Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever*

As always there are spoilers ahead!
This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 2. If you have arrived here before treading the ground of part 1 turn back now! 
The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey
Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification. (Yes I'm repeating the same text from part 1. Do you even know how busy I've been and now I must copy and paste to get this out on time!) 
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm

Thankfully my two guests are heavy weight bearing beams (of light?). I am indeed getting my metaphors in a mix. That makes no sense. Apologies. 
Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece.
Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner.
Clarification: The quote I use near the beginning "Politics and religion are obsolete. The time has come for science and spirituality" originates from Indian philosopher Vinoba Bhave. Arthur C Clarke used the quote in a keynote address. Kubrick underlines the second half in his copy of the speech. (Michael then goes on to open his fantastic book with this quote.)
28:25 The concept of a technological singularity is a theoretical scenario in which technology increasingly becomes so advanced that is has unpredictable and irreversible effects ono humanity.
34:13 JPL is short for Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. 
48:23 Mad magazine's parody of 2001 is available to view here: https://www.tumblr.com/keirdullea/34795391907/201-minutes-of-space-idiocy-a-mad-magazine
Lastly: I concede that my internet search for the giant baby may have led me to some very dubious sources. 
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
19:00 The Sublime
11:30 Kubrick's minimalism
20:32 HAL
34:58 Doug Trumbull and George Lucas' Star Wars droids
37:57 Slow pace and filming restrictions
39:58 Legacy
46:50 Recommendations for the listener
 
Recommendations
Childhood's End and The Sentinel both by Arthur C Clarke
201 (minutes of) A Space Idiocy by Mad Magazine. (Link above)
 
NEXT EPISODE!
In the next episode we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001 in two weeks' time!

As always there are spoilers ahead!
As we chronologically venture through science fiction history it is finally time to examine one of the heaviest of heavyweight sci-fi films. 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The idea is to most definitely watch the film before listening to the episode. If you don't want to do that and still want an overview of the film and the plot you can check out the Wikipedia entry here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey
This is episode one of a four-episode mini-series. To make things even more confusing Episode 1 has two parts. This is part 1. Part 2 is also out. (Why two parts? Because I prefer a more digestible length of podcast.)
Please refer to these very show notes for some extra information or clarification.
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you have money to invest in further space or other scientifically romantic adventures and would like to be a patron of the podcast, pay heed! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
This is the longest episode I've ever recorded (hence the two parts) and I simply couldn't cut much of it down because of my phenomenal guests.
Michael Benson is an artist, filmmaker and author of a range of exciting books including the magnificently comprehensive 2018 Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece.
Scott Bukatman is a cultural theorist and Professor of Film and Media Studies at Stanford University. He has written extensively about popular culture with a focus on how it mediates between modern technologies and the human experience. He is also the author of the wonderful BFI book on Blade Runner (which we will get to in good time).
34:48 The literal translation of "alte kackers" which is how Stanley Kubrick's wife Christiane described the people at the premiere is "old shitters".
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:43 Childhood cinematic experiences of the film
07:31 Not understanding the film
09:57 The impact on sci-fi cinema
10:28 The proverbial good science fiction film
14:35 The philosophical nature of science fiction
17:09 Kubrick and Clarke in the mid 60s
21:26 Initial intentions
25:46 Special effects and immersion
33:04 The reception of the film
46:32 The ape arm throws a bone
51:15 Kubrick and improvisation
53:52 Outro to part one
 
NEXT EPISODE!
The next episode is already out and it's part 2 of this discussion! After that we will be prepping to discuss the special effects of 2001: A Space Odyssey in two weeks' time.

As usual there are spoilers ahead!
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
The novel Planet of the Apes was released in 1963 in France by French author Pierre Boulle. In that same year publicist Arthur Jacobs bought the screen rights while he was looking for something "like King Kong".
Five years later in 1968 the film was released with one of the most famous twist endings of cinematic history.
The film is a fun "off-planet" sci-fi adventure story with heavy commentary on societal expectations and standards.
I have two lovely guests to help us understand this sci-fi classic.
John Wills is a Professor of American Media and Culture at the University of Kent. He has written lots about popular culture including his new book Doom Town USA
Phil Nichols is Senior Consultant to the Ray Bradbury Center at Indiana University, and formerly Film & Television course leader at the University of Wolverhampton.
The Scopes trial was a 1925 case in the USA in which a teacher was accused of violating the law by teaching evolution in schools. The trial was set up on purpose to challenge the Butler Act which prevented the teaching of evolution.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:20 Book vs film
03:53 Arthur Jacobs
06:28 From astronaut to animal
11:10 Simian society
15:43 Concepts of civility
20:07 Western vibes
22:39 The Trial
26:40 Race
32:46 1968 USA
39:25 The twist ending
42:34 Liberty in ruins
47:37 Legacy
52:18 The brains behind the ending
53:19 Recommendations
 
Recommendations
Inherit the Wind (1960)
Soylent Green (1973)


 
NEXT EPISODE!
Eep! It's finally here. I tried to put it off for as long as I could but the 2001: A Space Odyssey mini-series will begin next week with a two-part first episode. 
The film is available widely. According to Just Watch (where you can find the availability in your region) it is included in the HBO subscription in the USA and Australia. In Canada it's included in the Crave subscription. In the UK it's Prime video and Now Cinema. 
But the film can also be bought or rented online from many outlets including Apple, Fandango, Spectrum and Prime. Or you could buy a fancy DVD of it to add to your collection.

