jay@umcp-cs.UUCP (11/30/83)
A word to all 50's sci-fi film fanatics (and everybody else):
There is a wonderful article in this month's (December) issue of American
Film magazine which explores the psychology and politics of 50's films.
A book by Peter Biskind has been excerpted in article entitled "War of the
Worlds". In it, Biskind points out various recurring representations of
good and evil in this ponderously conservative era. Mainstream Americans are
besieged by difficult decisions: whether to side with politicians, with cops
on the beat, with local generals, or with (sometimes mad) scientists, ever in
the face of alien onslaughts or our own terrestrial-based invaders. Films
such as "Them!", "Forbidden Planet", "The Thing" and "The Day the Earth Stood
Still" are the prime focus of the article although it cites several less than
mainstream films ("Unknown World" and "The Twonky", for example -- at least
they are not mainstream in my estimation) which also reflect conflicts
between individuals and the community (yes, in this vein there is a section
on the original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers") Although it helps a bit
to have seen the major films of this genre, the article is less about the
films themselves than about what they can tell us about our recent past.
This article (as is the magazine, in general) is highly recommended.
--
Jay Elvove ..!seismo!umcp-cs!jay