Dreams and Fears: British Science Fiction Cinema (1929-1966)

Krzysztof Loska

Abstract

Some critics say that the development of the British science fiction cinema of 1929-1966 was overshadowed by American sci-fi film productions, which was reflected both by thematic similarities (the threat of nuclear war, the fear of alien invasions or of effects of radioactive radiation), and the attitude towards science or technology, related with the pessimistic assessment of civilisational development, and threats caused by the application of new technologies. Over the years the rationalist paradigm of science fiction gave way to catastrophic imagination”. Scientists were replaced by monsters, and the utopian restructu­ring of society turned into visions of global destruction. However, British sci-fi films differ from their American counterparts, the difference being the result of the vitality of the Gothic tradition in Britain and popularity of television serials successfully adapted for the silver screen. You can see no impact of cartoons with stories of supermen fighting evil, which were so important in the American cinema of the interwar period, on British cinema.