Re: MT VOID, 07/11/25 -- Vol. 44, No. 2, Whole Number 2388

On 7/13/25 8:54 AM, Evelyn C. Leeper wrote:

THE MT VOID
07/11/25 -- Vol. 44, No. 2, Whole Number 2388
 

TOPIC: Mini Reviews, Part 16 (film reviews by Evelyn C. Leeper)
 Three more from Mark's list of neglected gems:
 THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT (1951): This "neglected science fiction
film" is as topical now as ever. It is about how technology has
unintended and unexpected results. In the film, it's the "perfect"
cloth. Since then it's been the personal computer, the Internet,
and now AI. There are three aspects it gets right. One is that the
people who come up with technologies are not (necessarily) evil
scientists trying to take over the world. The second is that
(initially at least) many people see only the advantages of the
discoveries/inventions. And the third is that there is resistance
to all these discoveries/inventions by those who see them as
disruptions to their way of life.

I love the ending (which I won't spoil here).

VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (1960): Mark called this a "forgotten" or a
"neglected science fiction film", but I don't think I'd agree. I
mean, yes, if you can have someone in the audience stand up at a
panel on forgotten science fiction films and suggest FORBIDDEN
PLANET, then okay, it's a forgotten science fiction film. But
under the usual definition of forgotten, FORBIDDEN PLANET is not
forgotten, and I don't think VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED is forgotten
either.

There are some genuinely forgotten science fiction films, but I can't remember what they are.
--
Gary McGath    http://www.mcgath.com