Most men of my generation can speak endlessly about their unabashed love for all things Fletch, but no film -- and I do mean no film -- owns a place in my heart, mind, and soul in quite the same way John Carpenter's seminal Escape from New York. (FYI: it premiered theatrically on this day in 1981 for those of you keeping score.) So pardon me if I gush like a schoolgirl (and also pardon me, ladies, for even having typed that phrase) about my love for dystopian drama with an attitude 'cause that's precisely what Escape is to me and the countless others who worship the film. Sure, maybe it ain't SciFi like Brazil or Gravity or Gattaca, but that's because all of those films would've been a frak of a lot shorter had Snake Plissken been called into action.
You thought he was dead? Think again.
You thought he was dead? Think again.
William Smithers has a face that was popping up all over the place during the days of my television youth. The talented character actor has been a part of such properties as Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Invaders, Star Trek, The Six Million Dollar Man, Deathsport (1978), and The Amazing Spider-Man. Smithers was born on this day in 1927. [Source: IMDB.com]
If film careers are any indication, then the lovely Tura Satana (above right) certainly turned heads in her lifetime. Mostly, she starred in a handful of B-Pictures, the least memorable of which may just have been The Astro-Zombies (1968). Though she's no longer with us, Satana was born on this day in 1938.
Lawrence Pressman owns the distinction of appearing aboard Star Trek: Deep Space Nine not once but three times ... in the guise of three completely different characters. He's also appeared on The X-Files and Dark Angel. Pressman was born on this day in 1939. [Source: IMDB.com]
Screen veteran Robert Pine had a role in 1996's alien invasion adventure, Independence Day (pictured above). The actor has also enjoyed appearances in such projects as Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Journeyman, and The Event. Pine was born on this day in 1941.
Actor Ron Glass was part of the very talented ensemble at the heart of Joss Whedon's kinda/sorta Western kinda/sorta Sci-Fi program Firefly that went on to become the blockbuster motion picture (not!) Serenity. (Sorry, folks, wasn't a fan of the program, but I do agree it had an immensely talented cast.) Though he's no longer with us, Glass was born on this day in 1945.
If you wear the uniform, then you deserve a citation: Marco Rodriguez appeared aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Arsenal of Freedom" late in its first season. He's also shown up in such properties as Street Hawk, Werewolf, The Adventures Of Brisco County Jr., NightMan, Sliders, and Seven Days. Rodriguez was born on this day in 1953. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Janet Julian (aka Janet Louise Johnson) enjoyed a little screen time as 'Lieutenant Brie' aboard the original Battlestar Galactica. So far as genre credits go, she's also appeared in Ghost Warrior (1986), Knight Rider, and TV's Swamp Thing. Julian was born on this day in 1959.
Gale Harold (above center) continues to turn in performances that fall onto SciFiHistory.Net's radar. Of particular note, he's been seen aboard Syfy's Defiance as well as the SciFi feature film Andron (2015). Harold was born on this day in 1969.
Actor John Simm had a brilliant breakthrough performance in the BBC's Life On Mars (which I highly recommend to those who haven't seen) ... and, of course, he was 'The Master,' a grand foil to face no less than David Tennant's incarnation of the legendary Doctor Who. Simm was born on this day in 1970, and he continues to impress with every project that he undertakes ... as 'The Master' would.
Peter Serafinowicz appeared in a small role in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy (pictured above). The talented actor has also enjoyed roles and voicework in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Serafinowicz was born on this day in 1972.
Critical darling Chiwetel Ejiofor (pictured above right) wasn't so much of a "critical darling" when he appeared in Roland Emmerich's epic disaster movie, 2012, back in 2009. Ejiofor was born on this day in 1977.
On this day back in 1970, one of the more underrated but occasionally maligned entries in Sci-Fi (I hate it when that happens) Colossus: The Forbin Project opened theatrically ... in West Germany of all places. (Maybe East Germany cinemas were already booked?) In any event, here's the film's plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Forbin is the designer of an incredibly sophisticated computer that will run all of America's nuclear defenses. Shortly after being turned on, it detects the existence of Guardian, the Soviet counterpart, previously unknown to US Planners. Both computers insist that they be linked, and after taking safeguards to preserve confidential material, each side agrees to allow it. As soon as the link is established the two become a new Super computer and threaten the world with the immediate launch of nuclear weapons if they are detached. Colossus begins to give its plans for the management of the world under its guidance. Forbin and the other scientists form a technological resistance to Colossus which must operate underground."
