularism vs religion 46:52 Legacy 52:57 Recommendations
Recommendations: The Diamond Lens by Fitz-James O'Brien (which can be found here) Surface Tension by James Blish Microcosmic God by Theodore Sturgeon
Dr Cyclops (1940) The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode I will be speaking with Oscar winning Special Effects Supervisor Paul Franklin to discuss his favourite sci-fi film Blade Runner (1982). Paul has worked on an array of blockbusters including The Batman Begins trilogy, Venom (2018), Inception (2010) and Interstellar (2014). | |||
| Fahrenheit 451: Truffaut's 1966 Suburban Dystopia | 10 mai 2026 | 00:56:45 | |
Show notes As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast and feel like nobility funding the podcasting arts, I would like to encourage such sentiments! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm If you are interested in the plot of the film you can read an overview on the wikipedia page here. In 1953 writer Ray Bradbury released his magnum opus Fahrenheit 451. It quickly became a widely acclaimed cautionary tale about the dangers of censorship, authoritarianism and the effects of mass media on human ideas and connection. One of the most prominent science fiction books it is easy to understand why François Truffaut, one of the French New Wave's most prominent directors, became utterly focused on making the story into a film. The process had its challenges with producers, funding and a casting changes causing delays. The film was finally wrapped up and released in 1966 to both positive and negative reviews. It is an interesting watch if not a gripping one and my two expert guests unravel the ins and outs of how it came to be. 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 including the book American Politics in Hollywood Film. 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 podcas Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Fahrenheit 451: a sci-fi heavyweight 04:36 Truffaut and the book 11:03 Suburban scifi in the mid century 13:33 Politics of the story 15:07 Truffaut's perspective 20:01 Julie Christie's double role 26:50 Searching for Montag 34:29 Burning with her books 39:12 Bernard Herrmann's score 40:40 The 2018 remake 49:56 Bradbury's stage play 51:37 Recommendations
Recommendations: Never Let Me Go (2010) The Wild Child (1970)
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be discussing Fantastic Voyage from 1966! The film is annoyingly a little tricky to find online but can be rented easily on mainstream platforms in some countries. You can check the Just Watch website to see where it is available in your region.
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| Seconds 1966: Rock Hudson's Devastating Disillusionment | 26 avr. 2026 | 00:58:03 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast and get that amazing feeling of wellbeing that comes from contributing to the research, planning and anxiety that does towards making a podcast I would love to encourage it! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Seconds is a visually striking and thoroughly uncomfortable film. A 1960s film that examines dissatisfied suburban living, mid-life crisis and the yearning for youth and freedom. I think it's vastly underrated which is probably something both of my genuinely amazing guests agree with. (Apologies for not offering more of a counterpoint to this view!) 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. Sherryl Vint is Professor of Science Fiction Media Studies at the University of California, Riverside. She has also written/edited extensively about science fiction. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Frankenheimer's fantastic films 05:55 Science fiction in the 60s 07:55 The striking work of James Wong Howe 12:18 Saul (and Elaine) Bass credits 14:42 Mid Life Crisis in the 1960s 19:20 Dissatisfaction in the middle class 21:38 The Tennis Trophy 24:40 Rock Hudson and John Randolph 31:54 The Wine Stomp 37:02 Corporation as "The Monster" and PK Dick 38:48 Frankenstein and face surgery 41:44 The business model and Tech Bros 45:08 Legacy 50:39 Trivia tidbits 53:51 Recommendations
Recommendations: Phase IV (1974) Face of Another (1966) Mark also mentions: Eyes Without a Face (1960) and Darkman (1990)
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we take a dive into the 1966 François Truffaut science fiction film Fahrenheit 451. The film is very annoyingly tough to get hold of on streaming platforms but can apparently be found on Fandango and you can search the Just Watch website to check where it might be available in your region. You can buy the DVD quite easily for not extortionate prices in many places. There do seem to be dodgy websites that also have the film but obviously I would never encourage you to search for such things. | |||
| The 10th Victim: Italy's 1965 Pop Art Dystopia | 12 avr. 2026 | 00:54:42 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Apologies in advance for my butchering of Italian pronunciation during this episode. Although we mentioned in the Planet of the Vampires episode the copycat nature of Italian cinema in the 1960s, The 10th Victim by Elio Petri does not fit that mould. The film has a definite style that may offer commentary on Italian film, comics and culture but looks to set a new mould for films coming out of Italy. Cultural change in Europe and America in the 1960s came in many different flavours and with different driving forces. My excellent guests help to unravel the cultural context of this stylish cult classic. Stephen Gundle is a Professor of Film and Television at the University of Warwick. He has a special interest in Italian cultural history. Leon Hunt is a retired Senior Lecturer of Screen Studies at Brunel University with a special interest in Italian Genre Cinema. Chapters 00:00 Introduction. 01:17 Collectively written script 04:02 Italy in the 1960s 05:19 Marcello Mastroianni Commedia all'Italiana and global fame 09:33 Echoes of La Dolce Vita 15:02 Style over substance? 17:03 Gender roles 20:38 The violence of man 23:28 The gun bra, design and pop art 26:17 Comic book culture in Italy 32:46 Religion and belief systems 36:55 Changing Italian culture: American influence, economic growth and celebrity worship 45:52 Legacy 51:07 Recommendations for the listener
Recommendations: Danger Diabolik (1968) directed by Mario Bava Modesty Blaise (1966) directed by Jospeh Losey La Dolce Vita (1960) directed by Federico Fellini
NEXT EPISODE! You have two weeks to find and watch Seconds (1966) by John Frankenheimer as we finally head into 1966! The film is available to rent or buy on Apple TV in the UK, and for free on Kanopy in the US. You can check the JustWatch website for details of where it's available in your region. (Waves frantically at new global listeners!)
