1950s Science Fiction
Often today's movies rely on eye candy of special effects. It’s what people are used to. Give them something that’s convincing or real. Never mind the story. Don’t bother with the heart of the story.
There's the computers to make the special effects. There's the blue screen that actors can react to. But the effects start to take over. People are so worried about the majestic quality of special effects that they forgot the backbone of the film: the writing. The sweat of hard work.
There’s a time when there were no computers to help out the whiz kids. No gadgets to whip up an effect. No easy way out.
During the cold war era, Eisenhauer and drive-in restaurants, there weren't many forays into the science fiction realm. Most of them were B-budget movies of bug-eyed creatures and giant tarantulas.
Yet two films remain icons of today’s exploration into S-F. They're the genesis of the 1950s “scare” era. They leave you numbed because you are thinking about the story. And special effects take the back seat role.
Yet landscape of effects are a gem: the architecture of special effects pushed these films to the furthest edge. Taking movie-goers to a world of brilliant fiction. And the films still rival with today’s films.
“Forbidden Planet” was an epic of its time. The sure-fire beauty of its special effects are evened out with the story inspired by Shakespeare's The Temptest. Take a look at this film and it’s hard to believe it was made in the 1950s.
The bold interior of alien design on the planet is still unsettling. Like some Lovecraftian tunnel reaching downward, plunging deeper into its abyss. Just like the story revolving around Walter Pigdeon’s character--how his unconsciousness controlled the walking nightmares.
Listen to the throbbing heartbeat of the approaching invisible monster. I dare you to listen to it while you’re alone at your house--its wretched pulse prompted by the alien wailing. It produces something eerie. “The Forbidden Planet” was able to turn a story around on horror while using special effects that made sense. They added to the story. Never distracted from it.
How influential was “The Forbidden Planet”? Just watch the excellent Doctor Who episode “Planet of Evil” with Tom Baker which draws from the best qualities of the 1950s film. The episode of Johnny Quest “The Invisible Monster” takes its cue from this masterful film.
There’s no getting away from “The Forbidden Planet.” It has left a haunting landmark in the S-F field when the notion of loneliness seemed to be the most prevalent thing. It continues to be a very human story.
Another icon from the 1950s is “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Despite being filmed in graceful black and white, it has a haunting quality. It’s a jarring style that anchors the viewer right away to an alien’s dilemma. He brings to earth a message of peace--to stop humanity from going down the path of self-destruction. It’s a forewarning of things to come.
“Day the Earth Stood Still” is a classic example of best science-fiction. The special effects are never overwhelming. They continue to compliment the story. And the story is a very basic one. Where a mother and son befriends this very alien Klaatu who assumed a false identity to try living as a human. All the while people hunt him down like he is a caged animal.
There are always moments of calmness. And subtlety. The film manages to compare favorably with today’s standards. Not an easy feat. It’s the human story that wins over the viewer. And the special effects continue to mesmerize--especially when time literally stops for everyone. The alien Klaatu forces the human race to realize their own foolishness with their violent ways.
This film has a smart message to it. And it helps people to understand their own failings. Soon to become better for it.
Remember the magic words are Klaatu birada nikto.
There's the computers to make the special effects. There's the blue screen that actors can react to. But the effects start to take over. People are so worried about the majestic quality of special effects that they forgot the backbone of the film: the writing. The sweat of hard work.
There’s a time when there were no computers to help out the whiz kids. No gadgets to whip up an effect. No easy way out.
During the cold war era, Eisenhauer and drive-in restaurants, there weren't many forays into the science fiction realm. Most of them were B-budget movies of bug-eyed creatures and giant tarantulas.
Yet two films remain icons of today’s exploration into S-F. They're the genesis of the 1950s “scare” era. They leave you numbed because you are thinking about the story. And special effects take the back seat role.
Yet landscape of effects are a gem: the architecture of special effects pushed these films to the furthest edge. Taking movie-goers to a world of brilliant fiction. And the films still rival with today’s films.
“Forbidden Planet” was an epic of its time. The sure-fire beauty of its special effects are evened out with the story inspired by Shakespeare's The Temptest. Take a look at this film and it’s hard to believe it was made in the 1950s.
The bold interior of alien design on the planet is still unsettling. Like some Lovecraftian tunnel reaching downward, plunging deeper into its abyss. Just like the story revolving around Walter Pigdeon’s character--how his unconsciousness controlled the walking nightmares.
Listen to the throbbing heartbeat of the approaching invisible monster. I dare you to listen to it while you’re alone at your house--its wretched pulse prompted by the alien wailing. It produces something eerie. “The Forbidden Planet” was able to turn a story around on horror while using special effects that made sense. They added to the story. Never distracted from it.
How influential was “The Forbidden Planet”? Just watch the excellent Doctor Who episode “Planet of Evil” with Tom Baker which draws from the best qualities of the 1950s film. The episode of Johnny Quest “The Invisible Monster” takes its cue from this masterful film.
There’s no getting away from “The Forbidden Planet.” It has left a haunting landmark in the S-F field when the notion of loneliness seemed to be the most prevalent thing. It continues to be a very human story.
Another icon from the 1950s is “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” Despite being filmed in graceful black and white, it has a haunting quality. It’s a jarring style that anchors the viewer right away to an alien’s dilemma. He brings to earth a message of peace--to stop humanity from going down the path of self-destruction. It’s a forewarning of things to come.
“Day the Earth Stood Still” is a classic example of best science-fiction. The special effects are never overwhelming. They continue to compliment the story. And the story is a very basic one. Where a mother and son befriends this very alien Klaatu who assumed a false identity to try living as a human. All the while people hunt him down like he is a caged animal.
There are always moments of calmness. And subtlety. The film manages to compare favorably with today’s standards. Not an easy feat. It’s the human story that wins over the viewer. And the special effects continue to mesmerize--especially when time literally stops for everyone. The alien Klaatu forces the human race to realize their own foolishness with their violent ways.
This film has a smart message to it. And it helps people to understand their own failings. Soon to become better for it.
Remember the magic words are Klaatu birada nikto.
posted by K.M. Paters at 8:33 PM
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