by Ayesha Khan
<p>The Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever* podcast looks back at more than a century of films, beginning in 1902 and working towards the future. Each episode focuses on a film, director or theme and brings in experts to discuss the history, politics, and influences. Join sci-fi enthusiast Ayesha Khan as she travels through time and space, encounters aliens, and battles authoritarian regimes all from the comfort of your home planet. Released every two weeks<br><br></p><p>*Almost</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
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3/13/2024
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April 26, 2025
<p>If you would like to support the podcast and get ad free versions you can subscribe for $3 or £3 a month at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm</a></p><p> </p><p>You can follow the podcast on <a href="https://www.threads.net/@everyscififilm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Threads</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyscififilm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/everyscififilm.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile in Czechoslovakia Karel Zamen 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.</p><p> </p><p>The visual style is based on late 19th century etchings and illustrations of Verne’s novels which you can take a look at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyscififilm/p/DI6VHzlpjR8/?hl=en&img_index=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">on this Instagram post</a>.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>I spoke to two wonderful guests to understand the historical context and ongoing influence of the film.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>Mary Heimann is Professor of Modern History at Cardiff University. She is also the author of the book Czechoslovakia: The State that Failed.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 Introduction to the show and Karel Zamen</p><p>03:51 Post War Czechoslovakia</p><p>06:52 A Christmas Dream and Hermina Týrlová</p><p>07:25 Global animation after World War 2</p><p>10:48 Journey to the Beginning of Time</p><p>12:47 Why haven’t I heard of this film*?</p><p>15:37 Science Fiction in Czechoslovakia</p><p>18:27 Steampunk!</p><p>23:08 Thomas’ experience of the film</p><p>24:58 The Czech perspective</p><p>26:12 The Czech New Wave and the Prague Spring</p><p>30:58 Milos Foreman and filmmakers in exile</p><p>32:19 The messaging and nature of the film</p><p>35:56 Legacy</p><p>41:41 Recommendations for the listener</p><p>44:44 Ads and subscription details</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>NEXT EPISODE!</strong></p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>*Possibly because I am stupid.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
April 13, 2025
<p>You can find the podcast on <a href="https://www.threads.net/@everyscififilm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Threads</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/everyscififilm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/everyscififilm.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a>. </p><br><p>In 1992 Ishiro Honda sat down for his <a href="https://www.tohokingdom.com/blog/ishiro-honda-his-final-interview/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">final interview</a> 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.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>I have two wonderful experts to help shed light on the context of this trope laden sci-fi classic.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>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.</p><p> </p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:00 Introduction</p><p>01:56 Japanese Golden Age of Cinema: censorship, art vs big budget & the USA</p><p>08:47 Pacifism and militarism</p><p>14:04 Toho studios</p><p>15:36 Glorious colour, Toho-scope and cinema culture</p><p>19:57 Tradition, science and military might</p><p>27:55 Taking our women: occupation, war & marketing</p><p>36:55 Message of collaboration</p><p>39:50 The US market</p><p>44:51Battle of the Planets</p><p>45:55 Shout outs: Akira Ifukube and Eiji Tsuburaya</p><p>48:10 Legacy and Recommendations</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NEXT EPISODE!</p><p>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.</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
March 30, 2025
<p>You can find the podcast on <a href='https://www.threads.net/@everyscififilm'>Threads</a>, <a href='https://www.instagram.com/everyscififilm'>Instagram</a> and <a href='https://bsky.app/profile/everyscififilm.bsky.social'>Bluesky</a>. <br/><br/>I Married a Monster from Outer Space was released as part of a double bill (with The Blob) in 1958. The story focuses on newlywed couple Marge and Bill Farrell but unbeknownst to his new bride and the whole town Bill has been replaced by an alien on the eve of their wedding. <br/><br/>Themes of marriage, resentments and gendered expectations are as rife as can be expected in the 1950s. We have two insightful experts help shine a light on these themes. </p><p><b>The Experts </b></p><p>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. </p><p>Sherryl Vint is Professor of Science Fiction Media Studies at the University of California, Riverside. She has written/edited many books about science fiction. </p><p><b>Chapters </b></p><p>00:00 Introduction </p><p>01:58 Science fiction golden age and the marriage melodrama </p><p>05:27 The female led sci-fi film and Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique </p><p>08:40 Patriarchal expectations of 1950s men </p><p>13:24 Changes in post war America </p><p>16:33 The Hays production code and the scandalous double bed </p><p>21:19 The Alien: looking good and learning to love </p><p>26:14 Marge’s dilemma</p><p>30:42 Romantic, sexual and gendered anxiety </p><p>39:20 Devil Girl from Mars: Aliens are coming to take our men! </p><p>41:36 Legacy </p><p>45:59 Recommendations for the listeners</p><p><br/><b>NEXT EPISODE! </b></p><p>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. </p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
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