Sci fi and Fanasty stories into Film 1950's edition

[unclepatrick]

Continuing on with the Step By Step timeline. See the first part of the outline here
http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...d.php?t=252274

I now need Science Fiction and Fantasy stories from the late 40 and 1950s that could be made into Movies.
Please no Heinlein
Asimov or Bradbury. I got them cover. No Tokien. He covers

Plan include RKO doing This Island Earth base closer to the book in 1955 and
The Novel City by Clifford Simak as an animated film 1954
Also George Pal will be doing a film of Earth Abides 1956 ( I need casting suggestion)
And A one movie adaption of Lord of the Rings in 1959, Effects by Ray Harryhausen (Casting suggestion also)

Thank you

[Richter10]

Originally Posted by unclepatrick

Continuing on with the Step By Step timeline. See the first part of the outline here
http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...d.php?t=252274

I now need Science Fiction and Fantasy stories from the late 40 and 1950s that could be made into Movies.
Please no Heinlein
Asimov or Bradbury. I got them cover. No Tokien. He covers

Plan include RKO doing This Island Earth base closer to the book in 1955 and
The Novel City by Clifford Simak as an animated film 1954
Also George Pal will be doing a film of Earth Abides 1956 ( I need casting suggestion)
And A one movie adaption of Lord of the Rings in 1959, Effects by Ray Harryhausen (Casting suggestion also)

Thank you

Murray Leinster's "A Logic Named Joe"
Harry Bates's "Farewell to the Master"
A.J.Deustch's "A Subway Named Moebius"
Poul Anderson's "Sam Hall", "Brain Wave"
Arthur C. Clarke's "Superiority", "Breaking Strain", "Inheritance", "Earth Light", "Tales from the White Hart", "Venture to the Moon" and "The Other Side of the Sky", "Islands in the Sky"
James Blish's "A Case of Conscience"
Alfred Bester's "The Demolished Man"
Frank M. Robinson's "The Power"
Philip k. Dick's "Time out of Joint", "Impostor", "Paycheck", "Adjustment Team", "The Commuter", "Eye in the Sky"

I will try think of more - I hope this helps..

[neopeius]

Omnilingual by H. Beam Piper
Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller
Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
Star Bright by Mark Clifton

The first is easily within budget and has the virtue of starring *gasp* a woman. It was very highly regarded at the time.

The second would be awesome (if religiously provocative).

The third is a fine post-nuclear attack story.

The last was adapted for radio, so a movie version is not outlandish.

Oh, and how about "Steel" by Richard Matheson? (which ultimately *was* turned into a movie--in 2012)

[Torqumada]

Originally Posted by unclepatrick

And A one movie adaption of Lord of the Rings in 1959, Effects by Ray Harryhausen (Casting suggestion also)

I just can't see this working. Fantasy movies were considered either children's movies or B movie material at this time, a step below science fiction and horror movies during the 50's. I just don't see audiences of the time wanting to see the movie in large numbers. Something else to consider is that the series wasn't fully published until 1955. While the series has sold 150 million copies. It's taken 55+ years to get there. LOTR wouldn't become a real cultural phenomena until the mid 60's. There were also some copyright problems with LOTR in the US that wouldn't be solved until the mid 60's. Someone could certainly take a stab at the material, but it would probably not be a good movie or very popular. Given the way fantasy was portrayed at the time, the characters would look much more like the stereotypical presentation of medieval knights and warriors, with everyone wearing full plate armor all of the time. Gandalf would probably have a large pointy hat with stars on it. The hobbits would probably be portrayed by actual physical dwarves. Given that it's relatively unknown in 1959, you're probably not going to get Harryhausen. You would probably end up with some really poor special effects. The Nauzghul would be miniatures riding lizards decorated to look like their mounts, for example.

Torqumada

[jrobbins]

They actually did "Alas Babylon" as an episode of Playhouse 90 back in the late 50s.

[jrobbins]

Now here is what "The Empire Strikes Back" , might had looked like in the 50s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmTpO...ure=plpp_video

[unclepatrick]

[QUOTE=Richter10;6538709]Murray Leinster's "A Logic Named Joe"
Harry Bates's "Farewell to the Master"
A.J.Deustch's "A Subway Named Moebius"
Poul Anderson's "Sam Hall", "Brain Wave"
Arthur C. Clarke's "Superiority", "Breaking Strain", "Inheritance", "Earth Light", "Tales from the White Hart", "Venture to the Moon" and "The Other Side of the Sky", "Islands in the Sky"
James Blish's "A Case of Conscience"
Alfred Bester's "The Demolished Man"
Frank M. Robinson's "The Power"
Philip k. Dick's "Time out of Joint", "Impostor", "Paycheck", "Adjustment Team", "The Commuter", "Eye in the Sky"

