The Invisible Woman brings to mind the fact that in Shakespeare's time romance and comedy were considered to be synonymous. That's what made Romeo and Juliet so groundbreaking. No doubt there were some laughs when the idea was of an invisible woman first proposed.
Another great Episode. I was happy to see you extended the length of the episode to accommodate the increased number of serials/movies. This time around, I've seen every serial/movie you mentioned and concur with your thoughts on them. Here's the list of those I have in my collection, all of which are in my regular viewing cycle: Flash Gordon, Dr Cyclops, Invisible Man Returns, Invisible Woman, Before I Hang, The Man with Nine Lives, The Devil Bat and The Mysterious Dr Satan. I was a bit surprised you didn't mention the serials of The Green Hornet and The Shadow in the last section of your episode. They also came out in 1940. (Yes, they are in my collection. I have about 85 serials at this point.)
I should have mentioned The Green Hornet and The Shadow somewhere in the video but it was getting pretty long. So much to talk about. There was a lot to talk about in 1940. Luckily 1941 will be a bit quieter so I can get into more detail about the films.
That's fascinating, I had forgotten about late 1930s sci-fi films! Flash Gordon films, as serials, I'm familiar with, as any sci-fi fan should be, but they're fun nonetheless. The Buck Rogers serials area also fun! The rolling scroll being picked up by George Lucas was a great touch, that did not escape many true old sci-fi fans.
Dear Melissa, Another great chapter. I thought the launch sequence in the German short movie may have provided inspiration for Gerry Anderson's series. 'Fireball XL5.' Frank.
20 episodes! All of them are great - I'm learning so much. I'm intriqued how over time changing art styles are utilized, when particular themes peak, and the advancement of movie effects. I'm curious how you parse "sci-fi" from "horror", and paying attention to the overlap. Thanks for all you're doing!
Thanks so much. Most sci-fi of the time was a mix of sci-fi and horror. It seems like Hollywood wasn't interested in straight-up sci-fi like Things to Come but the genre will have its day.
I think he was part of the Stooges, but quit after getting fed up with Ted Heely. He became a minor actor in Hollywood after that and appeared in lots of movie shorts and movies until he rejoined the group after Curly's stroke.
I haver said this before, there is so much charm in older movies but this is older than what I am most familiar with. Your videos are fascinating and beautifully produced. Many of the years you have already covered have had themes, this one being science. For wrong or for right when it comes to scientific accuracy, I feel that the creativity still has to be admired. Perhaps I am denigrating the knowledge that they had at the time, I find the pheromones / scents being used to make bats attack is very creative for the time. I said something similar in a previous video, perhaps I am wrong with this but when people saw interior spaceships, even if their interiors were similar to aeroplanes of the day, so few people would have had first-hand flying experience it would have seemed all the more fantastical.
The Devil Bat was a film I expected to see in the 1950s so it was fun to watch it in the context of 1940. The more I study the films of this era, the more I appreciate them. Sure, they may seem silly by today's standards but they are rarely boring.
It is said that 1939 was a great year for movies, but 1940 was no slouch, either. I remember seeing DR. CYCLOPS when I was a kid. We had a black & white TV, so I didn't know until much later that it was a Technicolor film. It's still one of the very best Mad Scientist movies ever made.
As usual Melissa and Glenn, another entertaining episode, even though the movies weren't too exciting! Like so many others, always look forward to each new episode appearing, so will sign off by wishing you well and will see you in 1941! Take care, Terry, Australia.
Very stimulating mix of both films and literature this time - high (that would be Devil Bat :-)) and low, good and bad. And the video itself - excellent as always.
Not me. I had to revisit that part of the video and check imdb. Did you notice Oscar Homolka? He was in the Invisble Woman. He's the one that touched the dynamo and does the quirky jerk after that.
Do we see 'Slan''s influence in the 'seventies ITV children's sci-fi series, 'The Tomorrow People', the film 'Scanners', and, in a more diluted form, 'Orphan Black' ?
@@marswantsmovies I know Tomorrow People creator Roger Price was influenced by a conversation he had with the young David Bowie, but that Bowie had read 'Slan' is quiet reasonable.
I wish I had more expertise to speak on that subject. It's fascinating how filmmakers and special effects artists worked in the 1940s long before computers could do the work. It takes a true creative mind to make films in that era.
I'm not familiar with Fetch. Hopefully, someone in the comments may have an answer. We're getting into a period of film history where most films are not on RUclips.
I wouldn't be able to watch The Devil Bat, because the bat is too cute and laughingly ridiculous, like the fake giant rat, used the classic Who story, The Talons Of Weng Chiang. It reminded me of Godzilla enemy Mothra. Bats simply don't fly like that. Otherwise the story was an interesting idea, so I can see why someone did a modern remake.