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| Star Trek: Woke Since 1966 | 29 mars 2026 | 00:56:20 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Despite a failed pilot Star Trek made it to TV in 1966. Creator, Gene Roddenberry's vision of a future that was beyond the contemporary struggles of civil rights and racism and global Cold War tensions but very much aligned with the style of the 1960s. As a diverse crew faced alien planets and tackled ethical questions audience numbers dwindled and cancellation loomed. The show was finally axed in 1969 but a growing fanbase aided by syndication meant what could have been a small part of TV history actually became a huge phenomena. My amazing Trekkie guests discuss the origins of my favourite franchise. Julian Chambliss is a scholar and a professor at Michigan State University. He has taught Star Trek as part of his Media Race and Culture classes. Carey Millsap-Spears is a professor of communications/literature at Moraine Valley Community College. She has written extensively about Star Trek including the 2023 book Star Trek Discovery and the Female Gothic.
Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:36 Gene Roddenberry's pitch and the pilot episode 04:29 A new kind of frontier 08:34 The fans 11:06 Woke and the 1960s 17:26 The gothic in Star Trek 20:39 Captain Kirk as Casanova? 26:09 That kiss and Uhura 30:42 Utopia! 36:47 Propaganda 39:24 The Alien others 44:08 Technology, NASA and Nichelle Nichols 47:29 The Next Generation 51:52 Why do we love Star Trek? 54:32 Recommendations
Recommendations The Centre Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek (2021) StarTrek II: The Wrath of Khan
NEXT EPISODE! You have two weeks to find and watch The 10th Victim (1965) by Elio Petri. Another Italian film (like last episode's Planet of the Vampires) but a very different feel. Although coupld contend with Mario Bava's Danger Diabolik (1968) for the most 60s film ever made! The film is available to rent online in many places. You can check the JustWatch website for details of what it's available in your region.
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| Planet of the Vampires 1965: Mario Bava's Budget Beauty | 15 mars 2026 | 00:55:37 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Planet of the Vampires was directed by Mario Bava and released in 1965. American International Pictures had made money with Italian films such as Black Sunday (1960) but would often need to oversee many changes to make the films suitable for an American audience. Their solution was to provide a script and co-produce a film so they could control the content. The film had a small budget of around $200,000 and although it definitely has its fair share of Schlock, Bava had a reputation for doing a lot on a small budget. My guests unravel why Mario Bava's reputation and love for this film continue to grow. Scott Higgins is Professor of Film at Wesleyan University as well as being the Curator of the Wesleyan Cinema Archives. Russ Hunter is an Assistant Professor in Film & Television Studies at Northumbria University. He has a special interest in Italian genre cinema. Scott says Eugenio Bava (Mario's Father) invented the Schüfftan process before Eugen Schüfftan after whom it was named. You can read more about this here: https://dcairns.wordpress.com/tag/schufftan-process/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:46 AIP involvement 04:14 Italian cinema in 1965 09:01 Dubbing 14:31 Names changes and US appeal 17:28 Mario Bava 21:51 Scott's love for this film 27:12 Bava and Barry 29:22 Special Effects and the Schüfftan process 33:39 Production and Set Design 35:21 Style over coherence 38:33 The alien 41:35 Influences and origins 43:40 Vampires in name 44:20 Legacy 49:06 Recommendations
Recommendations: The Green Slime (1968) by Kinji Fukasaku Tu Vuo' Fa' L'americano by Renato Carosone Danger: Diabolik (1968) by Mario Bava Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark by Tim Lucas
NEXT EPISODE: As we approach 1966 on the podcast it is time to talk about my favourite franchise which will be 60 years old this September! A little detour into the beginnings of Star Trek in two week's time.
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| Alphaville: Godard's 1965 Break-up Tech Noir | 01 mars 2026 | 00:58:24 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! (And the podcast is much more fun if you've seen the film first.) You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Jean-Luc Godard is potentially the most prominent of the French New Wave directors. In the mid-60s his mind turned to science fiction and the result was a visually striking, choatic film about a dystopian world in which logic rules and love is punished. If you find the film confusing you are not alone and I have two brilliant academic brains to help us out. Roger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He has written/edited numerous articles and books on cultural history and film. Douglas Morrey is an associate professor of French at the University of Warwick. He has a special interest in the French new Wave on which he has written extensively, including the 2005 book Jean-Luc Godard. CORRECTION: In the podcast I mention Roger citing Alphaville having an image from Chris Marker's La Jetée but the image is actually Marker's photograph which is in the credit sequence but doesn not feature in La Jetée. The book of poetry in the film Capitale de la douleur (Capital of Pain) is written by Paul Elouard. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:40 French New Wave in 1965 03:38 Godard's influences for Alphaville 11:31 Eddie Constantine: The illogical Noir hero 16:43 Lemmy Caution and fascism 18:05 Alienation and confusion 25:52 Godard's technique and budgets 30:07 Sound design 32:30 The swimming pool execution scene 39:26 Love, poetry and Godard's divorce 47:00 Godard and women 49:30 Legacy 53:57 Recommendations
Recommendations: • The Trial written by Franz Kafka and made into a film by Orson Wells released in 1962. • Weekend (1967) by Godard.
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about Planet of the Vampires, the low budget 1965 dubbed delight by Mario Bava. The film is campy (and for me quite hilarious) as well as being famed for inspiring Alien (1979). (Perhaps a little overstated in this regard?) You can find the film to rent on Amazon, Apple, Flixfling and may find it on free platforms with ads in your region. You can check the JustWatch website for more details.