As always, there are spoilers ahead. 
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky. 
If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm 
Graphic novels and comics were widely considered to be for children in the early 1960s. It was a relatively small number of artists and publishers who were working to have comics seen as a viable form of art as well as making comics for adults. 
Although the history of comics for adults is definitely older, this period marks a surge in European interest in the medium. Famous film producer Dino de Laurentiis helped this when he bought the filming rights to adult comics Diabolik (from Italy) and Barbarella (from France) turning them both in to movies in the 1960s.
De Laurentiis originally wanted Bridget Bardot for the title role and after she turned it down, he looked to Sophia Loren who did the same. His third choice was Jane Fonda who initially rejected the script until her then husband Roger Vadim convinced her to take it. Vadim joined as Director and the rest is kitschy sci-fi history.
I have two fantastic guests to talk through this swinging 60s sci-fi space opera oddity. 
Lisa Yaszek is Regents' Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech and has written/edited extensively on science fiction. 
Hugo Frey is Professor of History at the University of Chichester. He has a special interest in graphic novels and is co-author of the 2026 book The Look of the 1960s. Barbarella and the Pulp Pop Comics.
CORRECTION: In the question about the legacy of Barbarella I say Star Trek when I mean Star Wars.  
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:17 Sci-fi precedence
03:45 Barbarella comic origins
06:31 1960s France and the rise of adult comics
09:37 Jane Fonda playing it straight
10:59 Jean Claude Forest
12:22 Jane Fonda: Body dysmorphia and sexploitation
14:01 Censorship
19:19 Pop Art and design
26:56 Big hair and science fiction
32:24 Terry Southern
35:50 UK vs US reception
41:48 Government girl with a gun
44:22 A progressive Barbarella?
46:48 Masculinity and femininity
55:37 Recommendations
 
Recommendations:
Born in Flames (1983)
Bardot, Deneuve and Fonda: The Memoirs of Roger Vadim
Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (2024)
 
NEXT EPISODE!
Next episode we will be talking about The Planet of the Apes (1968). Planet of the Apes is available to rent or buy from major online platforms including Apple TV. It is also available on Disney+ in the UK. You can check the Just Watch website to find where it may be streaming in your region.

Translation for the intro:
A race against time. Office time against outside time.
Who's winning?
I don't know yet.
 
Apologies as I am coming down with a heavy cough and need sleep. I am so out of it that I almost forgot that it is release day! But I jumped out of bed with quite a shock and here you have the episode. Phew!
As always, there are spoilers ahead.
You can follow the podcast on social media on Threads, Instagram and Bluesky.
If you have an air of gravitas and money to spend and would like to be a patron of the podcast, please do! You can join Patreon and for £3 or $3 a month you can get ad free version of the show. https://www.patreon.com/everyscififilm
 
1968's Je t'aime, je t'aime (AKA I Love You, I Love You). A wonderfully unusual science fiction film about memory, love and loss by French New Wave director Alain Resnais.
If you would like an overview of the plot you can find it on the Wikipedia page here.
The time code after the beep (indicating the discussion about sexual violence is done) 50 minutes and 40 seconds.
I have two magnificent guests!
Mark Bould is a professor of Film and Literature at the University of West England, Bristol. He has written/edited extensively about science fiction cinema.
Mani Sharpe is a lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Leeds. He is the author of the book Late-Colonial French Cinema: Filming the Algerian War of Independence.
At one point Mark mentions Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius by Jorge Luis Borges and I'm mentioning it here as I had to look it up and it might be on interest.


Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Alain Resnais
07:20 France in 1968
11:27 Cancelled Cannes Film Festival
13:51 Editing and Chronology
20:10 Continuity conventions
24:33 Editing words and memories
33:23 Unreliable Narrator
39:05 The film watching experience
44:21 Loss and heartbreak in sci-fi
50:55 Legacy
55:05 Recommendations
 
Recommendations
New Rose Hotel (1998) by Abel Ferrara
Alain Resnais by Emma Wilson
 
 
NEXT EPISODE!
Wish me luck as I attempt to arrange an episode on Barbarella in two weeks. As this hasn't been finalised I would suggest that you might also like the watch Planet of the Apes just in case should the fates be tricky! Both of these films are quite easy to find to rent.