Modern day science fiction (scifi) films can find its roots in the beginnings of cinema in the early part of the 20th century. Filmmaking evolve together with photographic and special effects technology. Some of which are still adapted in one form or another in modern cinema. Contemporary scifi films can find its influence from this early period.
Regular camcorders have built in special effects features that were derived from this early film making techniques.
This article will touch on some of the films that have been an influence in the evolution of science fiction cinema.
The early silent films were short and a novelty, mostly to show off the technology of the new entertainment rather than tell a story. The subject could be everyday life, events or comedy usually accompanied by live music as the medium had no sound.
Films were increasingly drawing crowds who can’t get enough. The film industry boomed churning out more movies to supply demand. Film studios became lucrative, people got into the film business.
George Melies was a stage magician when he watched his first demonstration of the Lumiere brothers’ camera. Melies then bought a camera and begun his film career. Georges Melies would bring magic to the cinema with his photographic effects and tricks that were a marvel at the time.
He would introduce multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, dissolves and other effects. His most well known movie, the blockbuster of its time was “Trip to the Moon“.
Written and directed by Georges Melies in 1902, with help from his brother Gaston. The first scifi film ever made had a running time of 14 minutes at 16 fps; Where the average running time for films of that era was 3 minutes. The most famous and popular of all George Melies films its special effects and animation were innovative for its time.
Loosely based on Jules Verne’s Earth to the Moon and H.G. Wells’ The First Men in the Moon. The film depicts man’s first attempt to the moon. The film includes the familiar scene where the spaceship hits the eye of the man in the moon.
Film directors were experimenting in cinematic style. Movies were evolving into an art form. German cinema was a leader in the early days with its expressionism, One of the well known directors was Fritz Lang and his most famous film was Metropolis.
Metropolis
Fritz Lang’s dystopian vision of the future set in the year 2026. The silent scifi film was released in 1927 produced with the budget of 7 million Reichsmark (equivalent to around $200 million in 2005.)
Metropolis depicts a social struggle between the thinkers/planners living high above in the skyscrapers of Metropolis and the workers living below who toil endlessly for them.
The film’s epic detail in design and its elaborate visual effects would influence later scifi films like Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, The Matrix. Metropolis’ Robot-Gynoid Maria inspired the design for Star Wars Droid C3PO.
The advent of sound captivated audiences, movies began having “sound effects” while music was utilized to give an emotional impact.
The movie that popularized the giant monster genre retells the story of beauty and the beast. Produced and directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack its innovative special effects and stop motion animation was done by Willis O’Brien who brought the monster gorilla to life. Willis O’Brien pioneered stop motion techniques that later SFX artists would honor him as founder and father. CGI animation can trace its roots to this film.
King Kong broke box-office records at its opening in 1933, its success saved RKO studios from bankruptcy. In later re-releases it still managed to gross at the box office. King Kong inspired a number of remakes the best one by Peter Jackson in 2005.
The image of King Kong on top of the Empire State building has become a familiar pop icon.
Flash Gordon
Adapted from the popular comic strip Flash Gordon by Alex Raymond was a space opera serialized in 1936. Budgeted at $350,000 the most expensive serial at that time.
Movie serials were 30 minute shorts shown before the main feature. Serials introduced the cliffhanger ending, making movie audiences return and watch the next episode.
Flash Gordon introduces many plot elements common in scifi films; The evil ruler bent on conquest, a hero fighting impossible odds, friendly allies or sidekicks. It also introduced the use of “ray guns” and other high tech props.
Flash Gordon used the scrolling text introduction to brief viewers on previous episodes. George Lucas’s Star Wars films adapted the scrolling text at the beginning of each film, homage to the early movie serials.
Early Science Fiction films were known for its innovation in visual effects that have evolved and adapted in today’s computerized technology. Common scifi story elements introduced in this early era would show up in later generations of films. Science Fiction in cinema wouldn’t be the same if not for these early pioneers.
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