It Came from Outer Space: Bradbury, 3D & 1950s Teens

Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

As always there are spoilers ahead!
If you want to read the full show notes you can click the episode on this page and
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Description
Are we sick of alien invasion films? I certainly hope not! Although this one is a little different as the aliens just want to leave. It Came from Outer Space (1953) was directed by Jack Arnold who would make a name for himself in the 1950s as a director of many sci-fi films. Although the script was written by Harry Essex the treatment for the film was by none other than the famous Ray Bradbury. The film is a mix of schlocky sci-fi and poetic soliloquies set in small town USA. To help us dig a little deeper into this film I have two fantastic guests.
The Experts
Scott Higgins is a Professor of Film at Wesleyan University as well as being the Curator of the Wesleyan Cinema Archives.
Phil Nichols is a visiting lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton and a researcher with a special interest in Ray Bradbury. He is Senior Consultant to the Ray Bradbury Centre at Indiana University and editor of The New Ray Bradbury Review. He is also the man behind the Bradbury 100 podcast and the Science Fiction 101 podcast.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the show and guests
01:40 The beginnings of a sci-fi film director Jack Arnold
04:30 Ray Bradbury’s influence on the film
09:40 The schlocky and elusive Aliens
15:54 Bradbury’s politics in the 1950s
18:22 Bradbury’s treatment vs Harry Essex’s screenplay
21:38 Small town USA: provincial views, scandal and something simmering beneath the surface
28:11 Teenage culture: post war boom, TV and rock n roll
33:26 Body snatching
36:00 3D cinema!
42:57 Ray Bradbury’s treatment
45:22 The legacy of the film
50:56 Recommendations
NEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be taking one of my pesky detours! I speak to brainiac theoretical physicist Claudia de Rham about the science of Interstellar which is ten years old on November 6th 2024. Interstellar (2014) is available to rent or buy at an array of outlets. You can check JustWatch to check which platforms it is available in your region.

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Chapters

1. Introduction to the show and guests (00:00:00)

2. The beginnings of a sci-fi film director Jack Arnold (00:01:40)

3. Ray Bradbury’s influence on the film (00:04:30)

4. The schlocky/elusive Aliens (00:09:40)

5. Bradbury’s politics in the 1950s (00:15:54)

6. Bradbury’s treatment vs Harry Essex’s screenplay (00:18:22)

7. Small town USA: provincial views, scandal and something simmering beneath the surface (00:21:38)

8. Teenage culture: post war boom, TVs and rock and roll (00:28:11)

9. Body snatching (00:33:26)

10. 3D cinema! (00:36:00)

11. A little more on Ray Bradbury’s treatment (00:42:57)

12. The legacy of the film (00:45:22)

13. Recommendations (00:50:56)