As I so often malign in this daily feature of mine, you young whippersnappers don't know how good you have it today what with a billion TV channels and countless hours of internet-based programming available to you. Back in the 1960's and '70's, all we had was what we could find on the boob tube, and sci-fi related stuff was extremely hard to find. But actor Nicholas Hammond was one of the heroes of my youth. For example, he played Spider-man in an hourly TV program, and he did it without all of the bang and the whiz of CGI. He also had a terrific appearance in the made-for-TV adaptation of Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. Neither program may've had the production standards you're used to nowadays, but they worked just fine for me. Hammond was born on this day in 1950. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of the finer SciFi "message" films to come out of the 1970's is Richard Fleischer's Soylent Green (1973), a feature that managed to attract a cast including Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, and the late Joseph Cotten. Though he's no longer with us, Cotten was born on this day in 1905. [Source: IMDB.com]
The venerable James Mason starred as 'Captain Nemo' aboard Walt Disney's adaptation of the Jules Verne novel, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954). Though he's no longer with us, Mason was born on this day in 1909. [Source: IMDB.com]
He may not have done all that much professionally in Hollywood, but Edward Lasker was one of the producers who helped bring the seminal SciFi classic The Thing From Another World (1951) to the silver screen for RKO Radio Pictures. Though he's no longer with us, Lasker was born on this day in 1912. [Source: IMDB.com]
I've explained many times that I choose to cover many of the James Bond properties on SciFiHistory.Net because the Bond films are perhaps the best example of Fantasy-themed for adults in the modern era ... so here's a Birthday ShoutOut to Dr. No himself, actor Joseph Wiseman. Though he's no longer with us, Wiseman was born on this day in 1918. [Source: IMDB.com]
Doris Dowling leaves behind a resume solid in mainstream dramas and mysteries as well as some work in genre features. She's boarded such items as Science Fiction Theatre, Wonder Woman, Time Express, and The Incredible Hulk for good measure. Though she's no longer with us, Dowling was born on this day in 1923. [Source: IMDB.com]
Adrienne Larussa enjoyed a bit of screen time opposite David Bowie in the SciFi/Cult film The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976). She also enjoyed guest spots aboard Logan's Run, Project U.F.O., and The Amazing Spider-man. Larussa was born on this day in 1948. [Source: IMDB.com]
Malcolm Stewart is yet another one of Hollywood's great character actors who never quite gets enough recognition. Genre fans might recognize him from appearances aboard The Twilight Zone, The Ray Bradbury Theatre, Timecop (1994), M.A.N.T.I.S., Jumanji (1995), Sliders, The X-Files, Millennium, Poltergeist: The Legacy, Seven Days, First Wave, Andromeda, The Outer Limits, Dark Angel, Stargate: SG-1, The Dead Zone, Alienated, Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, The 4400, Masters of Science Fiction, Kyle XY, Eureka, Supernatural, Arrow, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. That, my friends, is what you call "a resume." Stewart was born on this day in 1948. [Source: IMDB.com]
Cleavant Derricks found SciFi fame filling out the ensemble for the Cult(ish) hit, Sliders, in the guise of 'Rembrandt Brown.' Derricks was born on this day in 1953. [Source: IMDB.com]
1982's The Sword and The Sorcerer is one of those films that gets bandied about quite a bit by fans who think it's one of the better Fantasy flicks to come out of the 80's. (It probably is, though I don't think it's aged well.) I recently had the chance to revisit the film via a DVD out of Germany (someone really needs to remaster it), and I wasn't all that impressed. Still, Lee Horsley in a lead did a capable job of shouldering the production along from start to finish, and Horsley was born on this day in 1955. [Source: IMDB.com]
Shakti Chen enjoyed a small role at Starfleet Headquarters aboard Nicholas Meyer's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). Chen was born on this day in 1958. [Source: IMDB.com]
Director Rob Bowman has had the good fortune of taking a stab at crafting many terrific hours of television. He's worked on such franchises as Star Trek: The Next Generation, The X-Files, Quantum Leap, M.A.N.T.I.S., and Alien Nation. Bowman was born on this day in 1960. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actress Brenda Bakke knows a thing or two about how to turn heads, and she even demonstrated she could do so with her comic timing in Hot Shots!: Part Deux. She starred in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation -- the one that saw Wesley Crusher getting the death sentence for tripping into a hedge -- but has worked sparingly since. Bakke was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
Aside from playing 'Gordon' on ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jamie Harris has enjoyed guest roles in such properties as No Ordinary Family, Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), The Magicians, Carnival Row, and many other genre properties. Harris was born on this day in 1963. [Source: IMDB.com]
Brigitte Bako played a role aboard James Cameron curious SciFi/Drama Strange Days (1995). She's also been a part of Replikator (1994), Gargoyles (animated), and Godzilla: The Series (animated). Bako was born on this day in 1967. [Source: IMDB.com]
Russell Hornsby did what he could to protect mankind from the things that go bump in the night as part of NBC's long-running Grimm. Hornsby was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
For those of you who missed NBC's crime drama Hannibal, shame on you! You missed out on seeing the lovely and talented Caroline Dhavernas, seen above from her work in the SciFi/Drama Mars et Avril (2012). Dhavernas was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
David Krumholtz also did some voice work for 2007's under-performing Battle For Terra as well as appearing in-the-flesh aboard writer/director Joss Whedon's Serenity. Krumholtz was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