I will try think of more -

Most of these would be great on a Twilight Zone or Outer limit. May need to have Republic Television do a Sci Fi Anthology show.
Was planing on a late 1950 Anthology show with 90 minutes movies and doing Asimov Caves of Steel, Bradbury Fahrenheit 451, Scripted by Rod Sterling, Pohl Space Merchants and With Folded Hands. Figure it does one Sci Fi story a season. 13 episodes a season. Two are Shakespeare. One comedy, one Historical or Tragic
Most famous adaption for the Show would be Moonraker with Gene Barry as Bond. Directed by Ida Lupino.
.
Farewell to master was film as The day the Earth stood Still. Not going to mess with that film. May mess with remake.

Brain Waves. Going to be the Sci Fi channel first original movie in the early 1990's.

A case of conscience. Difficult to with the religion element of the novel.

Demolish Man. will be film either early 80 or late 90's.

The Power as in OTL, done for RKO films by George Pal.

Phillip K Dick will get his popularity in Hollywood as OTL.

[unclepatrick]

Originally Posted by neopeius

Omnilingual by H. Beam Piper
Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller
Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
Star Bright by Mark Clifton

The first is easily within budget and has the virtue of starring *gasp* a woman. It was very highly regarded at the time.

The second would be awesome (if religiously provocative).

The third is a fine post-nuclear attack story.

The last was adapted for radio, so a movie version is not outlandish.

Oh, and how about "Steel" by Richard Matheson? (which ultimately *was* turned into a movie--in 2012)

The Piper story is a favorite of Mine. Thinking of having Republic Television doing a sci anthology show and it would do Omnilingual as a episode.

Canticle will be done as a Mini series. Mid 80's just before the outbreak of WW3 in 1985. (Not nuclear war, but you don't want to be in Europe at the time)
Step by Step will have a much hotter cold war. Not utopia.

I like Alas Babylon, but am doing Earth Abides, so I doubt I do a second post apocalyptic movie for RKO. Maybe another film company. Any Suggestion ?

[unclepatrick]

Originally Posted by Torqumada

I just can't see this working. Fantasy movies were considered either children's movies or B movie material at this time, a step below science fiction and horror movies during the 50's. I just don't see audiences of the time wanting to see the movie in large numbers. Something else to consider is that the series wasn't fully published until 1955. While the series has sold 150 million copies. It's taken 55+ years to get there. LOTR wouldn't become a real cultural phenomena until the mid 60's. There were also some copyright problems with LOTR in the US that wouldn't be solved until the mid 60's. Someone could certainly take a stab at the material, but it would probably not be a good movie or very popular. Given the way fantasy was portrayed at the time, the characters would look much more like the stereotypical presentation of medieval knights and warriors, with everyone wearing full plate armor all of the time. Gandalf would probably have a large pointy hat with stars on it. The hobbits would probably be portrayed by actual physical dwarves. Given that it's relatively unknown in 1959, you're probably not going to get Harryhausen. You would probably end up with some really poor special effects. The Nauzghul would be miniatures riding lizards decorated to look like their mounts, for example.

Torqumada

Pod is 1930. Sci fi and Fantasy will be better accepted. Will not win Academy Awards. But Hollywood more interested in Sci Fi and Fanasty.

Yes the 50's version will be more Swashbuckler than epic fanasty. Harryhausen and Willis O Brian will be doing most of their work for RKO which will still be making films in the late 50's, Since RKO will make the Film, Good Stop motion is not a problem. It not going to be a great movie. You can't condense 3 book into two hours without losing alot.
Figure movie Start with The Hobbits and Aragorn being chased by the Nauzgual, Crossing the River and the Rivers raising up to wash them away. Back ground will then be explain at Riverdale meeting.
No battle of Minas Trith in this version.
Group of Writers attempt to get rights in the Late 1950's OTL. Here they Succeed and Get George Pal at RKO to do it.

[unclepatrick]

Originally Posted by neopeius

Omnilingual by H. Beam Piper
Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller
Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
Star Bright by Mark Clifton

The first is easily within budget and has the virtue of starring *gasp* a woman. It was very highly regarded at the time.

The second would be awesome (if religiously provocative).

The third is a fine post-nuclear attack story.

The last was adapted for radio, so a movie version is not outlandish.

Oh, and how about "Steel" by Richard Matheson? (which ultimately *was* turned into a movie--in 2012)

Star Bright will be made into a Movie. Need to decide if it by RKO or another studio.
Any suggestion on Directors, and Cast.
George Pal is Out as is Jack Arnold.

Not messing with Steel. I like the Twilight Zone episode.

