INTO SPACE - NEW EBOOK

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta

Volume 2:

"INTO SPACE"

In this post I’d like to offer the reader another FREE volume from the “Sci-Fi Film Fiesta” eBook series. This second volume is titled, “INTO SPACE” and contains some individual classic films from the golden age of science fiction of the 1950s. These films feature imaginative presentations of humanity’s tentative and often dangerous steps into the great unknown realm of outer space. Let’s hope we never forget that space is in fact an extremely dangerous, unforgiving and potentially lethal place for human beings to be working and living in. If we become complacent and lose respect for the environment of space for which we are unsuited, it can and will kill us.

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Keep an eye open for Volume 3: “Other Worlds”




©Chris Christopoulos 2022

HERE BE MONSTERS - NEW EBOOK

Sci-Fi Film Fiesta

VOLUME 1:

“HERE BE MONSTERS”

By Chris Christopoulos 2022

The Sci-Fi Film Fiesta blog is being turned into an eBook series featuring science fiction film classics from the 1950s. 

The series will consist of several volumes each featuring particular films consisting of a different theme, genre or aspect of that decade's science fiction film offerings.

 Here, we'll begin with Volume 1, "Here Be Monsters"- Movies featuring classic monsters including of course, monsters of our own making.

This volume is part of a series intended (as in the case of this blog) as a salute to the pioneering work of science fiction film makers from the ‘golden age’ of science fiction films of the 1950s. 

The films in this volume feature monsters that stand as metaphors for the fears of the time when people had genuine concerns about atomic power and the atom bomb’s potential for the first time in human history to bring about the end of human civilization. For instance, in the case of Godzilla (1954) the film is an allegory for the destruction and devastation unleashed on Japan by the atomic bomb, with the 400-foot-tall mutant dinosaur Gojira, serving as the visual metaphor. Such monsters represent forces of nature awakened by human science that once brought into being cannot be controlled.

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Chris Christopoulos 2022

Outland (1981)

A tense, moody, atmospheric, dark and claustrophobic film with excellent cinematography and brisk pacing accompanied by a rousing and suspenseful musical score.

Directed by Peter Hyams
Written by Peter Hyams
Produced by Richard A. Roth, Stanley O'Toole
Cinematography: Stephen Goldblatt
Edited by Stuart Baird
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production company: The Ladd Company
Distributed by Warner Bros. (through Columbia-EMI-Warner Distributors)
Running time: 109 minutes
Budget: $18 million (approx)
Box office: $17–20 million

Cast

Sean Connery as Marshal William T. O'Niel
Peter Boyle as Mark Sheppard
Frances Sternhagen as Dr. Marian Lazarus
James Sikking as Sergeant Montone
Kika Markham as Carol O'Niel
Nicholas Barnes as Paul O´Niel
Clarke Peters as Sergeant Ballard
Steven Berkoff as Sagan
John Ratzenberger as Tarlow
Bill Bailey as Hill
James Berwick as Rudd
Norman Chancer as Officer Slater
Stuart Milligan as Officer Walters
Hal Galili as Officer Nelson
Anni Domingo as Officer Morton
Manning Redwood as Officer Lowell
Angus MacInnes as Hughes
Eugene Lipinski as Cane
Pat Starr as Flo Spector
Sharon Duce as Prostitute Attacked By Sagan
Marc Boyle as Nicholas Spota
Richard Hammatt as Russel Yario
P. H. Moriarty as Hitman #1
Angelique Rockas as Maintenance Woman
Doug Robinson as Hitman #2

Titanium ore mining outpost Con-Am 27, operated by Con-Amalgamate on the Jovian moon of Io.

Federal Marshal William O'Niel is assigned to a tour of duty at the mining colony.

Miners begin dying while suffering psychotic episodes.

Illegal selling of amphetamines takes place to increase productivity and bonuses.

Marshal O’Niel refuses to look the other way.

The new marshal now has a target on his back.

Trailer

Read on for more......