I enjoyed much of USA Network's The 4400, and that includes enjoying the work of so many excellent secondary players. Richard Kahan was one whose role grew a bit before all was said and done, and Kahan was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Yummy Alexandra Breckenridge has a resume that only hints of genre greatness. She's appeared on CBS's lukewarm Extant and a few other similar programs ... and superstardom nipped at her heels (and flesh!) with her role aboard AMC's Apocalypse juggernaut, The Walking Dead. Breckenridge was born on this day in 1982. [Source: IMDB.com]
Listen up, kids: The Hunger Games may not have ripped its premise off of Battle Royale (2000), but I still don't believe its author who claims ignorance of the popular film franchise from Japan. Whatever the case, actor Tatsuya Fujiwara explored a much grittier version of the story, and Fujiwara was born on this day in 1982. [Source: IMDB.com]
Samantha Noble played a small guest-starring role aboard Fox TV's stellar SciFi program Fringe. (FYI: her father was show regular John Noble, her father.) Noble was born on this day in 1984. [Source: IMDB.com]
Juanita Ringeling found herself in a very dark place for her work aboard the SciFi/Thriller Shortwave (2017). Ringeling was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
Science Fiction and Fantasy has a long history of giving great work to the fairer sex, such as is the case with Sophie Cookson suiting up for trouble aboard The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016). Cookson was born on this day in 1990. [Source: IMDB.com]
Another day, another Power Rangers citation! The fresh-faced Jacqueline Scislowski capably took up the mantle of the Yellow Power Ranger aboard Power Rangers Beast Morphers in 2019. Scislowski was born on this day in 2000. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1936 (in France), The Invisible Ray made itself visible to audiences with its release on the silver screen. Directed by Lambert Hillyer, the SciFi feature starred Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A scientist becomes murderous after discovering, and being exposed to the radiation of, a powerful new element called Radium X."
"A scientist becomes murderous after discovering, and being exposed to the radiation of, a powerful new element called Radium X."
A star is born! On this day in 1942 (in the U.S.), The Mad Monster roared his way onto the silver screen ... and he brought his girlfriend! Directed by Sam Newfield from a script by Fred Myton, the Fantasy/Horror starred Johnny Downs, George Zucco, and Anne Nagel. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A mad scientist changes his simple-minded handyman into a werewolf in order to prove his supposedly crazy scientific theories - and exact revenge."
"A mad scientist changes his simple-minded handyman into a werewolf in order to prove his supposedly crazy scientific theories - and exact revenge."
On this day in 1943 (in Portugal), The Devil Commands enjoyed giving its orders cinematically. Directed by Edward Dmytryk, the SciFi/Horror starred Boris Karloff, Anne Revere, and Amanda Duff; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Scientist becomes obsessed with the idea of communicating with his dead wife."
"Scientist becomes obsessed with the idea of communicating with his dead wife."
A star is born! On this day in 1952, Red Planet Mars was sighted in theatres. Directed by Harry Horner, the feature film starred Peter Graves and Andrea King, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"An American scientist contacts Mars by radio and receives information that Mars is a utopia and that Earth's people can be saved if they return to the worship of God. Revolution sweeps the Earth, including the Soviet Union. But there remains doubt about the messages being genuine, as an ex-Nazi claims he was duping the Americans."
For the record:
Red Planet Mars was produced by a company called Melaby Pictures Corp., and according to IMDB.com this was their only motion picture of record. That, alone, might speak volumes about whether this flick is worth a view.
"An American scientist contacts Mars by radio and receives information that Mars is a utopia and that Earth's people can be saved if they return to the worship of God. Revolution sweeps the Earth, including the Soviet Union. But there remains doubt about the messages being genuine, as an ex-Nazi claims he was duping the Americans."
For the record:
Red Planet Mars was produced by a company called Melaby Pictures Corp., and according to IMDB.com this was their only motion picture of record. That, alone, might speak volumes about whether this flick is worth a view.
A star is born! On this day in 1953, Phantom From Space crashed down to Earth in a theatrical sense. The feature starred Ted Cooper and Tom Daly, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"An alien being with the power of invisibility lands in Santa Monica. Killing two people who attacked him due to the menacing appearance of his spacesuit, the creature takes it off while being pursued by government authorities."
For the record:
As best as I've been able to uncover, Phantom From Space was the first film released by a company called Planet Filmplays, a production house founded by producer/director W. Lee Wilder with the expressed purposes of filming screenplays largely by his screenwriting son, Myles Wilder. (Nepotism rears its ugly head!) Myles crafted five scripts for the company before eventually setting out on his own in Hollywood, penning scripts for such properties as Get Smart, The Addams Family, and Korg: 70,000 B.C.
"An alien being with the power of invisibility lands in Santa Monica. Killing two people who attacked him due to the menacing appearance of his spacesuit, the creature takes it off while being pursued by government authorities."
For the record:
As best as I've been able to uncover, Phantom From Space was the first film released by a company called Planet Filmplays, a production house founded by producer/director W. Lee Wilder with the expressed purposes of filming screenplays largely by his screenwriting son, Myles Wilder. (Nepotism rears its ugly head!) Myles crafted five scripts for the company before eventually setting out on his own in Hollywood, penning scripts for such properties as Get Smart, The Addams Family, and Korg: 70,000 B.C.
