six sci-fi classics at the heights

A long time ago, in a Hollywood far, far away, brave men and women created space ships and monsters, and took us to distant planets with whatever materials they had and a hell of a lot of imagination.

And thus began the Take-Up Productions press release informing me of the new series "Before CGI: Six Sci-Fi Classics" screening at The Heights, Sept 20 through October 18.  All screenings are one time only, every monday, at 7:30 (except for the Sept 27 showing of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, that one's at 9:15).  The biggest sci-fi classic of the bunch is probably the first movie in the series, Forbidden Planet.  The original King Kong is also a much talked about film when discussing American classics, but it's not always grouped in with these B-movie all stars- but a good flick is a good flick, as my pops always said!  Here's the full lineup, from the press release:



9/20 - 7:30
Forbidden Planet
1956, Fred M. Wilcox

Inspired by Shakespeare's Tempest, Forbidden Planet is as much a psychological thriller as it is a sci-fi adventure. An invisible monster threatens the lives of a crew sent to the distant planet Altair IV. Is it real… or the result one man's fevered imagination?

9/27 - 7:30
War of the Worlds
1953, Byron Haskin

Alien invasion double feature! Amazing visual- and sound- effects dominate this sci-fi classic. The Martians' space ships featured a cobra-eye weapon that shoot disintegrating rays and whose freaky noise will haunt you in the night. Not even Spielberg could improve on the original. All tickets for War of the Worlds include admission to Invasion of the Body Snatchers!

9/27 - 9:15
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
1956, Don Siegel

Alien invasion double feature! Rakish country doctor Miles Bennell has a nagging suspicion that the wave of hysteria sweeping sleepy Santa Mira, CA might be something more sinister than paranoia. What if he’s right? What if he’s the only one who’s right?

10/4 - 7:30
The Invisible Man
1933, James Whale

With a bag of tricks that predate modern FX by at least fifty years, monster virtuoso James Whale crafts one of the most pleasurably anarchic romps of all time. Adapted from the HG Welles’ parable about a scientist driven mad by invisibility.

10/11 - 7:30
The Incredible Shrinking Man
1957, Jack Arnold

Exposed to a radioactive cloud, Scott Carey (Grant Williams) begins to shrink rapidly. Battling spiders, cats, and mice—not to mention his own sense of inferiority—our hero must find a cure before he vanishes altogether.

10/18 - 7:30
King Kong
1933, Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedesack

The first great special effects film, and still unrivaled for its thrills, King Kong deserves to be witnessed on the big screen. You'll marvel at the great ape's agility and expressiveness, and maybe even shed a tear at his terrible fate. A masterpiece