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| The Doctor, the Daleks & the 1960s | 15 févr. 2026 | 00:55:52 | |
As usual there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm This episode we track the birth of one of the longest running franchises. Dr Who was first broadcast in 1963 and with the help of some exterminating aliens a film was produced just a couple of years later. I speak to my wonderful Whovian guests about the origins, the hallmarks and the 1960s context of the infamous Doctor including the colourful and shiny 1960s feature films. Paul Booth is a professor of Media and Pop Culture with a special interest in fandoms on which he has written extensively. He is co-editor of the book Adventures Across Space and Time: A Doctor Who Reader. Lee Arnott is the co-host if the Problematic Gaze podcast. He is a social historian who is currently researching the the social history of Britain since the 1960s through the lens of Doctor Who. Although Australian composer Ron Gainer wrote the music for Dr Who it was Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop who produced the theme. You can see the Delia Derbyshire clip I mention on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsRuhCflRyg Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:41The BBC origins of the series 04:45 The first episode, changes and differences on the big screen 09:40 The Daleks and Dalekmania 13:20 WW2, Nazis and nuclear fears 19:37 More Daleks 23:33 The Doctor 27:33 What is canon 29:21 The Companions 35:13 The Tardis 38:05 Design 42:02 (The best ever) theme tune 45:46 Legacy 49:22 Success and favourite doctors 53:04 Recommendations Recommendations: Lee recommended The War Game (1965) and Paul recommended the book Dr. Who & The Daleks: The Official Story of the Films by John Walsh.
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be discussing the 1965 French New Wave science fiction film Alphaville by Jean-Luc Godard. It is easy to rent on main streaming platforms as well as other places in the US including Mubi and Kanopy. To find the film in your region you can visit the Just Watch website. | |||
| First Men in the Moon: From HG Wells to 1964 | 01 févr. 2026 | 00:54:54 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm First Men on the Moon was written by HG Wells and serialised in The Strand Magazine beginning in 1900. The book was published in 1901 a year before Georges Méliès kicked off science fiction cinema with La Voyage dans la Lune in 1902. (You can learn more about that film in episode number 2 The First Science Fiction Film Ever.) Then in the swinging 60s as the space race was heating up a collection of brilliant sci-fi filmmakers go together to make a story about a Victorian British scientist going to the moon with his anti-gravity material Cavorite! And yet even the amazing Ray Harryhausen stop motion special effects were not enough to make this film a success. My amazing guests break down the origins and outcomes of this mid-century oddity. 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 and is the author of the book H.G. Wells, Modernity and the Movies. Matthew Rule-Jones is a senior lecturer in film studies at the University of Exeter and author of the book Science Fiction Cinema and 1950s Britain: Recontextualising Cultural Anxiety. At 6:09 Keith is about to explain the contraption that Robert William Paul was planning based on HG wells Time Machine. I interrupt him as we've covered this in two episodes priot. You can access more information about that on episode 37 The Time Machine: HG Wells' Legacy in 1960s Sci-Fi at timecode 23:07 or in episode 9 The Invisible Man Exposed at timecode 38:29. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:23 HG Wells, selenites and Georges Méliès Trip to the Moon 06:57 Balancing act: Producer Charles Schneer vs Writer Nigel Kneale. 12:44 Box Office flop 15:12 Dreams of Empire and international cooperation 19:40 Steampunk sensibilities 22:26 The backdrop of the Space Race 26:58 Bedford and Cavor 33:20 Ray Harryhausen 37:50 NASA and the moon landing 41:12 Ant colonies and sci-fi 46:42 Legacy 50:10 Recommendations
Recommendations: The First Men in the Moon (2010) The Stone Tape (1972) available to view on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHgcpzzZspw
NEXT EPISODE! The next episode will feature two films: Dr Who & the Daleks (1965) as well as Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966). These films are available to buy or stream on mainstream platforms like Apple and Prime as well as subscription services. The Just Watch website is a good resource for finding where films are available in your region. | |||
| Missed Episode, Medicine & Metropolis | 18 janv. 2026 | 00:55:54 | |
I am very sorry but I have been unwell this past week. (But I am on the mend!) Multiple visits to the hospital mean that although I have the next episode recorded I have not been able to edit it. I've heard many podcasts serve up older episodes in this circumstance. Maybe an annoyance to those who have already heard all the episodes but for those who haven't since it is 2026 it's probably a good opportunity to watch Metropolis (1927) as this year is the year it was set. I have two remarkable and engaging academics speak about it. Sonja Fritzsche is a professor of German Studies and an author/editor for many books about science fiction. She has taught courses on science fiction, utopia and Metropolis. Noah Isenberg is a film historian and best-selling author. He is a professor at the University of Texas and editor of the book Weimar Cinema: An Essential Guide to Classic Films of the Era. This episode was originally released in April 2024 and was episode 5 of the podcast. I will hopefully be back in great health soon and the new episode on First Men in the Moon will be edited for release in two weeks. | |||
| Dr. Strangelove: Cold War Comedy & 1964 USA | 03 janv. 2026 | 00:57:48 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead!
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
In 1958 the Peter George novel Red Alert was published about the dangers of nuclear war. A few years later when Stanley Kubrick was looking to make a (serious) film about the topic he was recommended the book.
Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb was the resulting film. The film takes aim at military strategy, rhetoric and the people involved to give us one of the most famous satires in cinema.