A star is born! On this day in 1959, Invisible Invaders appeared in theatres. Directed by Edward L. Cahn, the feature starred John Agar and Jean Byron, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Aliens, contacting scientist Adam Penner, inform him that they have been on the moon for twenty thousand years, undetected due to their invisibility, and have now decided to annihilate humanity unless all the nations of earth surrender immediately. Sequestered in an impregnable laboratory trying to find the aliens' weakness, Penner, his daughter, a no-nonsense army major and a squeamish scientist are attacked from outside by the aliens, who have occupied the bodies of the recently deceased."
For the record:
I haven't stumbled across much interesting information regarding the making of Invisible Invaders. It was written by Samuel Newman; and -- curiously -- Newman's chief screenwriting claim-to-fame would appear to be jungle properties. He wrote Tarzan's Peril (1951) and Jungle Manhunt (1951). He also penned scripts for the 1956 TV show Sheena: Queen Of The Jungle and the 1967 TV show Tarzan. Newman's other SciFi screenwriting credit is The Giant Claw (1957) for Clover Productions.
"Aliens, contacting scientist Adam Penner, inform him that they have been on the moon for twenty thousand years, undetected due to their invisibility, and have now decided to annihilate humanity unless all the nations of earth surrender immediately. Sequestered in an impregnable laboratory trying to find the aliens' weakness, Penner, his daughter, a no-nonsense army major and a squeamish scientist are attacked from outside by the aliens, who have occupied the bodies of the recently deceased."
For the record:
I haven't stumbled across much interesting information regarding the making of Invisible Invaders. It was written by Samuel Newman; and -- curiously -- Newman's chief screenwriting claim-to-fame would appear to be jungle properties. He wrote Tarzan's Peril (1951) and Jungle Manhunt (1951). He also penned scripts for the 1956 TV show Sheena: Queen Of The Jungle and the 1967 TV show Tarzan. Newman's other SciFi screenwriting credit is The Giant Claw (1957) for Clover Productions.
On this day in 1959 (in the United States), The Mysterians dished up SciFi mystery by way of some Japanese imagination. The feature starred Takeshi Kimura and Yumi Shirakawa, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Aliens arrive on Earth and ask permission to be given a certain tract of land for their people to live on. But when they are discovered to be invaders, responsible for the giant robot that is destroying cities, the armed forces attempt to stop them with every weapon available."
"Aliens arrive on Earth and ask permission to be given a certain tract of land for their people to live on. But when they are discovered to be invaders, responsible for the giant robot that is destroying cities, the armed forces attempt to stop them with every weapon available."
On this day in 1964 (in the U.S.), Gorath delivered audiences to deep space! Directed by Ishirô Honda, the SciFi feature starred Ryô Ikebe, Yumi Shirakawa, and Akira Kubo; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In 1980, a giant planetoid named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Even though it is smaller than Earth, its mass is huge enough to crush the Earth and destroy it. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after all the orbiting ships are drawn into the planetoid. A later mission is sent to observe and the crew barely leaves before suffering the same fate. However Astronaut Tatsuo Kanai is left in a catatonic state due to his near death experience. The Earth's scientists then come up with a desperate plan to build giant rockets at the South Pole to move Earth out of Gorath's path before it is too late."
"In 1980, a giant planetoid named Gorath is discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Even though it is smaller than Earth, its mass is huge enough to crush the Earth and destroy it. A mission sent to observe Gorath is destroyed after all the orbiting ships are drawn into the planetoid. A later mission is sent to observe and the crew barely leaves before suffering the same fate. However Astronaut Tatsuo Kanai is left in a catatonic state due to his near death experience. The Earth's scientists then come up with a desperate plan to build giant rockets at the South Pole to move Earth out of Gorath's path before it is too late."
On this day in 1964 (in West Germany), Horror Castle opened its doors for box office business. Directed by Antonio Margheriti, the Horror/Fantasy starred Rossana Podestà, Georges Rivière, and Christopher Lee. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Women are being tortured to death with various torture devices in the dungeon of an old castle by a deformed, hooded, holocaust survivor."
"Women are being tortured to death with various torture devices in the dungeon of an old castle by a deformed, hooded, holocaust survivor."
A star is born! On this day in 1965 (in the United Kingdom), Invasion delivered the alien menace to a small town. Directed by Alan Bridges, the SciFi/Fantasy starred Edward Judd, Yôko Tani, and Valerie Gearon. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"An alien spaceship crashes near a rural hospital. When the alien is taken to the hospital, a mysterious force field suddenly appears around it."
"An alien spaceship crashes near a rural hospital. When the alien is taken to the hospital, a mysterious force field suddenly appears around it."
On this day in 1968, the SciFi-themed Battle Beneath The Earth roared into theatres. Directed by Montgomery Tully, the film starred Kerwin Mathews and Viviane Ventura, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A Chinese general goes berserk and has a system of tunnels dug all the way from China to USA, under the Pacific Ocean! Wherever there is an important military base, he places atomic bombs. US Navy soldiers go underground to repel the invaders."
"A Chinese general goes berserk and has a system of tunnels dug all the way from China to USA, under the Pacific Ocean! Wherever there is an important military base, he places atomic bombs. US Navy soldiers go underground to repel the invaders."
On this day in 1979 (in West Germany), the 1932-produced Doctor X enjoyed its broadcast television premiere. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A monster lurks as New York newspaperman Lee Taylor investigates one of the "Moon Killer" murders, in which the victims are strangled, cannibalized and surgically incised under the light of the full moon. The trail leads to the cliffside mansion of Dr. Xavier, where the doctor and his colleagues conduct a strange experiment."
