Mars in the movies : a history / Thomas Kent Miller ; foreword by Michael Stein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Miller, Thos. Kent (Thomas Kent), 1945- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mars (Planet)--In motion pictures.

Mars (Planet).

Mars (Planet)--On television.

Physical Description:

x, 280 pages ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2016]

Summary:

"This comprehensive survey describes 91 significant (and not-so) films, television movies and miniseries, and direct to video productions focusing on Mars. The author discusses them in their historical context and details the development of special effects and cinematic approaches through the years. Cast, crew and production information are provided, along with plot summaries and quotes from critics"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The State of Mars Cinema Before 1950

Introduction 17

The Silent Era-

A Trip to Mars (1910) 18

A Message from Mars (1913) 19

Himmelskibet/A Trip to Mars (1918) 20

A Message from Mars (1921) 21

M.A.R.S. (1922) 22

Aelita-The Queen of Mars (1924) 22

The One Talkie-

Just Imagine (1930) 24

In a Class by Itself: A Radio Broadcast to End All Radio Broadcasts-

Orson Welles' CBS Mercury Theater on the Air Radio-Play Adaption of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (1938) 26

The Serials-

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (Mars Attacks the World) (1938) 28

The Purple Monster Strikes (D-Day on Mars) (1945) 32

Flying Disc Man from Mars (Missile Monsters) (1950) 33

Zombies of the Stratosphere (Satan's Satellites) (1952) 34

Chapter 2 The Head of Zeus: Destination Moon (1950) 36

Chapter 3 Voyages to Mars

Introduction 45

Rocketship X-M (1950) 46

Flight to Mars (1951) 51

Jack Rabin (1914-1987) and Irving Block (1910-1986) 58

Conquest of Space (1955) 59

George Pal (1908-1980) / Gail Morgan Hickman Hickman, Gail Morgan 70

"Mars and Beyond" (December 4, 1957, Disneyland Episode) 71

The Angry Red Planet (1959) 76

Ib Melchior (1917-2015) 81

Battle Beyond the Sun (1963) 82

Mechte Navstrechu (1963) 83

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) 85

Nathan Van Cleave (1910-1970) / Dirk Wickenden Wickenden, Dirk 89

Byron Haskin (1899-1984) 91

The Wizard of Mars (aka Horrors of the Red Planet) (1964) 93

The X from Outer Space (1967) 96

Mission Mars (1968) 96

The Astronaut (1972 TV Movie) 98

Capricorn One (1978) 99

The Martian Chronicles (1980 TV Miniseries) 101

Escape from Mars (1999 TV Movie) 103

Mission to Mars (2000) 105

Red Planet (2000) 108

Stranded (2001 TV Movie) 111

Crimson Force (2005 TV Movie) 113

Race to Mars (2007 TV Miniseries) 114

John Carter (2012) 117

The Last Days on Mars (2013) 120

Last Sunrise (2014 Straight-to-Video) 123

The Martian (2015) 125

Chapter 4 Invasions from Mars

Introduction 131

Haredevil Hare (1948) 131

The Thing from Another World (1951) 134

Red Planet Mars (1952) 137

Invaders from Mars (1953) 139

The War of the Worlds (1953) 145

Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century (1953) 153

Devil Girl from Mars (1954) 153

It! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) 158

The Day Mars Invaded Earth (1963) 161

Queen of Blood (1966) 162

War of the Planets (1966) 165

Mars Needs Women (1967 TV Movie) 167

Five Million Years to Earth (aka Quatermass and the Pit) (1967) 168

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (1978 Rock Opera LP) 174

Star Crystal (1986) 177

Invaders from Mars (1986) 179

Sandkings (1995 Feature-Length TV Episode) 181

Mars Attacks! (1996) 183

Species II (1998) 186

Close Encounters of the 4th Kind: Infestation from Mars (2004 Straight-to-Video) 188

Destination Mars (2006 Straight-to-Video) 189

War of the Worlds: Goliath (2012) 190

The Great Martian War 1913-1917 (2013 TV Movie) 192

Chapter 5 Still More "Wars of the Worlds"

Introduction 196

War of the Worlds (TV series, two seasons 1988-1990) 196

H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds (2005 Straight-to-Video) 198

H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005 Straight-to-Video) 200

War of the Worlds (2005) 201

War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave (2008 Straight-to-Video) 204

Alien Dawn (2012 Straight-to-Video) 204

Chapter 6 Inhabited Mars

Introduction 207

Total Recall (1990) 208

Mars (1997 Straight-to-Video) 209

John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001) 211

DOOM (2005) 212

Princess of Mars (aka John Carter of Mars) (2009 Straight-to-Video) 213

Red Faction: Origins (2011 TV Movie) 214

Martian Land (2015 Straight-to-Video) 215

Chapter 7 Invasion of the Slapstick Comedies

Introduction 218

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) 219

The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962) 220

Pajama Party (1964) 221

Martians Go Home (1989) 222

Spaced Invaders (1990) 222

Rocketman (1997) 223

My Favorite Martian (1999) 223

Chapter 8 Homages, Parodies, Satires, Send-Ups and Spoofs

Introduction 225

Santa Clans Conquers the Martians (1964) 225

Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (aka Alms Invades Puerto Rico) (1965) 226

The Alpha Incident (1978) 227

Attack from mars (aka Midnight Movie Massacre) (1988) 227

Lobster Man from Mars (1989) 228

Lost on Mars (2002 Straight-to-Video); Empire of Danger (2004 Straight-to-Video) 229

Scary Movie 4 (2006) 230

Interplanetary (2008 Straight-to-Video) 230

Cave Women on Mars (2008 Straight-to-Video) 231

Christmas on Mars (2008); A Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips 231

Mars (2010) 232

Chapter 9 The Children of The Martian

Introduction 234

Citizen Mars (2015 Web TV series) 237

Tom Sachs Presents: A Space Program (2016 art film) 238

Approaching the Unknown (2016) 239

Passage to Mars (2016) 240

The Space Between Us (December 2016) 241

Mars (Cable Channel Miniseries November 2016) 242.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780786499144

0786499141

OCLC:

947925919