History of Sci-fi Films

BY HAYLEY DARAGON 20/09/15

1920’sTitle: MetropolisDirector: Fritz LangPlot: This influential German science-fiction film presents a highly stylized futuristic city where a beautiful and cultured utopia exists above a bleak underworld populated by mistreated workers. When the privileged youth Freder (Gustav Fröhlich) discovers the grim scene under the city, he becomes intent on helping the workers. He befriends the rebellious teacher Maria (Brigitte Helm), but this puts him at odds with his authoritative father, leading to greater conflict.Release: 1927

1930’sTitle: The Invisible ManDirector: James WhalePlot: While researching a new drug, Dr. Jack Griffin (Claude Rains) stumbles on a potion that can make him invisible. When he reveals his new ability to his old mentor (Henry Travers) and his fiancée (Gloria Stuart), it's clear that a side effect of the potion is insanity. Jack goes on a violent rampage, and the police struggle to hunt him down, unable to see their target, while his mentor and his former partner (William Harrigan) desperately try to devise a plan to capture him.Release: 1933

1940’sTitle: The Lady and the MonsterDirector: George ShermanPlot: A scientist (Erich von Stroheim) and his two assistants (Vera Hruba Ralston, Richard Arlen) keep a dead criminal's brain alive.Release: 1944

1950’sTitle: Godzilla, King of the Monsters!Director: Ishiro Honda & Terry O MorsePlot: A U.S. newsman (Raymond Burr) in Tokyo recounts the story of a huge dinosaur roused from the sea by an atomic blast.Release: 1956

1960’sTitle: Queen of BloodDirector: Curtis HarringtonPlot: Astronauts (John Saxon, Basil Rathbone, Judi Meredith) go to Mars and return with a green vampire woman.Release: 1966

1970’sTitle: Beware! The BlobDirector: Larry HagmanPlot: Small-town teens (Robert Walker, Gwynne Gilford) fight defrosted arctic ooze.Release: 1972

1980’sTitle: The Twilight ZoneDirector: John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, George MillerPlot: This tribute to the beloved supernatural TV show has four episodes. In the first, racist Bill Connor (Vic Morrow) is transformed into a Jew in World War II. Next, Mr. Bloom (Scatman Crothers) comes to a retirement home to teach the residents that they are only as young as they feel. In the third, teacher Helen Foley (Kathleen Quinlan) meets Antony (Jeremy Licht), a boy who is not what he seems. Finally, panicky plane passenger John Valentine (John Lithgow) sees gremlins attacking his flight.Release: 1982

1990’sTitle: Gremlins 2 : The New BatchDirector: Joe Dante, Chuck JonesPlot: The magical collectibles store that Gizmo calls home has just been destroyed, and the tiny monster finds his way into a newly erected skyscraper. Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and his bride-to-be, Kate (Phoebe Cates), who have previously dealt with Gremlins run amok, discover that Gizmo and an impish legion of reptilian pals are inhabiting the downtown building. The couple tries to stop the creatures from escaping into New York City, but this new batch of beasts might be uncontrollable.Release: 1990

2000’sTitle: WALL-EDirector: Andrew StantonPlot: WALL-E, short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-class, is the last robot left on Earth. He spends his days tidying up the planet, one piece of garbage at a time. But during 700 years, WALL-E has developed a personality, and he's more than a little lonely. Then he spots EVE (Elissa Knight), a sleek and shapely probe sent back to Earth on a scanning mission. Smitten WALL-E embarks on his greatest adventure yet when he follows EVE across the galaxy.Release: 2008

2010’sTitle: The Hunger GamesDirector: Gary RossPlot: In what was once North America, the Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl, called Tributes, to compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the youths fight to the death until only one remains. District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has little to rely on, other than her hunting skills and sharp instincts, in an arena where she must weigh survival against love.Release: 2012