"A monster lurks as New York newspaperman Lee Taylor investigates one of the "Moon Killer" murders, in which the victims are strangled, cannibalized and surgically incised under the light of the full moon. The trail leads to the cliffside mansion of Dr. Xavier, where the doctor and his colleagues conduct a strange experiment."
A star is born! On this day in 1982 (in France), Crosstalk enjoyed its first theatrical engagement ever when it was screened for audiences of the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by the team of Mark Egerton and Keith Salvat, the Fantasy/Thriller starred Gary Day, Penny Downie, and Brian McDermott. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A computer genius is confined to a penthouse after a car accident, with only a nurse to look after him. But the advanced computer systems designed to make his life easier appear to be taking control."
"A computer genius is confined to a penthouse after a car accident, with only a nurse to look after him. But the advanced computer systems designed to make his life easier appear to be taking control."
A star is born! On this day in 1984 (in Colombia), She delivered a bit of female empowerment to the Apocalypse. Avi Nesher both directed and adapted the H. Rider Haggard novel for the screen, and the Fantasy starred Sandahl Bergman, David Goss, and Quin Kessler. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In a post-apocalyptic world, She aids two brothers' quest to rescue their kidnapped sister. Along the way, they battle weird creatures before standing against the odds to defeat the evil Norks."
"In a post-apocalyptic world, She aids two brothers' quest to rescue their kidnapped sister. Along the way, they battle weird creatures before standing against the odds to defeat the evil Norks."
A star is born! Open up and say 'Cheese!' On this day in 1986 (in France), the good people at the Cannes Film Festival were scared straight with the theatrical premiere of Monster In The Closet. Written (in part) and directed by Bob Dahlin, the SciFi/Horror starred Donald Grant, Denise DuBarry, and Claude Akins. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Paul Dooley, Paul Walker, John Carradine and Henry Gibson head up an all-star cast in this horror-comedy about a murderous but misunderstood monster!"
For the record:
To the film's credit, Monster In The Closet earned a bit of attention from screenings on the film festival circuit.
"Paul Dooley, Paul Walker, John Carradine and Henry Gibson head up an all-star cast in this horror-comedy about a murderous but misunderstood monster!"
For the record:
To the film's credit, Monster In The Closet earned a bit of attention from screenings on the film festival circuit.
On this day in 1987 (in Japan), the 1924-produced Aelita: Queen Of Mars brought the Red Planet to Earth's theaters. Directed by Yakov Protazanov, the SciFi feature starred Yuliya Solntseva and Igor Ilyinsky, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A mysterious radio message is beamed around the world, and among the engineers who receive it are Los, the hero, and his colleague Spiridonov. Los is an individualist dreamer. Aelita is the daughter of Tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on Mars in which the working class are put into cold storage when they are not needed. With a telescope, Aelita is able to watch Los. As if by telepathy, Los obsesses about being watched by her. After some hugger-mugger involving the murder of his wife and a pursuing detective, Los takes the identity of Spiridonov and builds a spaceship. With the revolutionary Gusev, he travels to Mars, but the Earthlings and Aelita are thrown into prison by the dictator. Gusev and Los begin a proletarian uprising, and Aelita offers to lead the revolution, but she then establishes her own totalitarian regime. Los is shocked by this development and attempts to stop Aelita, and then reality and fantasy become confused, and Los discovers what has really happened."
"A mysterious radio message is beamed around the world, and among the engineers who receive it are Los, the hero, and his colleague Spiridonov. Los is an individualist dreamer. Aelita is the daughter of Tuskub, the ruler of a totalitarian state on Mars in which the working class are put into cold storage when they are not needed. With a telescope, Aelita is able to watch Los. As if by telepathy, Los obsesses about being watched by her. After some hugger-mugger involving the murder of his wife and a pursuing detective, Los takes the identity of Spiridonov and builds a spaceship. With the revolutionary Gusev, he travels to Mars, but the Earthlings and Aelita are thrown into prison by the dictator. Gusev and Los begin a proletarian uprising, and Aelita offers to lead the revolution, but she then establishes her own totalitarian regime. Los is shocked by this development and attempts to stop Aelita, and then reality and fantasy become confused, and Los discovers what has really happened."
A star is born! On this day in 1988 (in France), Dream Demon played for audiences in attendance of the Cannes Film Festival. Written (in part) and directed by Harley Cokeliss, the Fantasy/Horror starred Jemma Redgrave, Kathleen Wilhoite, and Timothy Spall. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A young woman about to be married begins having terrifying dreams about demons. When she wakes, however, the demons are real and begin to commit gruesome murders."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Dream Demon scored a bit of attention from screenings on the film festival circuit.
"A young woman about to be married begins having terrifying dreams about demons. When she wakes, however, the demons are real and begin to commit gruesome murders."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Dream Demon scored a bit of attention from screenings on the film festival circuit.
A star is born! On this day in 1991 (in France), audiences in attendance of the Cannes Film Festival were mystified with the silver screen debut of Liquid Dreams. Written (in part) and directed by Mark Manos, the SciFi/Thriller starred Candice Daly, John Doe, and Tracey Walter. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Eve Black finds a job as a dancer in a shady night club to find out more about the mysterious death of her sister, who danced there before she died. The club is using girls for a strange drug experiment, so she asks a cop for help."