It would be quite easy to double the length of this episode, but we've tried to fit as much as we can into the hour with my two remarkable guests.
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.
This is the article I mention by Eric Schlosser: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/almost-everything-in-dr-strangelove-was-true
Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Source material 03:12 The threat of Lumet's Fail Safe 05:35 Herman Kahn, winnable nuclear war and the doomsday machine 08:25 Nazi scientist Wernher von Braun and Operation Paperclip 13:55 Nuclear policy and the Cold War 17:23 Doomsday comedy 25:51 Masculinity, techno-eroticism and bodily fluids 33:21 Peter Sellers 38:04 1960s satire boom 40:11 Production design of Ken Adam 41:25 Music 43:27 The changes to the film 46:32 Legacy 54:34 Recommendations
Recommendations: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Fail Safe (1964).
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about First Men on the Moon (1964). The film is based on the HG Wells novel and features stop motion animation by Ray Harryhausen. It is is available to stream and rent from Apple. The Just Watch website can give you a list of where the film is available in your region.
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| What is Afrofuturism? | 21 déc. 2025 | 00:52:50 | |
Time for another detour! An introduction to Afrofuturism with two magnificent guests. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast it would be greatly appreciated! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm The symbol mentioned in the podcast a few times is the Sankofa symbol which is a recurring symbol in Afrofuturism. It represents the idea that there are things that you go back for (and things you leave behind). You can read more about it on this wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankofa Julian Chambliss is a scholar and a professor at Michigan State University. He is the author of multiple books including Mapping Afrofuturism: Understanding Black Speculative Practice Ytasha Womack is a filmmaker, cultural critic and author of the books Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture and The Afro Futurist Evolution: Creative Paths of Self Discovery.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Afrofuturism origin story 08:04 Afrofuturism and science fiction 11:44 Retro Afrofuturism: Of One Blood by Pauline Hopkinson 16:37 The diaspora and Afrofuturism 19:53 Dance and the individual as a nexus of time and space 23:24 Ancestry in Afrofuturism 25:32 Moving away from dystopia: Slavery as apocalypse 29:55 Optimism for the future 33:03 Holistic utopias and protopia. 35:43 Mystical frameworks 38:15 Alternative realities and the multiverse 41:38 Theory, practice and interconnectedness 46:21 Recommendations
Recommendations: The Afro Futurist Evolution: Creative Paths of Self Discovery by Ytasha Womack (I would also thoroughly recommend her book Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture.) Agharta by Miles Davis Blake; or The Huts of America: A Tale of the Mississippi Valley, the Southern United States, and Cuba by Martin Delany Space is the Place by Sun Ra Lee "Scratch" Perry George Clinton Mothership Connection by Parliament Pedro Bell and Overton Loyd Beyond the Black Panther exhibition at MSU Rise podcast by Julian Infinitum by Tim Fielder
NEXT EPISODE! Next time we'll be talking about Dr Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and love the Bomb (1964)! You can watch the film pretty much anywhere and it is readily available to buy or rent online from many platforms. I would also recommend watching Fail Safe from the same year because it is excellent, affected the production of Dr Strangelove and due to their similarities.
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| Ikarie XB-1: 1963 Communist Utopia in Space | 07 déc. 2025 | 00:55:31 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! We've discussed Czech scifi before with Karel Zeman's gorgeous steam punk offering from 1958 Invention for Destruction (dubbed into the English language The Fabulous World of Jules Verne) and we've also covered Communists in Space with 1960s The Silent Star (AKA First Spaceship on Venus). The Czech Ikarie XB-1 (1963) has connections to both of those films but also offers an aesthetic that seems to directly inspire Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey. The year is 2163, communism has won, and a crew of 40 are sent to find life on the white planet in Alpha Centauri with a journey fraught with sociological, psychological and physical challenges. I have two amazing academics to help give insight into the film. Evan Torner is an Associate Professor of German Studies and Niehoff Professor of Film & Media Studies at the University of Cincinnati. Simon Spiegel is a lecturer of Film Studies at the University of Zurich. He has written extensively about Science Fiction and Utopia and has just released the book The Fear of Knowing about spoilers in film and media. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Stanislaw Lem's The Magellanic Cloud 04:28 Czechoslovakian New Wave and film industry 09:49 The striking introductory scenes and Kubrick's 2001 13:05 Cabin fever in spaaace! 15:13 Music by Zdeněk Liška 16:57 Communist utopia in spaaace! 20:57 The draw of sociological stories 26:19 A utopian party and a red alert 28:15 The capitalist ship and the 20th century 32:47 Putting science into sci-fi 39:30 Evan's Dark Matter Shenanigans 42:21 Post Stalin faith 43:41 The ending 45:39 The US edit 47:27 Legacy 52:18 Recommendations
NEXT EPISODE! I will be taking a detour next episode to talk about Afrofuturism which I've been wanting to discuss since the very early days of research before I launched the podcast. Almost two years late but I hope you enjoy it. After that we will be discussing Dr Strangelove and I would recommend you also watch Fail Safe (also 1964) if you have time.