Impressive how many science fiction movies in 1940. Curious what these creators would think of how the future actually turned out. No one foresaw nuclear weapons or the internet. No death rays or invisible people. But we do have space travel and landing on the Moon.
This year was a mix of some who were hopeful about space exploration and others who feared the dangers of medical experimentation. No alien attacks yet.
it's time for this channel to be nominated for a Ronda Hatton Horror Award--let's make it happen!
I recently watched Dr. Cyclops. It was far better than I was expecting.
The Invisible Woman brings to mind the fact that in Shakespeare's time romance and comedy were considered to be synonymous. That's what made Romeo and Juliet so groundbreaking.
No doubt there were some laughs when the idea was of an invisible woman first proposed.
Many thanks for this superb retrospective dealing with film and historical events from the 1940s.
Oh the Devil Bat!
I didn't know about the two sequels;)
That was Shemp Howard in the Invisible Woman
Yes. He wasn't part of the Three Stooges at that point, just a Hollywood actor. He was in W C Fields' The Bank Dick in the same year as the bartender.
That was an absolute pleasure to watch, many thanks!
great, extremely enjoyable, fun and well made video, thorough facts research ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another great Episode. I was happy to see you extended the length of the episode to accommodate the increased number of serials/movies.
This time around, I've seen every serial/movie you mentioned and concur with your thoughts on them. Here's the list of those I have in my collection, all of which are in my regular viewing cycle: Flash Gordon, Dr Cyclops, Invisible Man Returns, Invisible Woman, Before I Hang, The Man with Nine Lives, The Devil Bat and The Mysterious Dr Satan.
I was a bit surprised you didn't mention the serials of The Green Hornet and The Shadow in the last section of your episode. They also came out in 1940. (Yes, they are in my collection. I have about 85 serials at this point.)
I should have mentioned The Green Hornet and The Shadow somewhere in the video but it was getting pretty long. So much to talk about. There was a lot to talk about in 1940. Luckily 1941 will be a bit quieter so I can get into more detail about the films.
Congratulations on hitting 3,000 subscribers!
Thank you so much 😀
And by the looks of the current total (3.9K), it's about to be 4000. The great work of your videos is really showing.
That's fascinating, I had forgotten about late 1930s sci-fi films!
Flash Gordon films, as serials, I'm familiar with, as any sci-fi fan should be, but they're fun nonetheless.
The Buck Rogers serials area also fun!
The rolling scroll being picked up by George Lucas was a great touch, that did not escape many true old sci-fi fans.
There are some fun sci-fi serials in the 1930s. I wish they made more Buck Rogers episodes but at least we have the TV series from the 1970s.
Thank you for bringing us the 1940's Sci fi history. Im not sure why but I really like the ringing bell that starts the video.
Dear Melissa,
Another great chapter. I thought the launch sequence in the German short movie may have provided inspiration for Gerry Anderson's series. 'Fireball XL5.'
Frank.
It's interesting how the ramp is used in the German short, When Worlds Collide, and then Fireball XL5. Love all the connections
@@marswantsmovies
Dear Melissa,
XL5 always remains a personal favourite, although I still enjoy all of Anderson's Sci-Fi classics.
Frank.
XL5 will be something fun to talk about when I get to the 60s.
@@marswantsmovies
Dear Melissa,
I can't wait.
Frank.
Thank you for one of the best, most comprehensive, & enjoyable movie channels on RUclips. You are a professor, & this is a fun, wonderful class! tavi.
Thank you so much, Tavi. I'm having so much fun making videos about movies. The 1940s are going to be a fascinating decade. Lots of films to discuss.
20 episodes! All of them are great - I'm learning so much. I'm intriqued how over time changing art styles are utilized, when particular themes peak, and the advancement of movie effects. I'm curious how you parse "sci-fi" from "horror", and paying attention to the overlap. Thanks for all you're doing!
Thanks so much. Most sci-fi of the time was a mix of sci-fi and horror. It seems like Hollywood wasn't interested in straight-up sci-fi like Things to Come but the genre will have its day.
Long live The Internet Archive! 👍👍👍
Melissa, another excellent offering. Thanks for sharing your labor of love. Kudos.
You are so welcome! Have a wonderful Friday.
12:04 "The cast included notable names..." and proceeds to leave out Shemp Howard!
Shemp was a very versitile actor he performed in a lot of films beside the 3 stooges. He had the biggest filmography of all the stooges.
I think he was part of the Stooges, but quit after getting fed up with Ted Heely. He became a minor actor in Hollywood after that and appeared in lots of movie shorts and movies until he rejoined the group after Curly's stroke.
@@palmercolson7037 - Exactly right on all points (except Ted Healy's name). Shemp stayed with the troupe until dying of a heart attack in 1956.
A screwup on my part. I didn't catch the Three Stooges connection.
@@marswantsmovies I'll forgive you this time 😘
Just be sure to keep these coming!
I have not seen Dr. Cyclops since the mid-80s when gramps still had his Betamax
It's time for a re-watch.