"Eve Black finds a job as a dancer in a shady night club to find out more about the mysterious death of her sister, who danced there before she died. The club is using girls for a strange drug experiment, so she asks a cop for help."
A star is born! On this day in 1992 (in the U.S.), the residents of Nashville, Tennessee must've been on their best behavior because -- somehow -- they were gifted the cinematic treat of debuting Munchie on the silver screen. Written (in part) and directed by Jim Wynorski, the Fantasy/Comedy starred Loni Anderson, Andrew Stevens, and Dom DeLuise. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In this in-name-only sequel to Munchies (1987), a new kid in town, Gage Dobson, can't find his place in the new environment despite having such a cool name. The kids at school bully him, the girl he likes and his mom is about to marry a scoundrel. Everything changes for Gage Dobson when he stumbles into Munchie, a friendly gremlin-like creature that dresses like a lounge singer, sounds like a stand-up comedian and has magic powers."
"In this in-name-only sequel to Munchies (1987), a new kid in town, Gage Dobson, can't find his place in the new environment despite having such a cool name. The kids at school bully him, the girl he likes and his mom is about to marry a scoundrel. Everything changes for Gage Dobson when he stumbles into Munchie, a friendly gremlin-like creature that dresses like a lounge singer, sounds like a stand-up comedian and has magic powers."
A star is born! On this day in 1993 (in France), Body Snatchers enjoyed its theatrical premiere when it was screened for audiences in attendance of the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Abel Ferrara, the SciFi/Horror starred Gabrielle Anwar, Meg Tilly, and Terry Kinney. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A teenage girl and her father discover alien clones are replacing humans on a remote U.S. military base in Alabama."
For the record:
As well as receiving a solid nod from the 1995 Saturn Awards for 'Best Science Fiction Film,' Body Snatchers enjoyed some great praise at the 1994 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Though it didn't go home with any trophies, it enjoyed four nominations: 'Best Soundtrack,' 'Best Supporting Actress,' 'Best Actress,' and 'Best Limited-Release/Direct-To-Video Film.'
"A teenage girl and her father discover alien clones are replacing humans on a remote U.S. military base in Alabama."
For the record:
As well as receiving a solid nod from the 1995 Saturn Awards for 'Best Science Fiction Film,' Body Snatchers enjoyed some great praise at the 1994 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Though it didn't go home with any trophies, it enjoyed four nominations: 'Best Soundtrack,' 'Best Supporting Actress,' 'Best Actress,' and 'Best Limited-Release/Direct-To-Video Film.'
A star is born! On this day in 1995 (in Germany), Heatseeker turned up the heat with its debut on home video. Written (in part) and directed by Albert Pyun, the SciFi/Fantasy starred Keith Cooke, Tina Cote, and Norbert Weisser. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A kickboxing champion is forced to fight cyborgs in a tournament when the company kidnaps his fiancee."
"A kickboxing champion is forced to fight cyborgs in a tournament when the company kidnaps his fiancee."
On this day in 2007 (in Hungary), the French-language SciFi/Comedy A Ticket To Space enjoyed a release on home video. According to our friends at Google.com, here's the plot summary:
"Two astronauts and two civilians encounter trouble during a shuttle flight to a space station."
"Two astronauts and two civilians encounter trouble during a shuttle flight to a space station."
A star is born! On this day in 2010 (in France), Kaboom went boom when it was first screened for audiences at the Cannes Film Festival. Written and directed by Gregg Araki, the Fantasy/Comedy starred Thomas Dekker, Haley Bennett, and Chris Zylka. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A sexually "undeclared" college freshman's clairvoyant/prophetic dreams are the first sign that something very strange is going on involving his classmates -- with him at the center."
"A sexually "undeclared" college freshman's clairvoyant/prophetic dreams are the first sign that something very strange is going on involving his classmates -- with him at the center."
For those of us who were there back at the start of the silver screen nihilism simmering beneath the entire Mad Max saga, it was certainly a long, long wait to see what Max was up to; and Mad Max: Fury Road certainly answered our prayers. The film premiered on this day in 2015, starred Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in postapocalyptic Australia in search for her home-land with the help of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshipper, and a drifter named Max."
"A woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in postapocalyptic Australia in search for her home-land with the help of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshipper, and a drifter named Max."
A star is born! On this day in 2015 (in France), Cannes Film Festival is definitely where all the action was at, even with the theatrical debut of The Lobster. Written (in part) and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, the SciFi/Romance starred Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and Jessica Barden. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In a dystopian near future, according to the laws of The City, single people are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days or they're transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods."
For the record:
To the film's credit, The Lobster was the recipient of a terrific amount of praise. Readers interested in reviewing the flick's full awards' summary can find it on IMDB.com right here.
"In a dystopian near future, according to the laws of The City, single people are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days or they're transformed into beasts and sent off into The Woods."
For the record:
To the film's credit, The Lobster was the recipient of a terrific amount of praise. Readers interested in reviewing the flick's full awards' summary can find it on IMDB.com right here.
A star is born ... or is that porn ... as in 'tentacle porn?' On this day in 2016 (in Mexico), The Untamed enjoyed a limited theatrical release. Written (in part) and directed by Amat Escalante, the SciFi/Fantasy starred Ruth Ramos, Jesús Meza, and Simone Bucio. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A couple in a troubled marriage locate a meteorite, initiating an encounter with a mysterious creature. Their lives are turned upside down by the discovery of the creature, which is a source of both pleasure and destruction."