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| X-Ray Eyes: Roger Corman's 1963 Psychedelic Sci-Fi | 23 nov. 2025 | 00:54:33 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm Roger Corman produced hundreds of films in his lifetime and directed dozens. X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes is a colourful, psychedelic, 1960s extravaganza with aspirations of transcendence. If you wanted to join in, you can watch the film X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes from 1963 first. DVDs of the film are available, but it is also available to rent and watch online on Apple TV and many other platforms. You can check the Just Watch website to see where it is available in your region. Oscar winner Ray Milland (we heard a bit about him in the Panic in Year Zero! episode) stars as a mad scientist who creates a serum that will help him understand the secret of life itself. A serum that unlocks the 90% of the visible spectrum that is beyond our realm of vision. The film is fun and pacey and the tone is once again firmly in the 1960s. I have two excellent guests to help us unravel the minds and life's mysteries around what could be Corman's magnus opus. Barry Keith Grant is professor Emeritus of Film Studies at Brock University Canada. He has written/edited numerous books, articles and essays about science fiction cinema. John Wills is a Professor of American Media and Culture at the University of Kent. He has written lots about popular culture including 1950s American and Nuclear film. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:57 Barry's experience of watching the film on release 03:48 Eyeballs and vision 08:58 The body in sci-fi 10:57 Mad science and closing in on the Gods 12:20 Science in the 60s 15:56 LSD 17:18 A film of two halves 19:18 Diane's romantic arc 21:57 Hays Code & the Nudie Cuties 25:35 Roger Corman's 2001: A Space Odyssey comparison 31:17 Special Effects 32:41 Gurus incoming 34:48 Blunt honesty of Xavier 37:36 The music of Les Baxter 39:59 Stephen King and the ending 44:23 Legacy 51:21 Recommendations
CORRECTION: We refer to the female scientist as Diana but her name is Diane.
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we are heading back to the Eastern Bloc with the Czech 1963 scifi Ikarie XB-1. In terms of watching it, the American version is titled Voyage to the End of the Universe and is a different edit. Although Just Watch advertises the English language title it seems to not differentiate which edit is available. The original is available on The Criterion channel and also cultpix.com.
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| The Manchurian Candidate 1962: Politics, Power & Paranoia | 09 nov. 2025 | 00:57:45 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm In 1959 at the cusp of a new and exciting decade Richard Condon wrote a book that is largely described as a political thriller. And it is a political thriller. But it also fits neatly into my concept of science fiction. To learn more about what is and isn't science fiction you can head to the heady days of the first episode where the topic is discussed with science fiction scholars Lisa Yaszek and Glyn Morgan. (Please do excuse the fear in my eyes.) Just a few years later a film was made by John Frankenheimer, starring Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh and a brilliant and manipulative Angela Lansbury. The 1960s USA is in peak cold war fears, and the CIA is undertaking covert operations of their own, with the MKUltra programme, testing on humans to discover whether they can be manipulated and brainwashed. Although this film continues many themes from the 1950s it is definitely a product of the new age as culture shifts and a new batch of Hollywood directors take cinema in a different direction. I am lucky to have two brilliant guests to talk us through the themes and context of this 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 including the book American Politics in Hollywood Film. 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 02:23 New Hollywood Directors 04:57 Richard Condon's novel 07:00 Mind control in science fiction 09:40 Cold War in the Far East 16:57 The brilliant brainwashing scene 25:28 Raymond Shaw the unlikely hero 29:17 Frank Sinatra as Marco 33:17 Angela Lansbury as Eleanor 37:54 Janet Leigh 44:04Eisenhower and the legacy of conspiracy films 48:31 The remake 52:29 Recommendations
The recommendations this week are the films Suddenly (1954) and Seconds (1966). I will be covering Seconds in the near future so you can get ahead by watching it if you like!
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be discussing the Roger Corman film X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes from 1963 starring Ray Milland. DVDs of the film are available but it is also available to rent and watch online on Apple TV and many other platforms. You can check the Just Watch website to see where it is available in your region.
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| The Day of the Triffids: Wyndham vs Sci-Fi Spectacle | 26 oct. 2025 | 00:58:51 | |
There are spoilers ahead for all versions of The Day of the Triffids and also for the film Signs. You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm This episode had been edited down to a more digestible length of under an hour but a longer (audio only) version is available for Patreon subscribers (alongside the shorter option). We are doing things a little differently and discussing the 1963 film along with the source material which is John Wyndham's 1951 book The Day of the Triffids. The Day of the Triffids film was released in 1963 after reshoots were required to add a whole new arc in the story and bring the time to a more suitable length for a feature. The film has many of the hallmarks of a 1950s science fiction film but seems to be reflective of the Golden Era of science fiction very much coming to its end. The film is (very loosely) based on John Wyndham's first successful novel but seems more dedicated to the tropes of a 1950s sci-fi marketed for a mass, US leaning audience. The book is chockful of themes that are touched upon throughout the story which have very little (if any) presence in the film. I have added a list of the characters we discuss below as well as a quick overview of their roles in the book and the film. As usual I have two insightful guests to help us understand all of this. Matthew Rule-Jones is a senior lecturer in film studies at the University of Exeter and author of the book Science Fiction Cinema and 1950s Britain: Recontextualising Cultural Anxiety. Adam Stock is a senior lecturer in English Literature at York St John University and author of the book Dystopian Fiction and Political Thought: Narratives of World Politics. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:30 John Wyndham's first hit 05:23 The concept of the cosy catastrophe 08:43 Wyndham's Britain: post-colonial triffids coming home to roost 14:48 The 1963 film: Wells, end of the golden age and marketing 20:04 The lighthouse sequences: Karen vs Josella 23:06 Weed killers in The Silent Spring era and WW2 imagery 25:17 The role of the Triffids 30:37 Bill Masen the hero 34:37 Coker's missing role 37:11 Women! 