The old school sci-fi recommendation thread

terragong · Post by **terragong** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:48 pm

well here and there this radio station fits as a soundtrak to the movies...

http://www.beyondthebeatgeneration.com/
enjoy

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:09 am

ok, i can't read all of the other things so sorry if this is a repeat, but...

The "nine billion names of god" is a great short story. Any anthology that contains it is worth picking up. "The Machine Stops" is another one. Any Ray Bradbury is good, particularly the Mars-related ones.

Kurt Vonnegut short stories, very good, sirens of titan.

I had so many of these books, sold them for, like $10 to a friend in high school, but they were great.

diverdee · Post by **diverdee** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:50 pm

Not as old, but seen as mention has been made of Ray Bradbury.
The Martian Chronicles from 1980, UK TV mini Series.
Dated, definitely, but worth a watch maybe.
Keep those old classics coming, i've got nostalgic shivers racing up & down my spine thinking about watching some of those old 50's classics.

paradiddle · Post by **paradiddle** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:13 am

Don't know if you'll read this oblique but I just saw Quatermass and the pit 2 days ago. That movie is awesome. I've seen quite a few 50s sci-fi and that movie is way beyond anything for that time.

oblique strategies wrote:
paradiddle wrote:I know there are some other quatermass movies did you see them? Seems also that they made some new tv series or so. Too bad I don't get much BBC stuff over in quebec. Perhaps through satellite but I can't afford it.
I have seen some of the other Quatermass films:
'The Quatermass Xperiment' aka 'The Creeping Unknown' (1955) The first of the films. Good spooky stuff. The plot of a mutating astronaut was copied by a number of subsequent films. Similar to 'Quatermas & The Pit', this started as a TV telecast, & was later made into a feature film.

The next film was titled 'Quatermass II' aka 'Enemy From Space' (1956). I recall finding this one intriguing. Looks like this one was remade in 2005.

Next the afore mentioned 'Quatermas & The Pit' aka 'Five Million Years To Earth'.

Then 'The Quatermas Conclusion' (1979), which I have not seen.

Catch 'em if you can.

paradiddle wrote:I like the Inoshiro Honda stuff too (real name Ishiro). Some classic stuff to see there. Very funny too with the Godzilla stuff. The 1st one in black and white was really good. Sort of social statement on the Nuclear bombings.

Pat
I was really surprised when I saw the Japanese version of the first 'Godzilla' film -it was scary! The evolution of the Godzilla character is sort of classic in that it parallels the arc of what is frightening to a society as it changes through time. Godzilla starts out scary, becomes less so, until he is made into a figure of humour. Have you seen the Godzilla movie where he has a baby Godzilla son? Whoa, that's some goofy stuff!

This is the classic cycle we see repeated in history. For example, in the 1930's Universal Studios unleashed Frankenstein upon an unsuspecting world & it hit like a bomb. It was a sensation, just like 'The Exorcist' was in 1973. Then over the course of the next two decades it lost its power until it was reduced it to a source of humour with 'Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein' (1948). This film was also released by Universal, & included their other biggest monsters: Dracula & The Wolfman. So, what was once a source of fear became a source of amusement.

The next wave of genuine fear was to be found in the very films that began this thread: the 1950's sci-fi & monster movies.

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:57 am

paradiddle wrote:Don't know if you'll read this oblique but I just saw Quatermass and the pit 2 days ago. That movie is awesome. I've seen quite a few 50s sci-fi and that movie is way beyond anything for that time.

Isn't it great?!

Did you see the TV mini-series from the late 50's, or the feature film version from 1967?

I remember the first time I saw the feature film version, I was fortunate enough to see it in the theatre on the big screen. It was mind boggling! So creative, intelligent, & epic. Glad you got to see it -whichever version! Now your chore it to see the version that you didn't see to compare them.

JEpic · Post by **JEpic** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:37 am

This is the greatest thread ever... I'm going to watch all these movies.

I love to buy the cheap 50 DVDs for $20 packs they sell at best buy and stuff. I can't think of any titles right now but theres a ton really strange old scifi movies in those sets, I'll have to go through them again.

Some one should start another thread for classic film noir, another awesome genre.

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:12 am

OK, a few more tid bits from the Vault...

The Brain From Planet Arous (1957)
Rival giant floating brains, the evil Gor & the good Vol, battle over the fate of the earth! Gor possesses John Agar, & makes him shoot down a plane with his shiny new eyes!