For the record:
To the film's credit, The Untamed enjoyed a good amount of praise from festival circuit screenings and beyond. For a complete rundown of its citations, readers are encouraged to check out the IMDB.com awards page right here.
"A couple in a troubled marriage locate a meteorite, initiating an encounter with a mysterious creature. Their lives are turned upside down by the discovery of the creature, which is a source of both pleasure and destruction."
For the record:
To the film's credit, The Untamed enjoyed a good amount of praise from festival circuit screenings and beyond. For a complete rundown of its citations, readers are encouraged to check out the IMDB.com awards page right here.
A star is born! On this day in 2017 (in China), the people of Shanghai were treated to the silver screen premiere of Warner Bros. and DC Comics' Wonder Woman. Directed by Patty Jenkins, the SciFi/Fantasy starred Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, and Robin Wright. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny."
ExtraExtra Alert:
If you're interested in knowing what yours truly thought of the film, you can find my review right here.
"When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny."
ExtraExtra Alert:
If you're interested in knowing what yours truly thought of the film, you can find my review right here.
A star is born! On this day in 2018 (in the U.S.), Gray Matter enjoyed its first theatrical presentation of record. Written and directed by Greg A. Sager, the SciFi/Fantasy starred Alys Crocker, Michael G. Wilmot, and Tara Elizabeth O'Brien. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Since the 1940s, alien beings known as "GRAYS" have been sighted around the globe with the thought that they visit our planet to study our species and civilization before they eventually invade...but what if we're wrong? What if they are only here to protect us? After a meteorite crashes to earth awakening the extraterrestrial creature within, a young woman is abducted by an alien "GRAY" to aid in hunting down and destroying the creature, before it can reach a second meteorite that fell to earth decades earlier, unleashing its deadly infestation of earth."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Gray Matter enjoyed a wee bit of attention from a screening on the film festival circuit.
"Since the 1940s, alien beings known as "GRAYS" have been sighted around the globe with the thought that they visit our planet to study our species and civilization before they eventually invade...but what if we're wrong? What if they are only here to protect us? After a meteorite crashes to earth awakening the extraterrestrial creature within, a young woman is abducted by an alien "GRAY" to aid in hunting down and destroying the creature, before it can reach a second meteorite that fell to earth decades earlier, unleashing its deadly infestation of earth."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Gray Matter enjoyed a wee bit of attention from a screening on the film festival circuit.
A star is born! On this day in 2019 (in France), the good people in attendance of the Cannes Film Festival were treated to the silver screen debut of Bacurau. Written and directed by the team of Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho, the SciFi/Fantasy starred Bárbara Colen, Thomas Aquino, and Silvero Pereira. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"After the death of her grandmother, Teresa comes home to her matriarchal village in a near-future Brazil to find a succession of sinister events that mobilizes all of its residents."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Bacurau has been the recipient of an incredible amount of praise far and wide, and it's way too much for me to mention in this space. Those interested are encouraged to check out the film's awards page on IMDB.com right here.
"After the death of her grandmother, Teresa comes home to her matriarchal village in a near-future Brazil to find a succession of sinister events that mobilizes all of its residents."
For the record:
To the film's credit, Bacurau has been the recipient of an incredible amount of praise far and wide, and it's way too much for me to mention in this space. Those interested are encouraged to check out the film's awards page on IMDB.com right here.
On this day in 1964, The Twilight Zone aired "The Brain Center at Whipple's." This served as the thirty-third episode to the program's fifth (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"A heartless CEO completely automates his factory and lays off almost all of his workers over the objections of his employees."
"A heartless CEO completely automates his factory and lays off almost all of his workers over the objections of his employees."
On this day in 1965, Doctor Who aired "The Final Phase." This served as the twenty-ninth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by the Doctor Who Online Guide:
"After forcing Lobos to revive the Doctor, Ian is also taken prisoner. The Xeron rebellion is underway whilst the fate of the Doctor and his friends still hangs in the balance."
"After forcing Lobos to revive the Doctor, Ian is also taken prisoner. The Xeron rebellion is underway whilst the fate of the Doctor and his friends still hangs in the balance."
On this day in 1965 (in the United Kingdom), Undermind aired "Flowers Of Havoc." Officially, this served as the second episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Drew, Anne and Val search for answers to why a mysterious brass rubbing of a medieval knight was mailed from a small seaside town. They find the place overrun with bikers and young thugs, and the local vicar strangely complacent."
"Drew, Anne and Val search for answers to why a mysterious brass rubbing of a medieval knight was mailed from a small seaside town. They find the place overrun with bikers and young thugs, and the local vicar strangely complacent."
On this day in 1971, Doctor Who aired "Colony In Space, Part 6." This served as the twentieth episode of the program's eighth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by the Doctor Who Online Guide:
"In the underground city, the Doctor and the Master confront the guardian of the Doomsday Weapon. The miners make their last move to force the colonists to leave the planet."
"In the underground city, the Doctor and the Master confront the guardian of the Doomsday Weapon. The miners make their last move to force the colonists to leave the planet."
On this day in 1989, War of the Worlds aired "The Angel of Death." This served as the twenty-third episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A competing alien race sends an assassin to eliminate the invading force and to protect humanity."
"A competing alien race sends an assassin to eliminate the invading force and to protect humanity."