Ikarie XB 1 (1963) / “Voyage To The End Of The Universe”

Ikarie XB 1 is an overlooked compelling science fiction film that was ahead of it's time and which focuses on complex human drama instead of cheap sci-fi razzamatazz

Directed by Jindřich Polák
Screenplay by Pavel Juráček, Jindřich Polák
Based on “The Magellanic Cloud” by Stanislaw Lem
Cinematography: Jan Kališ
Edited by Josef Dobřichovský
Music by Zdeněk Liška
Production company: Filmové Studio Barrandov
Distributed by: Ústřední půjčovna filmů, American International Pictures (USA
Release dates: July 26, 1963 (Czechoslovakia); September 1964 (US)
Running time: 86 minutes
Country: Czechoslovakia
Language: Czech

Cast

Zdenek Stepánek: Captain Vladimir Abajev
Frantisek Smolík: Anthony Hopkins - mathematician
Dana Medrická: Nina Kirova - sociologist
Irena Kacírková: Brigitta
Radovan Lukavský: Commander MacDonald
Otto Lackovic: Michal (coordinator)
Miroslav Machácek: Marcel Bernard
Jirí Vrstála: Erik Svenson (pilot)
Rudolf Deyl: Ervin Herold (pilot)
Jaroslav Mares: Milek Wertbowsky
Martin Tapák: Petr Kubes (biologist)
Marcela Martínková: Steffa (Wertbowsky's wife)
Jozef Adamovic: Zdenek Lorenc (coordinator)
Jaroslav Rozsíval (The Ship's Doctor)
Ruzena Urbanova: Eva (historian)
Svatava Hubenáková: Rena (MacDonald's wife)
Jan Cmíral: (crew member)
Vjaceslav Irmanov : (Coordinator)
Marcela Batková: Clenka posádky
Karel Duba: (crew member)
Miroslav Abrahám: (crew member)
Nadezda Blazícková: Danseuse
Zdenek Jelínek: Pianist
Bohumil Klika: Danseur
Jan S. Kolár : Dead man
Vera Kresadlová: crew member
Alena Martinovská : Danseuse
Ladislav Mrkvicka: Romeo in movie
Vladimír Navrátil: coordinator
Olga Navrátilová: crew member
Marie Popelková: dead women
Hana Prazanová: Julie in movie
Olga Schoberová: crew member
Gustav Vobornik: crew member

Trailer

Year: 2163

Starship Ikarus XB 1: a giant spaceship carrying 40 people to Alpha Centauri.

Mission: the mysterious "White Planet" orbiting the star Alpha Centauri & search for signs of life.

Duration: 28 months at near light speed (15 years time elapse on earth due to relativity effects)

Adjusting to life in space.

Encountering a derelict 20th century nuclear armed spaceship.

A radioactive dark star.

Malfunctioning computers.

Tensions among crew and passengers.

A crew member’s mental breakdown threatening the entire mission.

These are the hazards & dangers to be faced by the passengers and crew of…….

Icarus XB 1

as they

Voyage To The End Of The Universe!!

(Read on for more.....)

Capricorn One (1977)

A great sci-fi political thriller reflecting the increasingly prevalent cynicism of the 1970s through to the present day

Directed by Peter Hyams
Written by Peter Hyams
Produced by Paul N. Lazarus III
Cinematography: Bill Butler
Edited by James Mitchell
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production company: ITC Entertainment
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Running time: 124 minutes
Budget: $5 million (approx.)
Box office: $12 million (US and Canada rental)

Cast

Elliott Gould as Robert Caulfield
James Brolin as Charles Brubaker
Brenda Vaccaro as Kay Brubaker
Sam Waterston as Peter Willis
O. J. Simpson as John Walker
Hal Holbrook as Dr. James Kelloway
Karen Black as Judy Drinkwater
Telly Savalas as Albain
David Huddleston as Hollis Peaker
David Doyle as Walter Loughlin
Lee Bryant as Sharon Willis
Denise Nicholas as Betty Walker
Robert Walden as Elliot Whitter
Alan Fudge as Capsule Communicator

Trailer

“Capricorn One,” NASA's first manned mission to Mars.

Seconds before the launch, the crew is pulled from the capsule!

The rocket leaves earth unmanned!

The life support system is faulty!

NASA fears the publicity of a scratched mission!

An unthinkable plot is hatched!

An investigative reporter puts pieces together of an unthinkable mystery involving..

Humanity’s greatest achievement

OR

Its greatest....

Hoax?

Read on for more.....

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

This sci-fi thriller cleverly builds tension throughout a well-structured plot. It contains wonderful set designs and the actors deliver intelligent and credible performances. A film that stands the test of time.

