The Cold War in Science Fiction Films

1. Polf06 The Cold War in Science Fiction Films Y200 Politics and Film February 1, 2011

2. The Cold War in Science Fiction <ul><li>The Fifties : General dread and anxiety </li></ul><ul><ul><li>superpower rivalry </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>nuclear arms race </li></ul></ul><ul><li>The Sixties : Dr. Strangelove and James Bond </li></ul><ul><li>The Seventies : Star Wars and the Terminator </li></ul> The Cold War in Science Fiction <ul><li>The Fifties : General dread and anxiety </li></ul><ul><ul><li>superpower rivalry </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>nuclear arms race </li></ul></ul><ul><li>The Sixties : Dr. Strangelove and James Bond </li></ul><ul><li>The Seventies : Star Wars and the Terminator </li></ul>

3. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) <ul><li>The earth needs aliens to save it from internal divisions </li></ul><ul><li>When the space ship lands, the people of Washington assume it is a Soviet attack </li></ul><ul><li>The movie gives a big plug for the UN </li></ul> The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) <ul><li>The earth needs aliens to save it from internal divisions </li></ul><ul><li>When the space ship lands, the people of Washington assume it is a Soviet attack </li></ul><ul><li>The movie gives a big plug for the UN </li></ul>

4. Them! (1954) <ul><li>Giant ants created by mutations caused by exposure to nuclear radiation </li></ul><ul><li>Epitomizes the U.S. public’s ignorance about but also concern over nuclear weapons </li></ul> Them! (1954) <ul><li>Giant ants created by mutations caused by exposure to nuclear radiation </li></ul><ul><li>Epitomizes the U.S. public’s ignorance about but also concern over nuclear weapons </li></ul>

5. Kiss Me Deadly (1955) <ul><li>Mickey Spillane novel with Mike Hammer as macho hero </li></ul><ul><li>Girl (Cloris Leachman) steals box with nuclear materials in it </li></ul><ul><li>Film ends with nuclear “fire” </li></ul> Kiss Me Deadly (1955) <ul><li>Mickey Spillane novel with Mike Hammer as macho hero </li></ul><ul><li>Girl (Cloris Leachman) steals box with nuclear materials in it </li></ul><ul><li>Film ends with nuclear “fire” </li></ul>

6. The Blob (1958) <ul><li>Monster is a big red blob from outer space </li></ul><ul><li>Blob consumes everything in its path and grows as it eats </li></ul> The Blob (1958) <ul><li>Monster is a big red blob from outer space </li></ul><ul><li>Blob consumes everything in its path and grows as it eats </li></ul>

7. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) <ul><li>Woman grows to 50 feet after being accidentally exposed to nuclear radiation </li></ul><ul><li>She uses her unusual size to take vengeance upon those who have mistreated her </li></ul> Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) <ul><li>Woman grows to 50 feet after being accidentally exposed to nuclear radiation </li></ul><ul><li>She uses her unusual size to take vengeance upon those who have mistreated her </li></ul>

8. On the Beach (1959) <ul><li>Gregory Peck is the captain of a submarine that survives a nuclear attack </li></ul><ul><li>Despite a love affair in Australia with Ava Gardner, Peck goes back to San Francisco to see if there are any survivors </li></ul> On the Beach (1959) <ul><li>Gregory Peck is the captain of a submarine that survives a nuclear attack </li></ul><ul><li>Despite a love affair in Australia with Ava Gardner, Peck goes back to San Francisco to see if there are any survivors </li></ul>

9. Dr. No (1962) <ul><li>First in the James Bond series </li></ul><ul><li>Sets the mold for future glamorous spy movies </li></ul><ul><li>No direct discussion of Cold War issues </li></ul><ul><li>Bond is amoral but not mercenary </li></ul> Dr. No (1962) <ul><li>First in the James Bond series </li></ul><ul><li>Sets the mold for future glamorous spy movies </li></ul><ul><li>No direct discussion of Cold War issues </li></ul><ul><li>Bond is amoral but not mercenary </li></ul>

10. . Dr. Strangelove (1963) <ul><li>Soviets set up a “doomsday machine” without telling the US </li></ul><ul><li>Crazed general launches attack to prevent corruption of U.S. “bodily fluids” </li></ul><ul><li>Both sides unable to prevent disastrous outcome </li></ul>

11. . The Final Scenes Slim Pickens as Major T.J. “King” Kong riding the warhead down to its Soviet target.

12. . Star Wars (1977) <ul><li>Space operas takes the place of horse operas </li></ul><ul><li>The evil “Empire” as metaphor for the Soviet Union </li></ul><ul><li>Rise of the “brat pack” of directors </li></ul>

13. . WarGames (1983) <ul><li>First movie dealing with video game culture and hacking </li></ul><ul><li>Boy hacks NORAD military gaming computer with nearly disastrous consequences </li></ul>

14. . Terminator (1984) <ul><li>Begins in postnuclear war future </li></ul><ul><li>Terminator robot goes back to the past to kill child who will grow up to fight the robot armies of the future </li></ul><ul><li>Boy’s mother successfully protects her son from robot </li></ul>

15. . Conclusions <ul><li>Hollywood films reflect general underlying fears and anxieties and (with the notable exception of Dr. Strangelove) follow rather than lead public beliefs and myths </li></ul><ul><li>The films of the 1960s and 1970s reinforced the “neo-imperialist” zeitgeist in the US </li></ul><ul><li>The films of the 1980s reflected a general pessimism about the ability to control the Cold War and the nuclear arms race </li></ul>