40:27 The ending 46:51 Legacy 53:57 Recommendations Bill Masen: Hero in both the book and the film. In the book Bill is English and works for the triffid farm where he has been almost blinded by a triffid sting. His colleague begins to suspect the triffids are indeed sentient and able to communicate. This brings up questions around exploitation and enslavement. In the film Bill is American and works for the US Navy who help save the hero and other survivors at the end of the film. Josella Playton: The heroine from the novel is not present in the 1963 film. Josella comes from a wealthy family (one with servants) and has written a notorious book titled Sex is my Adventure. Coker: Coker has a large role in the book and we meet him as an advocate for the newly blinded masses when many of the few sighted people left are attempting to save themselves from the threat of a disintegrating society. He is a strong public speaker from a working-class background who had learned to speak in a way that is more amenable to the intelligentsia and upper classes. His strongly held beliefs (of forcing the sighted to serve the blind) change through the book to become less idealistic and more practical. Coker in the film is an old man with a very minimal role who dies early in the story form a triffid attack. Susan: Is a young girl who is rescued by Bill in the film after a train crash and ensuing chaos. In the book Bill takes in Susan whose family have died. She is a capable young child who develops an understanding of triffid behaviour from observing them as she guards the home that Josella and Bill stay in for many years. Miss Durrant: In the film Miss Durrant is the beautiful heroine that Bill meets in a large house in France that is caring from blind survivors of the meteor shower. In the book, Miss Durrant is a religious minded woman who is appalled at a man named Beadley's attempts to rebuild society through polygamy. She seems to purposefully mislead Bill who is trying to track down Beadley because he thinks Josella will be with him. NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be speaking about The Manchurian Candidate from 1962 by John Frankenheimer. A film that may not fit the definition of science fiction for many people but by now I think we know how ambiguous those definitions can be! You can find the film on streaming platforms including Apple TV. The Just Watch website is a good resource to find where the film is available online in your region. | |||
| Panic in Year Zero: Nuclear Apocalypse & the Nuclear Family | 12 oct. 2025 | 00:55:45 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead!
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
There is a trigger warning for discussion of rape in this episode. I have marked the beginning of that part of the discussion with a beep and the discussion lasts for four minutes and four seconds after the beep if you wanted to skip past it.
Last week we told you "Don't Panic!" but this week we focus in on the panic.
Panic in Year Zero was directed by and stars Ray Milland and is about a father taking his family on the road to do some camping. One the way there a nuclear bomb is dropped on Los Angeles and the world starts to fall into disarray. Not because of the bomb causing devastation or radiation but because of how human s are absolute nutters given the slightest chance.
This film has a very 1950s sensibility but with a Jazz laden soundtrack that hints at the unruly decade ahead.
The Federal Civil Defense Administration in the US in the early 50s was set up by President Truman to educate and prepare the public in case of an attack on US soil. The short film mentioned in the discussion The House in the Middle can be viewed on YouTube here.
This episode we talk not just about the film but the human fascination with apocalypse. I have the perfect guests for the task.
Steven Schlozman is a psychiatrist and a writer of books including the novel The Zombie Autopsies which was being adapted to film by George Romero before his death in 2017.
John Wills is a Professor of American Media and Culture at the University of Kent. He has written lots about popular culture including 1950s American and Nuclear film.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction 01:52 The non-nuclear nuclear film 07:10 Nuclear drills in schools 10:07 USA nuclear prep: Civilian education and CONELRAD 16:33 Jazz music and sociopaths 20:05 Daddy's gaze 26:39 The fun of Armageddon 32:02 The developmental stage of apocalypse fantasy 37:35 Ann is always wrong 39:21 Sexual violence 43:27 A pre-cursor to zombie apocalypse 48:25 Legacy 52:45 Recommendations for the listener
Recommendations Steven: The Day After (1983) is a made for TV film. John: The book Every Home a Fortress: Cold War Fatherhood and the Family Fallout Shelter by Thomas Bishop
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be discussing The Day of the Triffids! Although we will be using the 1963 film as a starting point there will be a lot of discussion about the original novel and the differences between the theme heavy book and the fun 50s style scifi of the film.
The film can be found on Fubo, Roku, Pluto and Plex and a few other online streaming platforms in the US and UK. The Just Watch website is a good resource to find where the film may be available in your region.
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| Don't Panic: The Hitchhiker's Guide Phenomenon | 28 sept. 2025 | 00:57:04 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead. You can buy the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book in most bookshops and you can listen to the radio play on YouTube and also on the Internet Archive.
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show and be revered amongst both the G'Gugvuntts and the Vl'Hurgs: https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
As mentioned elsewhere this is not an analysis of the film or any kind of review of the book but more like a chat amongst fans of what the story means to us and why.
My amazing guests are very qualified to wax lyrical about the topic at hand.
Michael Newton is a University Lecturer at the Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society. He is a cultural historian who has written about film amongst many other topics including being the Editor of the book The Origins of Science Fiction. Mark Steadman creative digital producer, long time podcaster and host of the Beware of the Leopard podcast which explored the A to Z of the Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy. (He also has what I consider the best productivity podcast in the world as it takes into consideration that we are humans with feelings and lives. Undo – How history's outliers got stuff done can be found here.) Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:52 When we were first exposed to H2G2 05:01The Late 70s and scifi 06:54 Mental health and the art of Zen 10: 40 Zaphod: Douglas Adams and the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster 15:31 Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect 19:53 Suburban life and bathos 21:46 Douglas Adams' "first album" 24:41 The broad appeal 28:03 Douglas' delightful detours 32:25 We love Douglas and his thin plot 32:58 No happy ending 36:18 Absurdism 37:31 Sirius Cybernetics Corporation and Silicon Valley 41:29 Gadgetry in H2G2 47:11 Shoutout to the super intelligent colour blue 50:25 Legacy: Tech, atheism, and imagination 54:02 Recommendations for the listener
NEXT EPISODE!
