List of science fiction films of the 1930s
This is a list of science fiction films that premiered between 1 January 1930 and 31 December 1939. In Phil Hardy's book Science Fiction (1983), the 1930s were described as a period where both science fiction literature and cinema were "in turmoil" and that by examining films of decade that "it is clear that Science Fiction, in no sense, can be seen as an ongoing genre in the thirties".[1]
Science fiction films |
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By decade |
In the United States, films would use a science fiction plot device or character such as a mad scientist, but more closely resembled contemporary genres like horror, thriller and detective films.[1] The films enhanced other genres such as melodrama (Six Hours to Live), Westerns (The Phantom Empire) and most predominantly horror films such as Frankenstein or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.[1][2] Towards the middle of the decade, science fiction was prominent in low budget Poverty Row films and film series.[1] European films such as End of the World and F.P.1 antwortet nicht and Things to Come continued the line of prophetic speculation of Fritz Lang's film Metropolis.[1] Towards the end of the 1930s as political climate was changing in Europe, films such as Bila Nemoc used science fiction elements to imagine the horrors of World War II.[1]
Few films from the era have been nominated or won awards, these include Fredric March winning an Academy Award for Best actor for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde while the film received nominations for best writing and cinematography.[3] Gilbert Kurland was nominated for Best Sound Recording for Bride of Frankenstein.[3]
See also
Notes
- Hardy 1984, p. 82.
- Johnston 2013, p. 127.
- Hardy 1984, p. 391.
- Hardy 1984, p. 84.
- Bradley 2005, p. 462.
- "Alraune". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Erickson, Hal. "Alraune". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Just Imagine". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Brennan, Sandra. "Just Imagine". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 83.
- "La Fin du monde". Bifi.fr. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "La Fin Du Monde". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Frankenstein". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 86.
- "L'Atlantide". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 87.
- "Chandu the Magician". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 85.
- Erickson, Hal. "Chandu the Magician". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- "6 Hours to Live". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 88.
- "Island of Lost Souls". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Erickson, Hal. "Island of Lost Souls". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "F.P. 1 antwortet nicht". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 90.
- "Men Must Fight". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 89.
- "It's Great to Be Alive". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Brennan, Sandra. "It's Great to Be Alive". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Deluge". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 91.
- "Ein Unsichtbarer geht durch die Stadt". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Ein Unsichtbarer geht durch die Stadt". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Der Tunnel". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Bock 2009, p. 41.
- "The Invisible Man". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 92.
- "Die Welt ohne Maske". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Gold". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Rainey 2005, p. 706.
- Kinnard, p. 11.
- "Der Herr der Welt". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hunter, I. Q. (2002). British Science Fiction Cinema. Routledge. p. 28. ISBN 0-203-00977-0.
- Brennan, Sandra. "Once in a New Moon (1935)". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- This was released in December 1934, and is frequently listed as a 1935 film. See: Low, Rachael; Manvell, Roger; Richards, Jeffrey (2005). History of British Film. Routledge. p. 367. ISBN 0-415-15652-1.
- Hardy 1984, p. 94.
- Kinnard, p. 14.
- Kinnard, p. 16.
- "The Lost City". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 95.
- Kinnard, p. 22.
- Kinnard, p. 27.
- Cusic, p. 50.
- Hardy 1984, p. 93.
- Brennan, Sandra. "Gibel Sensatsii". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Johnston 2013, p. 60.
- Johnston 2013, p. 61.
- "Гибель сенсации" (in Russian). KinoPoisk. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Bride of Frankenstein". American Film Institute. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- Erickson, Hal. "The Bride of Frankenstein". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Air Hawks". American Film Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Erickson, Hal. "Air Hawks". AllMovie. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- "Transatlantic Tunnel". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 96.
- "The Invisible Ray". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- "Космический рейс" (in Russian). KinoPoisk. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 97.
- Hochscherf, p. 17.
- Kinnard 2008, p. 25.
- Hardy 1984, p. 98.
- "The Walking Dead". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Betzold, Michael. "The Walking Dead". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Cline 1997, p. 215.
- Wollstein, Hans J. "Undersea Kingdom". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- "Ghost Patrol". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- "The Man Who Lived Again". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 99.
- "Non-Stop New York". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- "Bílá nemoc". CSFD. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Kinnard 2008, p. 86.
- Hardy 1984, p. 100.
- "Flight to Fame". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Erickson, Hal. "Flight to Fame". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Hardy 1984, p. 103.
- "Son of Frankenstein". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Soister 2005, p. 153.
- Hardy 1984, p. 101.
- Kinnard 2008, p. 161.
- Hardy 1984, p. 102.
- "The Man They Could Not Hang". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Johnston 2013, p. 57.
- Rhodes 1997, p. 151.
- Erickson, Hal. "The Phantom Creeps". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- "The Return of Doctor X". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- Brennan, Sandra. "The Return of Doctor X". AllMovie. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
References
- Bock, Hans-Michael, ed. (2009). The Concise Cinegraph. Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-1-57181-655-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Bradley, Edwin M. (2005). The First Hollywood Sound Shorts, 1926–1931. McFarland. ISBN 1476606846.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Cline, William C., ed. (1997). In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials. McFarland. ISBN 078640471X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Cusic, Don (2007). Gene Autry: His Life and Career. McFarland. ISBN 0786430613.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Hardy, Phil, ed. (1984). Science Fiction. New York : Morrow. ISBN 0-688-00842-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Hochscherf, Tobias, ed. (2011). British Science Fiction Film and Television: Critical Essays. McFarland. ISBN 0786484837.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Johnston, Keith M. (2013). Science Fiction Film. Berg. ISBN 1847884784.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Kinnard, Roy (1998). Science Fiction Serials. McFarland. ISBN 0786437456.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Kinnard, Roy; Crnkovich, Tony; Vitone, R. J. (2008). The Flash Gordon Serials, 1936–1940. McFarland. ISBN 0786455004.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Rainey, Buck (2015). Serials and Series: A World Filmography, 1912–1956. McFarland. ISBN 1476604487.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Rhodes, Gary Don (1997). Lugosi: His Life in Films, on Stage, and in the Hearts of Horror Lovers. McFarland. ISBN 0786402571.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Soister, John T. (2005). Of Gods and Monsters: A Critical Guide to Universal Studios' Science Fiction, Horror and Mystery Films, 1929–1939. McFarland. ISBN 1476604991.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)