Invasion '51 (hardback): The Birth of Alien Cinema
Sean Kotz

Invasion ‘51 (hardback): The Birth of Alien Cinema
Sean Kotz
This title is printed to order. This book may have been self-published. If so, we cannot guarantee the quality of the content. In the main most books will have gone through the editing process however some may not. We therefore suggest that you be aware of this before ordering this book. If in doubt check either the author or publisher’s details as we are unable to accept any returns unless they are faulty. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Between March and September of 1951, three very different films launched a new Hollywood genre, the alien invasion feature, defining our cultural expectations for extraterrestrial contact in the process. Where The Thing from Another World gives us the first movie monster capable of total human annihilation, The Day the Earth Stood Still provides a messianic messenger who unmasks our own destructive potential. And then there is The Man from Planet X, whose ambiguous alien may have gotten some clandestine design help from the C.I.A.
Invasion ‘51 charts the historical and cinematic context for these films, and analyzes each from several angles including their symbolism, messaging, legacies and cultural impacts. Through intensive research, the book resolves mysteries and corrects misconceptions as well. Why did Hollywood switch from mad scientists to scientist heros in the '50s? Were Howard Hawks’ jokes simple punchlines or was there something else going on? Did Frank Lloyd Wright have a hand in designing Klaatu’s spaceship? Why does the description of the Planet X spacecraft differ from its appearance on screen?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Like many readers of this book, Sean Kotz’s love of classic horror and science fiction began as a child and never dissipated. He is a writer, researcher, documentary filmmaker and educator from Virginia. He has taught film, literature and writing at Virginia Tech and Radford University, where he currently teaches genre film courses.
This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in 7-14 days
Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.