This legendary film stunned audiences with its lengthy running time - a full 21 minutes! The plot-line, liberally borrowed from both Wells and Verne, involved a ship fired from a giant cannon visiting a personified moon. The amazing sets and special effects - particularly the use of double exposure - were the real stars however.
Although this film pales in comparison to Lang's Metropolis, it is memorable for its brilliant sets and effects. A crew travels to the moon in a spaceship to mine gold. The original cut was unbearably long, but novel ideas like a launch countdown added some tension. Lang's last silent film and enough zip to be censored by the Nazis.
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde D: Rouben Mamoulian (1931) 97m
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Along with Frankenstein, this movie kicked off a wave of top-notch 1930s SF horror films. Easily the truest cinematic version the Robert Louis Stevenson story, Frederic March is superb as the split-personality doctor. Censorship regulations toned down the mistress/sex-slave angle in the almost-as-good 1941 MGM re-make.
Frankenstein D: James Whale (1931) 71m
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Then-unknown actor Boris Karloff got the gig as Frankenstein's monster when Bela Lugosi knocked it back, launching a legendary career in horror films. Based on Mary Shelley's classic novel, the now-familiar tale of a misguided scientist who creates a living being from body parts was a prototype for a host of films that came after it.
The Invisible Man D: James Whale (1933) 71m
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The movie that made Claude Rains an international star, even though we only actually saw him for a few seconds. US production that semi-successfully tries to stay true to Wells by setting the action in England. Fully-bandaged transparency-afflicted doctor shows up at country inn. He goes nuts and turns to murderous crime.
King Kong D: Merian C Cooper (1933) 100m
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Film crew sets off to jungle to make a movie about a giant ape that is worshipped by local natives. The natives swipe the female lead and offer her up to Kong - who is instantly fascinated by her endless screaming. The movie climaxes on top of the Empire State Building with Fay Wray still screaming. Classic FX monster mash.
The Bride of Frankenstein D: James Whale (1935) 75m
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Superior sequel to the 1931 original. Frankenstein is persuaded by a colleague to create a mate for his earlier stitch-job. The female of the species, however, doesn't look too bad and rejects her intended - causing him to go on a rampage. Homage is paid to Frankenstein author Mary Shelley and Boris Karloff is superb.
Some stunning sci-fi vistas, although a bit plodding at times. Another H G Wells vision of the future - starting with the decades long World War II, to the rise of warlords, and finally to a somewhat sterile high-tech society in the year 2036. The sheer scale of production opened up countless possibilities for future sci-fi film-makers.