"Forbin is the designer of an incredibly sophisticated computer that will run all of America's nuclear defenses. Shortly after being turned on, it detects the existence of Guardian, the Soviet counterpart, previously unknown to US Planners. Both computers insist that they be linked, and after taking safeguards to preserve confidential material, each side agrees to allow it. As soon as the link is established the two become a new Super computer and threaten the world with the immediate launch of nuclear weapons if they are detached. Colossus begins to give its plans for the management of the world under its guidance. Forbin and the other scientists form a technological resistance to Colossus which must operate underground."
On this day in 1981, the Fantasy-themed Time Bandits enjoyed its original theatrical premiered in the United Kingdom. The feature starred Craig Warnock and Sean Connery, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A young boy accidentally joins a band of time travelling dwarves, as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal."
"A young boy accidentally joins a band of time travelling dwarves, as they jump from era to era looking for treasure to steal."
Remember a time when Mad Max really wasn't dwarfed by Mad Mel? On this day back in 1985, the Mad Max franchise grew by one more flick when Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome roared into theatres. It wasn't a total failure -- some critics today look back on it much more fondly than I do. I just thought its central storyline was way too similar to what had come before (in The Road Warrior, no less) with much stronger direction. Oh, well ... it'll have to do until the impending Max reboot screens. Go, Tom Hardy! Those are some pretty big sand-battered boots to fill.
On this day back in 1992, the Universal Soldier franchise became the phenomenon it is as earnestly as it could, bringing together Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundren for the first time. I didn't think the film was a complete disaster, though I'll admit I wasn't all that enamored of it. Here's the plot summary, compliments of IMDB.com:
"Luc and Scott were killed in Vietnam, but the army has a secret project for reanimating dead people as near-perfect soldiers."
"Luc and Scott were killed in Vietnam, but the army has a secret project for reanimating dead people as near-perfect soldiers."
On this day in 2000 (in Singapore), Starforce roared onto the silver screen. The SciFi/Actioner starred Michael Bergin and Amy Weber, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A warrior and a beautiful ex-convict are left to fight the galaxy's most fearsome commandos in an alien wasteland."
"A warrior and a beautiful ex-convict are left to fight the galaxy's most fearsome commandos in an alien wasteland."
On this day in 2016, Ascension rose into prominence. The Horror/SciFi thriller starred Anne Betancourt and Christie Burke, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Still mourning the death of her mother, 16 year old Angela, who's had some behavioral/mental instability issues, tries her best to keep harmony in the house. She takes care of her 6 year old sister Chloe and tries to keep the peace with her difficult, goth 17 year old sister Becca. Becca is furious that their father Jason pulled them out of school and hired grad student Gabby to home school them. When Becca starts exhibiting bizarre behavior, only Angela can see that she is possessed by some strange alien being, and is putting Chloe in grave danger."
"Still mourning the death of her mother, 16 year old Angela, who's had some behavioral/mental instability issues, tries her best to keep harmony in the house. She takes care of her 6 year old sister Chloe and tries to keep the peace with her difficult, goth 17 year old sister Becca. Becca is furious that their father Jason pulled them out of school and hired grad student Gabby to home school them. When Becca starts exhibiting bizarre behavior, only Angela can see that she is possessed by some strange alien being, and is putting Chloe in grave danger."
On this day in 1998, Stargate: SG-1 aired "Prisoners." This served as the third episode of the long-running program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"SG1 inadvertently help a desperate criminal and is charged and sentenced as accessories to his crime. They are banished to a desolate, brutal penal colony and strike a deal with a powerful female prisoner to help them escape. But is this prisoner hiding something from them?"
"SG1 inadvertently help a desperate criminal and is charged and sentenced as accessories to his crime. They are banished to a desolate, brutal penal colony and strike a deal with a powerful female prisoner to help them escape. But is this prisoner hiding something from them?"
On this day in 1998, The Outer Limits aired "Monster." This served as the eighteenth episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"A group of talented psychics are gathered together in an underground bunker for a military project. But then some kind of mysterious assailant begins to murder them one by one."
"A group of talented psychics are gathered together in an underground bunker for a military project. But then some kind of mysterious assailant begins to murder them one by one."
On this day in 2005, USA Network's The 4400 aired "As Fate Would Have It." This served as the fifth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Maia has a vision that frightens her and causes the NTAC serious concerns. Heidi visits her mother which makes Isabelle cry in despair. Collier sees Isabelle to get some crucial advice."
"Maia has a vision that frightens her and causes the NTAC serious concerns. Heidi visits her mother which makes Isabelle cry in despair. Collier sees Isabelle to get some crucial advice."
On this day in 2011, TNT's Falling Skies aired "Silent Kill." This served as the fifth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as detailed on IMDB.com:
"Hal comes up with a risky new plan to rescue captured teenagers from the aliens, but it might require putting someone at risk."
"Hal comes up with a risky new plan to rescue captured teenagers from the aliens, but it might require putting someone at risk."