On this day in 1993, Star Trek: The Next Generation aired "Rightful Heir." This served as the twenty-third episode to the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TrekCore.com:
"Worf journeys to Boreth to meditate in hope of glimpsing a vision of Kahless. Worf and many of the others are surprised when Kahless actually appears and announces his intention to return to the throne and put the Empire back on a path toward honor."
"Worf journeys to Boreth to meditate in hope of glimpsing a vision of Kahless. Worf and many of the others are surprised when Kahless actually appears and announces his intention to return to the throne and put the Empire back on a path toward honor."
One of the things that genuinely bugged me about some of the writing talent behind-the-scenes on the later Trek shows is the fact that so many of them would openly lament in interviews about being "tied" to continuity. My point? Why look what terrific episodes you can churn out when you actually honor what's come before! One perfect example is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "Crossover," the twenty-third episode of the second season which aired on this day in 1994. By respecting events that had been long ago established as canon in the original series, the writers were able to cook up a wonderful interpretation of what the current Mirror Universe look like ... and wasn't that a joy? Here's the plot summary as provided by TrekCore.com:
"Kira and Bashir are accidentally sent into an alternate universe where the station is headed by Intendant Kira Nerys with the help of XO Garak and her Klingon slaves. Bashir is immediately forced to labor in the ore processing facility, while Kira meets her tyrannical counterpart."
"Kira and Bashir are accidentally sent into an alternate universe where the station is headed by Intendant Kira Nerys with the help of XO Garak and her Klingon slaves. Bashir is immediately forced to labor in the ore processing facility, while Kira meets her tyrannical counterpart."
On this day in 1994 (in the Netherlands), Star Trek: The Next Generation aired "Peak Performance." Officially, this served as the twenty-first episode in the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The Enterprise is to engage in war gaming exercise with a master strategist, Sirna Kolrami, on board. As part of the exercise, Riker will command an old vessel, the USS Hathaway, and act as the 'enemy'. Riker takes along Laforge, Worf, Wesley Cusher and several others as his crew and their first task is to get the vessel operational. Kolrami is supremely confident and arrogant, convinced that his superior skills will result in an easy victory over Riker. When they are attacked by the Ferengi who want the Hathaway as their prize, Picard and the crew stage a clever deception."
"The Enterprise is to engage in war gaming exercise with a master strategist, Sirna Kolrami, on board. As part of the exercise, Riker will command an old vessel, the USS Hathaway, and act as the 'enemy'. Riker takes along Laforge, Worf, Wesley Cusher and several others as his crew and their first task is to get the vessel operational. Kolrami is supremely confident and arrogant, convinced that his superior skills will result in an easy victory over Riker. When they are attacked by the Ferengi who want the Hathaway as their prize, Picard and the crew stage a clever deception."
On this day in 1994 (in Brazil), RoboCop: The Series premiered with the episode titled "The Future of Law Enforcement: Part 1." According to our friends at TV.com, here's the plot summary:
"This time the future RoboCop is defending Delta City from a scarred maniac. A killer calling himself the Dogtown Ripper is killing thousands of people and stealing their brains. A trouble making pre-teen becomes the foster daughter of Stanely Parks. A secretary is killed but her spirit lives inside the computer mainframe."
ExtraExtra Alert:
In 2022, the good folks at Liberation Hall provided me with a complimentary Blu-ray set of RoboCop: The Series. Folks interested in knowing what I had to say about it can find my review right here.
Also -- based on having a complete series set -- I penned an individual review for "The Future Of Law Enforcement." Folks interesed in knowing what I had to say about these episodes can find my review right here.
"This time the future RoboCop is defending Delta City from a scarred maniac. A killer calling himself the Dogtown Ripper is killing thousands of people and stealing their brains. A trouble making pre-teen becomes the foster daughter of Stanely Parks. A secretary is killed but her spirit lives inside the computer mainframe."
ExtraExtra Alert:
In 2022, the good folks at Liberation Hall provided me with a complimentary Blu-ray set of RoboCop: The Series. Folks interested in knowing what I had to say about it can find my review right here.
Also -- based on having a complete series set -- I penned an individual review for "The Future Of Law Enforcement." Folks interesed in knowing what I had to say about these episodes can find my review right here.
On this day in 1995, Star Trek: Voyager aired "Jetrel." This served as the fifteen episode to the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Neelix is diagnosed with a fatal illness by a Haakonian named Ma'Bor Jetrel. This man is the same one who developed a doomsday weapon that destroyed a Talaxian moon and killed Neelix's family."
"Neelix is diagnosed with a fatal illness by a Haakonian named Ma'Bor Jetrel. This man is the same one who developed a doomsday weapon that destroyed a Talaxian moon and killed Neelix's family."
On this day in 1995, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired "Family Business." This served as the twenty-third episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TrekCore.com:
"Quark is charged with negligence in taking care of his mother. As it happens, she has made profit on the Ferengi homeworld, a capital crime in the male-dominated society, so Quark and Rom head home to deal with the problem."
"Quark is charged with negligence in taking care of his mother. As it happens, she has made profit on the Ferengi homeworld, a capital crime in the male-dominated society, so Quark and Rom head home to deal with the problem."
On this day in 1998 (in France), Star Trek: The Next Generation aired "The Wounded." Officially, this served as the twelfth episode in the program's fourth season; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"After being fired upon by a Cardassian vessel, Picard races against time to find out the facts behind the Cardassian commander's claim that the Federation attacked one of their outposts."
