“I think that science fiction, even the corniest of it, even the most outlandish of it, no matter how badly it’s written, has a distinct therapeutic value because all of it has as its primary postulate that the world does change.” — Robert A. Heinlein
I am not sure how they got first on my feed, but Youtube has been presenting me with a bunch of old 1950’s and 1960’s Science Fiction movies, and I’ve been watching several of them. There are some true cinematic classics from this time period and some truly ground breaking stories and movies. Those are not the movies I am covering today. For the movies I am talking about, the Heinlein quote above is very apt. Most of these movies are corny, outlandish AND badly written, but they are still a lot of fun, and maybe best of all, they are free to watch.
If you are at all interested in Science Fiction, and if you are reading this, you probably are, then I suggest you take some time to watch a few of these old gems. Well, maybe not gems, maybe turds, but there are a few diamonds in the crap out there. Even the bad ones are entertaining in their own way. Sometimes it’s the over the top messaging. Sometimes it’s the bad special effects. Sometimes it’s the bad acting. Sometimes they are more fun to make fun of than they are to watch.
But they are our history. They give us insights into a time when nuclear annihilation was a very real possibility in people’s minds. A time when ‘communists’ were feared. A time when you just didn’t come out and directly criticize what was happening in the government and in the world, but you could provide metaphors and alternatives in the ‘make believe’ world of science fiction.
The 27th Day is a 1957 movie where five seemingly random people from all over the world are kidnapped by aliens and each one is given three devices that could each wipe out all humanity within a 3,000 mile diameter without affecting any other life on the planet. The alien tells them that their own world is dying and that they need a new world. Their morality prevents them from invading Earth, and if humanity can avoid destroying themselves with the devices, then they will move on and leave the Earth alone. If humanity is destroyed, then they will colonize the now humanity free planet. Can humanity overcome their need to destroy their enemies? Can the free world use their own devices in time before the Soviets use theirs?
The Cosmic Man is a 1959 movie about a strange spherical object found floating in the canyon outside of a small town. It seems to be of extra-terrestrial origin. Is it a space craft? Are there aliens in the ship? If so, what are they here for? Can the military find the secrets of the alien technology? Can the scientists establish communications? Are they friendly? Are they invaders? This one is a little higher quality and has message of science and scientists being more rational than the military, and perhaps the general public. Curiosity being more important than fear. One (approximate) quote that perhaps sums up the movie: “It seems to be a common problem these days that everybody is afraid of scientists…They’re not afraid of what scientists know, they’re afraid of what they themselves don’t know.” It’s not great, but it does have John Carradine, even if he is mostly invisible.
Beyond The Time Barrier is a 1960 movie where an air force pilot is testing an experimental rocket plane that takes him to the edges of space. The flight seems to go well, but when he lands, the air force base is in ruins and there is no one around. He sees a futuristic citadel in the distance and makes his way there. He finds that a plague has rendered most of humanity horrible mutants and the rest, with a very few exceptions, sterile deaf mutes. The Citadel is a dystopian world run by a military leader. He meets the beautiful psychic deaf mute daughter of one of the leaders, and learns the secret of how he traveled to the future and what caused the plague that is destined to wipe out humanity. Can he find a way to return to his own time or should he stay here with the beautiful girl he loves?
The Phantom Planet is a 1961 movie where several space ships on patrol from the moon base have gone missing after encountering a wandering asteroid. They decide to send their best astronaut, Captain Frank Chapman, to investigate. Chapman is able to land safely on the asteroid where he finds a race of miniature humans who are both more advanced technologically and more primitive in their day to day life. When he finds himself shrunk to their size, he has to find a way to escape the phantom planet and to help them to fight their war with the evil and monstrous Solarites.
Journey to the Center of Time is a 1967 movie about a research group trying to perfect a way to look into the future. When things go wrong, they are catapulted 5000 years into the future where they encounter aliens trying to defend themselves from attack in a human war. Trying to escape impending destruction, they ricochet back a million years into the past. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this movie was a young Lyle Waggoner (aka Lyle Waggner) with a bit part as one of the aliens.
None of these movies is great art. You’re not likely to be asked about them and your opinion on any of them at a cocktail party or even with a group of film buffs. Still, it’s worth it to take a trip into the past from time to time and think about what life was like for the folks who were the intended audience. Maybe your parents, maybe your grandparents and maybe even earlier.
Our world today is not that different than it was then. There are still concerns of war and nationalism. There is still fear and misunderstanding of science. There are still risks of dystopian autocratic leaders who would push their will on humanity. But remember that primary postulate… The world does change.
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