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| La Jetée: French New Wave's 1962 Sci-Fi Classic | 14 sept. 2025 | 00:59:08 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead!
A quick note that I shall be at the London Film Festival on October the 16th giving a whistlestop tour of sci-fi cinema. It is a free event but you have to reserve tickets so if you happen to be in London and wanted to attend here is the information.
Translation for the beginning of the podcast: "Later, he knew he had seen a man die. And sometime after came the destruction of Paris."
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you would like to be a patron of the podcast you can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
La Jetée is very different from the science fiction films I have covered so far. A 28-minute art film mostly made of still images that went on to inspire many films as well as the 1995 12 Monkeys. The filmmaker, Chris Marker was an elusive French multimedia journalist, artist, writer, filmmaker, photographer who very rarely did interviews. He was part of the Left Bank group in Paris which was part of the larger French New Wave movement.
My amazing science fiction authorities today are Lisa Yaszek who is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and has written/edited multiple books on science fiction and Mark Bould who is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has also written/edited numerous books on science fiction.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:15 The French New Wave 08:50 The New Wave of science fiction literature 13:00 The New Wave science fiction films 17:53 Vertigo's influence 21:10 Eros and Thanatos: Love and death (and time loops) 23:55 A very different science fiction film: Un photo-roman, sound and reliable narrators 32:00 The darker future: gritty retrofuturism and echoes of WWII 36:59 What is real? (And why is it so beautiful?) 40:52 Distressing distortions and more death 46:03 The one moving image 48:33 12 Monkeys 51:47 Legacy of the film 55:30 Recommendations for the listener
NEXT EPISODE! Next episode is episode 42 and it seems patrons on Patreon would like a detour to cover the meaning of life the universe and everything. So we shall be talking about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. You do not need to watch the film but if you felt like reading the book , listening to the original radio play, watching the TV series or indeed watching the film either as a new experience or to refresh your memory you absolutely can!
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| The Day the Earth Caught Fire: Britain's 1961 Apocalypse | 31 août 2025 | 00:55:27 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead!
If you'd like to join in on more conversations and keep up to date on what I'm working on you can follow me on social media: Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
After last episode's UK village setting we stay in the country but head to London for a newsroom apocalyptic drama. We have more hints that we are heading into the 60s with a surly hero and a sultry ex-Disney heroine.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire was finally released in 1961 after eight years of director Val Guest trying to get the film made. Perhaps the mid-50s Britian wasn't ready for this story although it would be interesting to see what kind of differences there would have been. (Val Guest was busy making The Quatermass Xperiment during that time!)
I welcome back two excellent guests to teach us more about this film.
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 Head of Collections and Principal Curator at the Science Museum in London and a science fiction scholar.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:17 1961: Anxiety, British Free Cinema & Angry Young Men 07:28 The CND and memories of the war 08:05 The highs and lows of Cli-Fi 13:16 The beginning of the end 15:47 Val Guest 18:43 Snappy dialogue or too much talk? 22:25 The newsroom 27:40 Arthur Christiansen 30:06 The surlier hero 34:47 Janet Munroe 37:05 Disney & breaking out of type 41:06 One foot firmly in the 60s 42:09 Ambiguous and alternate endings 46:39 Legacy 51:57 Recommendations
NEXT EPISODE! Next week we will be talking about the beautiful, half hour long, science fiction art film La Jetée (1962) that 12 Monkeys was based on. You can find the film on Apple, Amazon and also on YouTube but the version with English subtitles is not great quality. | |||
| Village of the Damned: Creepy Kids & the Cosy Catastrophe | 17 août 2025 | 00:55:27 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. If you want to support the podcast you can get ad free versions at Patreon. In 1956 the film The Bad Seed was a big hit for Warner Bros featuring a blond-haired evil child. One blond scary child sometimes isn't enough! Writer John Wyndham published The Midwich Cuckoos in 1957 which had already sold to MGM before he'd completed it. The film tells the story of a different kind of alien invasion. Midwich village is infested with pregnancies affecting the female population who all give birth to blonde haired and light eyed, rapidly growing, telepathic children (did I mention they were creepy?). Outsiders who will go to any length to keep their kind alive. I have two absolutely amazing guests who can tease apart some of the history and themes of this wonderful sci-fi horror. 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. Roger Luckhurst is a Professor at Birkbeck, University of London. He has written/edited numerous articles and books on cultural history and film.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:38 John Wyndham, The Midwich Cuckoos and MGM's British studios 04:22 Post War anxieties 07:10 Wyndham and pacifism 08:29 Feminism, forced birth and Wyndham's women 11:16 The life of George Sanders: a fabulous cad 18:50 The Cosy Catastrophe 21:38 The premise: terrifying telepathic toddlers 27:20 The evil child and the concept of innocence 31:42 The legacy of the evil child in cinema 35:59 Telepathy 41:47 Class and post war social mobility 47:25 Legacy and the John Carpenter remake 51:29 Recommendations for the listener
The telepathic couple Mark mentions are most likely the Piddingtons. When Mark says "Astounding" he is referring to the magazine Astounding Science Fiction where the editor was John W Campbell Jr. NEXT EPISODE! Next episode we will be talking about The Day the Earth Caught Fire from 1961. You can rent the film on Apple or Amazon in the US or on Amazon or BFI Player in the UK. The Just Watch website is a good option to find where films are available in your region.