"After being fired upon by a Cardassian vessel, Picard races against time to find out the facts behind the Cardassian commander's claim that the Federation attacked one of their outposts."
On this day in 1999, Batman Beyond aired "A Touch of Curare." This served as the twelfth episode to the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Commissioner Barbara Gordon is determined to protect her DA husband from an elite assassin, and definitely does not want Batman, and especially Bruce Wayne's, help."
"Commissioner Barbara Gordon is determined to protect her DA husband from an elite assassin, and definitely does not want Batman, and especially Bruce Wayne's, help."
It all came down to this ... and I genuinely miss the time travel program Seven Days. So far as I'm concerned, it's storytelling was just a bit ahead of its time, basically capitalizing week-by-week on some act of terror that needed to be averted with the use of a 'backstep' seven days into the past in order to put things right. On this day in 2001, the show aired "Sugar Mountain." This served as the twentieth episode to the adventure's third and final season, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"When several people including the Canadian Trade Minister are killed in a mysterious fire. Bradley learns from the CIA that the fire was caused by a secret weapon which has fallen into the wrong hands. So Frank is sent back to get it back. He runs into the man who supposedly has it but all he has with him is a boy. Frank escapes with the boy and learns who the weapon is."
"When several people including the Canadian Trade Minister are killed in a mysterious fire. Bradley learns from the CIA that the fire was caused by a secret weapon which has fallen into the wrong hands. So Frank is sent back to get it back. He runs into the man who supposedly has it but all he has with him is a boy. Frank escapes with the boy and learns who the weapon is."
On this day in 2002, Star Trek: Enterprise aired "Two Days and Two Nights" as the twenty-fifth episode to the program's first season. According to our friends at TrekCore.com, here's what all of the fuss was about:
"Shore leave takes an interesting twist for the lucky few who are able to take some time off on Risa, the famous pleasure planet. Archer, Trip and Reed all have mysterious encounters with females who may not be all they appear. Meanwhile, Hoshi struggles with a new language."
"Shore leave takes an interesting twist for the lucky few who are able to take some time off on Risa, the famous pleasure planet. Archer, Trip and Reed all have mysterious encounters with females who may not be all they appear. Meanwhile, Hoshi struggles with a new language."
On this day in 2006 (in Japan), Stargate: SG-1 aired "Moebius: Part 1." Officially, this served as the nineteenth episode in the program's eighth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"With the threats of both the Replicators and the Goa'uld greatly diminished and the sister ship to the Prometheus, the Daedalus, now under construction, SG-1 is anxious to get a ride on the new ship. However, the mood is somewhat darkened by a phone call informing Dr. Jackson of Catherine Langford's death. After the funeral, Catherine's niece gives Daniel "a few odds and ends" that her aunt wanted him to have. Upon delivery it is discovered that almost her entire collection was shipped to Daniel's lab. He finds in one of her books a possible location of a ZPM, but scans of the area showed that it was no longer there. Daniel proposes that they use the Ancient time machine to take it from Ra at Giza in 3000 BC."
"With the threats of both the Replicators and the Goa'uld greatly diminished and the sister ship to the Prometheus, the Daedalus, now under construction, SG-1 is anxious to get a ride on the new ship. However, the mood is somewhat darkened by a phone call informing Dr. Jackson of Catherine Langford's death. After the funeral, Catherine's niece gives Daniel "a few odds and ends" that her aunt wanted him to have. Upon delivery it is discovered that almost her entire collection was shipped to Daniel's lab. He finds in one of her books a possible location of a ZPM, but scans of the area showed that it was no longer there. Daniel proposes that they use the Ancient time machine to take it from Ra at Giza in 3000 BC."
On this day in 2008 -- a fateful day indeed in this show's ongoing mythology -- ABC's Lost aired "There's No Place Like Home, Part 1" in which some of the castaways were finally indeed rescued. (Or were they?!?!) This served as the twelfth episode in the popular (and confusing) program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"Ben, Locke, and Hurley go to The Orchid, but Keamy and his men beat them there. Jack and Kate go after the helicopter, and are later joined by Sawyer. Sayid comes back to the island with a rescue boat, and then goes after them too."
"Ben, Locke, and Hurley go to The Orchid, but Keamy and his men beat them there. Jack and Kate go after the helicopter, and are later joined by Sawyer. Sayid comes back to the island with a rescue boat, and then goes after them too."
On this day in 2009 (in the U.S.), Ms. Vampy aired "Twilight???" Officially, this served as the second episode in the program's first season; and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Join Ms. Vampy and her Hot Hunk of Horror guest, Jeff Dylan Graham, as she insists that her guest is the "guy" from TWILIGHT and NEW MOON. Find out how Ms. Vampy's VampireMatch.com date turns out."
"Join Ms. Vampy and her Hot Hunk of Horror guest, Jeff Dylan Graham, as she insists that her guest is the "guy" from TWILIGHT and NEW MOON. Find out how Ms. Vampy's VampireMatch.com date turns out."
On this day in 2010, Doctor Who aired "Amy's Choice." This served as the seventh episode of the program's fifth (relaunched) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Five years after finally leaving the TARDIS Amy and Rory now married, live in the quiet little village of Leadworth. But everything is not what it would seem."
"Five years after finally leaving the TARDIS Amy and Rory now married, live in the quiet little village of Leadworth. But everything is not what it would seem."