I haver said this before, there is so much charm in older movies but this is older than what I am most familiar with. Your videos are fascinating and beautifully produced. Many of the years you have already covered have had themes, this one being science. For wrong or for right when it comes to scientific accuracy, I feel that the creativity still has to be admired. Perhaps I am denigrating the knowledge that they had at the time, I find the pheromones / scents being used to make bats attack is very creative for the time. I said something similar in a previous video, perhaps I am wrong with this but when people saw interior spaceships, even if their interiors were similar to aeroplanes of the day, so few people would have had first-hand flying experience it would have seemed all the more fantastical.
The Devil Bat was a film I expected to see in the 1950s so it was fun to watch it in the context of 1940. The more I study the films of this era, the more I appreciate them. Sure, they may seem silly by today's standards but they are rarely boring.
@@marswantsmovies what I forgot to mention was the safety gear for the birth of the helicopter. Suit and bowler hat.
NICE JOB listing download links in the description.
It is said that 1939 was a great year for movies, but 1940 was no slouch, either. I remember seeing DR. CYCLOPS when I was a kid. We had a black & white TV, so I didn't know until much later that it was a Technicolor film. It's still one of the very best Mad Scientist movies ever made.
As usual Melissa and Glenn, another entertaining episode, even though the movies weren't too exciting! Like so many others, always look forward to each new episode appearing, so will sign off by wishing you well and will see you in 1941! Take care, Terry, Australia.
Thanks, Terry. 1941 should be a fun year.
Very stimulating mix of both films and literature this time - high (that would be Devil Bat :-)) and low, good and bad. And the video itself - excellent as always.
Thank you so much. I'm adding The Devil Bat to my list of guilty pleasures. Lugosi was fun to watch.
Glad to see this continuation of the series.
How many of us noticed Dwight Frye's appearance in Sky Bandits!
Not me. I had to revisit that part of the video and check imdb. Did you notice Oscar Homolka? He was in the Invisble Woman. He's the one that touched the dynamo and does the quirky jerk after that.
Nice.
Thanks!
Thank you.
You ever noticed that cary grant always has that double take moment in his movies?
.....an olde vaudeville trick. He learned from the best.
Do we see 'Slan''s influence in the 'seventies ITV children's sci-fi series, 'The Tomorrow People', the film 'Scanners', and, in a more diluted form, 'Orphan Black' ?
Slan walked to the future sci-fi stories could run.
@@marswantsmovies For sure.
@@marswantsmovies I know Tomorrow People creator Roger Price was influenced by a conversation he had with the young David Bowie, but that Bowie had read 'Slan' is quiet reasonable.
That's so cool. I'd love to have a conversation with David Bowie.
@@marswantsmovies
It must've been cool.
Compare Weltraumschif Eins Startet with the new adventures of Lord FLASHheart and you know that Hollywood was not always in the lead. 😁
It would be interesting to find out how the special effects were created.
I wish I had more expertise to speak on that subject. It's fascinating how filmmakers and special effects artists worked in the 1940s long before computers could do the work. It takes a true creative mind to make films in that era.
These are always good, though I had some trouble watching these via a FETCH.
I'm not familiar with Fetch. Hopefully, someone in the comments may have an answer. We're getting into a period of film history where most films are not on RUclips.
Мультфильм Пиноккио вроде вышел в 1941 году а не в 1940 году
Greetings. The film was released in the United States in 1940 but was released in other countries later on.
I wonder if A.I. voice is pretty monotone… and A.I. grab short video clips to build a show.
Feeding the algorithm.
Much appreciated
Nom Nom Nom. Yummy.
I wouldn't be able to watch The Devil Bat, because the bat is too cute and laughingly ridiculous, like the fake giant rat, used the classic Who story, The Talons Of Weng Chiang. It reminded me of Godzilla enemy Mothra. Bats simply don't fly like that. Otherwise the story was an interesting idea, so I can see why someone did a modern remake.
Bats are adorable (as long as they're not sent by a mad scientist to attack me).
Impressive how many science fiction movies in 1940. Curious what these creators would think of how the future actually turned out. No one foresaw nuclear weapons or the internet. No death rays or invisible people. But we do have space travel and landing on the Moon.
This year was a mix of some who were hopeful about space exploration and others who feared the dangers of medical experimentation. No alien attacks yet.
Cultural events that happen in 1940?...hmmm cant think of anything that happened. Yep pretty dull year.🤔
True. Only a couple of movies, a book or two, and a war.
🤣
I watched quite a bity of this and never saw a robot or raygun, I do not like click bait, Buh!
Actually this episode contains BOTH a robot and a raygun (A ray that disables planes). You gotta watch the whole episode. I did.
Bot narrator I'm out. Ugh
Pretty sure it's not a bot.
@@Buddybaba then they need a drink to loosen up lol