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| The Silent Star: 1960 East German Sci-Fi & the Space Race | 03 août 2025 | 00:55:15 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! In 1951 Poland, during its Stalinist era, acclaimed science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem released his first book: The Astronauts. (He had already written the novel The Man from Mars which was serialised). In 1960 The Astronuats would go on to become the basis of East Germany's ambitious communist sci-fi film Der schweigende Stern or The Silent Star. The script would go through 12 drafts before filming by which time Lem had removed his name from the project. Although the script lacks focus it is full of historical and cultural significance and is a strong an indictment of why ideological control should not be asserted on the arts. The film is idealistic, looks great with some beautiful design and does not feature Christopher Nolan (link to Instagram post). I have two top notch academics to discuss the film. Sonja Fritzsche is a professor of German Studies and Senior Associate Dean at Michigan State University. She has also written/edited many books about science fiction. Evan Torner is an Associate Professor of German Studies and Niehoff Professor of Film & Media Studies at the University of Cincinnati.
Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:53 Post Metropolis German Sci-Fi 09:50 East German filmmaking in 1960: DEFA, Kurt Maetzig & Utopian futures 16:34 The Bitterfelder Weg programme: the working class in the arts 18:50 The Polish influence: Stanislaw Lem, ideological space & the Polish October 24:31 12 drafts of the scripts: Too many cooks 29:24 Influences: Forbidden Planet, Woman in the Moon and If All the Guys in the World 32:03 The communist ideal in spaaaace! 38:32 Visual delights: Box office draw and Nazi Agfacolor 45:11 The stolen US edit: First Spaceship on Venus 47:15 Legacy, language and recommendations
NEXT EPISODE! Back to Blighty for some good old fashioned evil children in Village of the Damned (1960). The film is easy to rent or buy on an array of streaming platforms including YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cujvDkHxFcg You can check the Just Watch website for details of where to find it in your region. | |||
| The Time Machine: HG Wells' Legacy in 1960s Sci-Fi | 19 juil. 2025 | 00:53:39 | |
As always there are spoilers ahead! You can follow the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. HG Wells shadow is a long one and his seminal work on time travel was published in 1895. But well over a half a century later Hollywood was still hooked on Herbert (George Wells). The Time Machine was directed by George Pal and released 1960. From the turn of the century to the beginning of a new decade my amazing guests break down the themes and influences on this mid-century steampunk precursor. 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 and 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 Intro 02:39 HG Wells in 1985: the book and the birth of cinema 05:37 1960s USA: the cusp of a new age 10:02 The influences on Wells: Thomas Henry Huxley and William Morris 17:21 James Bond: Rod Taylor's missed opportunity 19:08 Time travel: the time machine, mannequins and the BBC 27:57 The far-flung future: evolution, class and nuclear war 35:32 Fritz Lang, Metropolis, and the death of flower power 39:24 The Legacy 47:09 Recommendations for the listener
NEXT EPISODE! Next week I will be discussing the Eastern Block with brainy experts and discussing one of the first sci-fi films from the region Der schweigende Stern, AKA The Silent Star from 1960. It was also re-edited and released as The First Spaceship on Venus. You may like to watch the MST3K version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVmgb3jEimQ If you are in the USA and have a public library card you should be able to find the film on Kanopy: https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/116646 The film is available to rent online depending on your region. Just Watch should be able to help. If you felt very committed you could also buy this DVD collection of DEFA sci-fi which includes writing and interviews with the amazing Sonja Fritzsche, Evan Torner and Mark Bould: https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/strange-new-worlds-science-fiction-at-defa/
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| The Wasp Woman: Roger Corman's Corporate Queen | 06 juil. 2025 | 00:50:41 | |
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.
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| The Tingler: Vincent Price, William Castle & 1959 Ballyhoo | 22 juin 2025 | 00:55:20 | |
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! | |||
| Teenagers from Outer Space: Aliens, Ray Guns & Gargons, Oh My! | 08 juin 2025 | 00:53:26 | |
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. | |||
| On the Beach: Atomic Apocalypse in 1959 | 25 mai 2025 | 00:52:50 | |
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. | |||
| The World, the Flesh and the Devil: Harry Belafonte, Race and Apocalypse | 11 mai 2025 | 00:59:37 | |
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. | |||
| The Fabulous World of Jules Verne: Czechoslovakia, Steampunk and Zeman in 1958 | 26 avr. 2025 | 00:47:47 | |
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. | |||
| The Mysterians: 1957 Sci-Fi Space Invaders in Postwar Japan | 13 avr. 2025 | 00:54:50 | |
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. | |||
| I Married a Monster from Outer Space: Gender expectations in 1958 | 30 mars 2025 | 00:50:36 | |
You can find the podcast on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. 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 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. | |||
| The Blob, Steve McQueen and the Rising Teen | 15 mars 2025 | 00:52:46 | |
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. | |||
| McCarthyism vs Ed Murrow: History Daily | 09 mars 2025 | 00:18:59 | |
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. | |||
| Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space: The Worst Movie Ever? | 02 mars 2025 | 00:51:33 | |
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. | |||
| The Incredible Shrinking Man: 1950s Masculinity in Crisis | 16 févr. 2025 | 00:55:52 | |
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. | |||
| How Forbidden Planet Shaped Sci-Fi Cinema | 02 févr. 2025 | 00:53:19 | |
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. | |||
| Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Pod People & Paranoia Since 1956 | 19 janv. 2025 | 00:55:15 | |
As usual there are spoilers ahead! NEXT EPISODE! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Godzilla in 1954: Japan's Nuclear Nightmare and Sci-Fi Legacy | 05 janv. 2025 | 00:52:19 | |
As usual there are spoilers ahead! THE NEXT EPISODE! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||