What's really fun about this movie is John Agar's performance. When possessed by Gor he just takes so much pleasure in being bad. Reminds me of the movie 'The Hidden', where the evil alien just wants to raise hell.

This just may be the ultimate John Agar movie! Bonus: it also stars my godmother Joyce Meadows

John Agar ponders grabbing that axe, & giving Gor 40 whacks!

While we're dishing up brains...
The Brain Eaters (1958), directed by rotund character actor Bruno VeSota (of 'Attack Of The Giant Leeches' fame)
Odd, low budget movie. Amateurish in all the right ways. Sometimes really mundane, other times quite eerie. Unofficial filming of Robert A. Heinlein's 'The Puppet Masters'.

Fun cast, including the familiar Ed Nelson, & an unrecognizable (except for his voice) cameo by Leonard -Mr. Spock- Nimoy at the end.

There is another really great brian movie out there... Who's going to bring it up?

paradiddle · Post by **paradiddle** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:10 pm

It's the 1967 movie. Not the 50s serial. Really good sci-fi. The background sounds in the end are so cool too and that big 3d alien in the sky makes the whole thing creepy.

oblique strategies wrote:
paradiddle wrote:Don't know if you'll read this oblique but I just saw Quatermass and the pit 2 days ago. That movie is awesome. I've seen quite a few 50s sci-fi and that movie is way beyond anything for that time.
Isn't it great?! Did you see the TV mini-series from the late 50's, or the feature film version from 1967?

I remember the first time I saw the feature film version, I was fortunate enough to see it in the theatre on the big screen. It was mind boggling! So creative, intelligent, & epic. Glad you got to see it -whichever version! Now your chore it to see the version that you didn't see to compare them.

oblique strategies · Post by **oblique strategies** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:24 pm

paradiddle wrote:It's the 1967 movie. Not the 50s serial. Really good sci-fi. The background sounds in the end are so cool too and that big 3d alien in the sky makes the whole thing creepy.

oblique strategies wrote:
paradiddle wrote:Don't know if you'll read this oblique but I just saw Quatermass and the pit 2 days ago. That movie is awesome. I've seen quite a few 50s sci-fi and that movie is way beyond anything for that time.
Isn't it great?! Did you see the TV mini-series from the late 50's, or the feature film version from 1967?

Really glad you mentioned the sounds at the end, they are so good -some of my very favorite film sounds. In fact, it was sounds like these that really started me off in electronic & sound based music. I was always intrigued by scenes in these films that took place in the mad scientists lab with all the various machines & devices starting up & adding their sound to the mix.

Another sci-fi flick that also has incredible mad scientist sound design is David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of 'The Fly'. The sounds of the teleportation sequences, & those pod doors opening up are so perfect. Excellent sound work, & a great film too.

Oh, & that giant amorphous alien? Definitely creepy action!

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:37 pm

^^^ I love the THUNK when the "monkey's" hand hits the window glass of the pod.

I remember seeing that on TV in the trailer played on Entertainment Tonight - and it still made me jump!

paradiddle · Post by **paradiddle** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:26 pm

Haven't seen the fly in a long time and I don't really remember the sounds in it .Gotta see that one again.

I been chopping up some sounds from old sci-fi like inframan. Some really funny sounds in that movie but the sound editing is bit bad at times. Like sometimes you have a band playing and there's a cut or the band isn't really too tight.

Ripped some also from war of the worlds 1953, logan's run. Then I'll mash them up in Live or audiomulch. Fun stuff.

condra · Post by **condra** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:48 am

Machinesworking · Post by **Machinesworking** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 5:02 am

Three that haven't been mentioned.

The Equinox - cheesy fun, gateway to hell claymation/blue screen movie.

Phase Four - I'm afraid to watch this as an adult, as it could be just awful, but I remember it being really pretty fun, acid tinged monster movie about ants gaining ultimate intelligence through their hive minds.

The Brain that Wouldn't Die - I really really really HATE that you can't find this movie anywhere outside of the Mystery Science Theatre 2000 version. I like my cheesy B movies to be somber and with as much serious intent as possible, much more fun than puppets making comments.... blah.

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:19 am

Pasha · Post by **Pasha** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:42 am

mdk wrote:The Andromeda Strain (1971)

+++ The best for me.