In connection with the exhibition Moving Pictures: Karl Struss and the Rise of Hollywood, each month we’ll watch a film from a different decade in Struss’s career that highlight the achievements and advancements he brought to the genre. After each screening, an expert will share commentary and behind-the-scenes stories about the film, followed by audience Q&A.
In August, we’ll watch Rocketship X-M (1950), a campy, science fiction film about a Moon expedition gone awry. Through a series of unforeseen events, the astronauts are thrown off course and land on Mars. The crew find evidence of a once great civilization that was almost completely destroyed by an atomic war. The Martians that survived have reverted to a caveman-like existence. The film was featured in the second season premiere of the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000.
After screening this science fiction adventure film, Jonathan Frembling will provide commentary on the film. Frembling is co-curator of the exhibition Moving Pictures: Karl Struss and the Rise of Hollywood and the Gentling Curator and Head Museum Archivist at the Carter. He earned a master's in history from the University of Texas before starting his career in the Carter’s Library.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided during this event.
Rocketship X-M. DIRECTED BY: Kurt Neumann. WRITTEN BY: Kurt Neumann, Orville H. Hampton, and Dalton Trumbo (uncredited). WITH: Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery. 1950. 77 min. USA. B&W. English. Not rated; suggested for ages 12 and older.