Directed by Robert Wise
Screenplay by Nelson Gidding
Story by Nelson Gidding, Robert Wise
Based on The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
Produced by Robert Wise
Cinematography: Richard H. Kline
Edited by Stuart Gilmore, John W. Holmes
Music by Gil Mellé
Production company: Universal Pictures
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Running time: 130 minutes
Budget: $6.5 million
Box office: $12.4 million

Cast

Arthur Hill as Dr. Jeremy Stone
James Olson as Dr. Mark Hall
David Wayne as Dr. Charles Dutton
Kate Reid as Dr. Ruth Leavitt
Paula Kelly as Karen Anson (nurse, laboratory technician)
George Mitchell as Mr. Peter Jackson (Piedmont)
Mark Jenkins as Lt. Shawn (Piedmont Team)
Peter Helm as Sgt. Crane (Piedmont Team)
Joe Di Reda as Sgt. Burk (Wildfire Computer Technician)
Ramon Bieri as Major Arthur Manchek (Scoop Mission Control)
Carl Reindel as Lt. Comroe (Scoop Mission Control)
Frances Reid as Clara Dutton
Peter Hobbs as General Sparks
Kermit Murdock as Dr. Robertson (White House Science Advisor)
Richard O'Brien (II) as Grimes
Eric Christmas as Senator Phillips (Vermont)
Ken Swofford as Toby (Technician)
John Carter as Capt. Morton (military police)
Richard Bull as Air Force Major
James W. Gavin as Dempsey (helicopter pilot)
Garry Walberg as a scientist
Emory Parnell as Pete "Old Doughboy" Arnold
Georgia Schmidt as Old Lady (Piedmont)
Victoria Paige Meyerink as Additional Character
Don Messick as Alarm Voice
Michael Crichton: non-speaking cameo appearance during the scene where Dr. Hall is told to break scrub, because he has to report to the Wildfire research facility.

Why have nearly all of the residents of Piedmont, New Mexico suddenly died?

What is ‘Project Scoop?’

What does it have to do with the deaths of Piedmont’s citizens?

Why have a team of scientists been recruited?

What is the role of the top secret sealed and secure ‘Wildfire’ facility?

What is….. ‘Andromeda?’

Trailer

Read on for more.....

12 to the Moon (1960)

A somewhat laughably entertaining sci-fi film with ordinary special effects, acting and direction while a variety of plot devices at least keeps the action going.

Directed by David Bradley
Written by Fred Gebhardt, DeWitt Boden
Produced by Fred Gebhardt
Cinematography: John Alton
Edited by Edward Mann
Music by Michael Andersen
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Running time: 74 minutes
Budget: $150,000

Cast

Ken Clark as Capt. John Anderson
Michi Kobi as Dr. Hideko Murata
Tom Conway as Dr. Feodor Orloff
Anthony Dexter as Dr. Luis Vargas
John Wengraf as Dr. Erich Heinrich
Robert Montgomery Jr. as Dr. Rod Murdock
Phillip Baird as Dr. William Rochester
Richard Weber as Dr. David Ruskin
Muzaffer Tema as Dr. Selim Hamid (as Tema Bey)
Roger Til as Dr. Etienne Martel
Cory Devlin as Dr. Asmara Markonen
Anna-Lisa as Dr. Sigrid Bomark
Francis X. Bushman as Secretary General of the International Space Order

Trailer

(Spoilers follow below.....)

“Hello the world”

12 To The Moon opens with shots of the launch of a rocket and rocket plane missiles from different cities around the world. Suddenly a gavel bangs down before we cut to the title and credits.

Any self-respecting science fiction movie from that era and beyond would as expected begin with a serious and authoritative-sounding narration either admonishing humankind for its careless disregard of itself and its planet or extolling the virtues of human technological progress and the necessity of exploring the unknown. In the film, the Secretary General of the International Space Order delivers the latter type of narration as he begins to explain that a program to launch a rocket to the moon is presently underway:

“I am speaking for the International Space Order in the first worldwide radio and telecast in history. At this moment over two billion people in every part of the world are focusing their attention on this program. Every nation of the earth in a magnificent effort is contributing of its people and resources in an attempt to reach the moon and proclaim it international territory. The rocket ship Lunar Eagle Number One represents the culminating achievement of the world's leading scientists. The men and women who will fly her have been hand-picked from the world's leading specialists.”

Read on for more......