[Photo credit: Pasadena Museum of History]
The Pasadena Museum of History will host a presentation called “Look to the Sky! A History of Science Fiction Films” on Thursday, July 25th from 7-8:30pm, by Nick Smith, co-curator of the 2018 exhibit “Dreaming of Space: The Intersection of Science, Fiction, and Southern California,” which traced the history of science fiction in Southern California from the 1930s to the 1980s.
“Watch the Skies” is an illustrated presentation of science fiction film history, from early 20th century films to contemporary works. The event will be held at the museum, 470 W. Walnut Street in Pasadena.
Smith will discuss the evolution of science fiction films, highlighting the move away from poor scientific accuracy and “mad scientist” tropes to more nuanced storytelling, and will also explore why there were so few sci-fi films in the first 50 years of cinema, despite their popularity and profitability.
“My goal is to help people understand sci-fi movies a little better and to place them in the context of cinema in general,” said Smith, who aims to provide background on the genre and suggest films for viewers to explore.
The presentation will feature notable works such as “Things to Come,” a 1930s British film based on the work of H.G. Wells, which Smith says was unusual for its time and, unlike many of its contemporaries, portrays science in a positive light.
“Most science fiction and horror movies of the 1930s were almost anti-science fiction, with stories of science gone wrong or super-scientists up to no good,” he says. “‘Hope for the Future’ was a fairly rare exception.”
The talk will also touch on why popular horror films such as “Frankenstein” and “Alien” are considered science fiction films. Smith will explore the challenges of adapting classic science fiction literature, even with modern special effects technology.
“My hope is to give today’s generation of moviegoers a little more context about science fiction movies, suggest some films to watch and give them a little better understanding of why some of these films are less well known,” he said.
Smith emphasizes that filmmakers are making movies for contemporary audiences, which can have an impact on those audiences as they age: “Films are made for the audience that is around at the time the filmmaker makes the film,” Smith explained.
Admission to the event ranges from $10 to $15. Museum galleries open one hour before the presentation at 6 PM, allowing visitors to view the exhibits in advance. Advance reservations are recommended as seating is limited.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://pasadenahistory.org/events/watch-the-skies-history-of-science-fiction-movies/
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