No visit to DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book chapter on mad scientists would be complete without renewing one’s acquaintance with one of the other men of science who fell to their studies, the infamous Dr. Jekyll. This silent film, using Robert Louis Stevenson’s original novel to inspire its tale, features John Barrymore in…
Tag: science
Frankenstein (1910) – J. Searle Dawley
The mad scientist chapter of DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book would be remiss if it didn’t cite one of the most deranged men of science ever created, Frankenstein. And what better way to celebrate than look at the first filmed version of the story created by Edison Studios back in 1910. Using Mary…
Splice (2009) – Vincenzo Natali
The next title in DK Canada’s Minsters in the Movies book, as I continue my way through the chapter on mad scientists is Splice, starring Adrien Brody and the always exemplary Sarah Polley. This film is very much the mad scientist take on parenting with all the mistakes and the oedipal complexes taken to a…
Star Trek: Voyager (1996) – Sacred Ground, and Future’s End: Part I
Captain’s log: stardate 50063.2 Robert Duncan McNeill directs this Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) episode that was written by Lisa Klink from a story by Geo Cameron. It debuted on 30 October, 1996. When Kes (Jennifer Lien) is injured during an away mission to a planet’s sacred ground, the captain undertakes a take quest to help restore…
Indiana Jones and the White Witch (1994) – Martin Caidin
London 1930 The adventures of Indiana Jones continue with Martin Caidin’s second novel featuring the heroic archaeologist. Coming on the tails of the previous book, Indiana Jones and the Sky Pirates, this story shows that Caidin is more comfortable with the the set pieces that pop up in the iconic series, but it still seems…
Werewolf of London (1935) – Stuart Walker
It’s time for things to get a little hairy as I move on to the werewolf chapter of DK Canada’s highly enjoyable coffee table tome, Monsters in the Movies by John Landis. I dug into this 1935 film, that is thankfully short, and can’t seem to decide how funny it wants to be with some…
Space: 1999 (1977) – Bringers of Wonder: Part 2, and The Seance Spectre
After last week’s cliffhanger with Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) being menaced by one of the monstrous Bringers, I had to find out what happened next! Written by Terence Feeley, this episode first aired on 11 August, 1977. While the rest of the Alphans see the Bringers as friends, relatives, and loved ones, Koenig sees…
Proxima Command – An Evening’s Sci-Fi Adventure
Ever since I was a kid and first discovered Star Wars, Star Trek, and science fiction in general, I had dreams of stepping onto the bridge of a starship, or spaceship, and exploring, seeking out new life forms, engaging in intergalactic battles, or watching the stunning starscape slip past my windows. I remember sitting at…
Space: 1999 (1976) -Catacombs of the Moon, and Space Warp
Apparently evangelicals (of a sort) continue to exist in space when they rear their head in this episode of Space: 1999 written by Anthony Terpiloff. It first aired on 25 November, 1976. Patrick Osgood (James Laurenson), one of the engineers on Alpha, is looking for teranium in the depths of the moon. Just a few…
Space: 1999 (1976) – Seed of Destruction, and The AB Chrysalis
Broadcast on 11 November, 1976, Seed of Destruction, penned by John Goldsmith lets Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) indulge into that classic sci-fi trope, the evil twin. He and Carter (Nick Tate) are investigating a strange asteroid that Maya (Catherine Schell) reports is giving off a strange energy reading. While Carter works on the Eagle,…
Star Trek: Voyager (1995) -Jetrel, and Learning Curve
Captain’s log: stardate 48832.1 Jack Klein, Karen Klein and Kenneth Biller pen this Neelix (Ethan Phillips) episode from a story by James Thomton and Scott Nimerfro. The penultimate episode of the first season aired on 15 May, 1995. James Sloyan plays Jetrel, a scientist who comes aboard Voyager and delivers terrible news to Neelix. He…
Dracula’s Daughter (1936) – Lambert Hillyer
John Landis Monsters in the Movies, available from DK Canada, keeps the fangs coming with this next title from the Vampire section of his book. This 1936 film is supposed to pick up shortly after the close of 1931’s Dracula (despite the fact that it was set in the 19th century, and this film is…
