Pasadena History Museum to Host Lecture on Evolution of Science Fiction Film – Pasadena Weekendr

The Pasadena History Museum presents “Watch the Skies! History of Science Fiction Movies” on Thursday, July 25, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a presentation by Nick Smith, co-curator of the 2018 exhibition “Dreaming of the Universe: The Intersection of Science, Fiction, and Southern California“that traced the history of science fiction in Southern California from the 1930s to the 1980s.

“Watch the Skies” is a illustrated presentation exploring the history of science fiction films, from early 20th century films to contemporary works. The event will be held at the museum’s location at 470 W. Walnut Street in Pasadena.

Smith plans to discuss the evolution of science fiction films, highlighting the shift from minimal scientific accuracy and “mad scientist” tropes to more nuanced narratives. He will explore why science fiction films were scarce in the first 50 years of cinema, despite their popularity and profitability.

“My goal is to help people understand sci-fi movies a little bit better, but also put them in the context of movies in general,” Smith said. He aims to provide context about the genre and suggest films for viewers to explore.

The presentation will cover notable works, including the 1930s British film “Things to Come,” based on the writing of H.G. Wells. Smith describes the film as unusual for its time, portraying science positively, unlike many contemporary films.

“Most sci-fi and horror films of the 1930s were almost anti-sci-fi, in the sense that the plots were about science gone wrong, or superscientists doing something evil,” he said. “‘Things to Come’ was a pretty rare exception.”

The talk will also address why some favorite horror films, such as “Frankenstein” and “Alien,” are considered science fiction. Smith will examine the challenges of adapting classic science fiction literature for film, even with modern special effects capabilities.

“My hope is to provide the current generation of moviegoers with a little more context about science fiction films, some suggestions about films to watch, and a little better understanding of why some of them aren’t as well-known anymore,” he said.

Smith emphasizes that filmmakers create films for contemporary audiences, which can affect how well they age. “A film is made for the audience that the filmmaker sees around them, at the time the film is created,” he explained.

Admission to the event ranges from $10 to $15. The museum galleries will open at 6 p.m., one hour before the show, so guests can view the exhibits in advance. Due to limited seating, advance reservations are encouraged.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://pasadenahistory.org/events/watch-the-skies-history-of-science-fiction-movies/.

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