[unclepatrick]

Thanks for you Sci fiction and Fantasy suggestions. Please also visit this page to post your Mystery and Thriller suggestion for the 1950's

http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...d.php?t=252931

[unclepatrick]

Originally Posted by jrobbins

They actually did "Alas Babylon" as an episode of Playhouse 90 back in the late 50s.

I did not know that.

[Torqumada]

Originally Posted by unclepatrick

Pod is 1930. Sci fi and Fantasy will be better accepted. Will not win Academy Awards. But Hollywood more interested in Sci Fi and Fanasty.

Yes the 50's version will be more Swashbuckler than epic fanasty. Harryhausen and Willis O Brian will be doing most of their work for RKO which will still be making films in the late 50's, Since RKO will make the Film, Good Stop motion is not a problem. It not going to be a great movie. You can't condense 3 book into two hours without losing alot.
Figure movie Start with The Hobbits and Aragorn being chased by the Nauzgual, Crossing the River and the Rivers raising up to wash them away. Back ground will then be explain at Riverdale meeting.
No battle of Minas Trith in this version.
Group of Writers attempt to get rights in the Late 1950's OTL. Here they Succeed and Get George Pal at RKO to do it.

I can see this as a possibility, but I think you're mistaken about the popularity of the series in the late 50's. It's not an iconic series in 1959. There will not be enough people who know the work to make it a successful movie by any sort of measurement. In addition you have copyright issues in the United States that last up until the mid 60's, so RKO might not try to get the rights to the movie. Now, if you want to try to make a LOTR in the late 60's, I think that would work better and Harryhausen is still available to do the stop motion work you want.

Tolkein was open to a movie, but very critical of the attempts. Here is something he had to say on an early script attempt.

And in 1958, in an irritated reaction to a proposed movie adaptation of The Lord of the Rings by Morton Grady Zimmerman he writes,
I would ask them to make an effort of imagination sufficient to understand the irritation (and on occasion the resentment) of an author, who finds, increasingly as he proceeds, his work treated as it would seem carelessly in general, in places recklessly, and with no evident signs of any appreciation of what it is all about.[61]

He went on to criticise the script scene by scene ("yet one more scene of screams and rather meaningless slashings"). But Tolkien was in principle open to the idea of a movie adaptation. He sold the film, stage and merchandise rights of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to United Artists in 1968, while, guided by scepticism towards future productions, he forbade that Disney should ever be involved:
It might be advisable […] to let the Americans do what seems good to them – as long as it was possible […] to veto anything from or influenced by the Disney studios (for all whose works I have a heartfelt loathing).[62]

So, if RKO did try to make a movie that was more swashbuckling than what Tolkein wanted, he would probably squash it. I think you're best bet is after 1968.

Torqumada

[unclepatrick]

Originally Posted by Torqumada

I can see this as a possibility, but I think you're mistaken about the popularity of the series in the late 50's. It's not an iconic series in 1959. There will not be enough people who know the work to make it a successful movie by any sort of measurement. In addition you have copyright issues in the United States that last up until the mid 60's, so RKO might not try to get the rights to the movie. Now, if you want to try to make a LOTR in the late 60's, I think that would work better and Harryhausen is still available to do the stop motion work you want.

Tolkein was open to a movie, but very critical of the attempts. Here is something he had to say on an early script attempt.



So, if RKO did try to make a movie that was more swashbuckling than what Tolkein wanted, he would probably squash it. I think you're best bet is after 1968.

Torqumada

Yes you are Correct. Tolkein would have shot down the movie if it been try in the OTL.
However I still planing to put a 1959 Lord of the Ring single movie in my timeline when I post. Yes it ASB but I like the idea. One reason is I going to put it in the time line is because it will encourage the BBC to do their Series of Hobbit and Lord of the Ring in the 1960. As has been discuss in another timeline. This affects some stuff in the 1970 and 1980.
Planning for a better animated trilogy starting 1978 and Jackson still does his version in 2000's.

I agree with you but the fun of the doing a timeline is doing things different from the OTL. I am planning that Howard Hughes who in the timeline own RKO and republic picture , wants to do the Lord of the Rings as a Trilogy in the late 50's. He is shoot down. The single film is a compromise and Hughes being upset over that is the reason, he stop his involvement in Hollywood.

[unclepatrick]

Originally Posted by Torqumada

I can see this as a possibility, but I think you're mistaken about the popularity of the series in the late 50's. It's not an iconic series in 1959. There will not be enough people who know the work to make it a successful movie by any sort of measurement. In addition you have copyright issues in the United States that last up until the mid 60's, so RKO might not try to get the rights to the movie. Now, if you want to try to make a LOTR in the late 60's, I think that would work better and Harryhausen is still available to do the stop motion work you want.

Tolkein was open to a movie, but very critical of the attempts. Here is something he had to say on an early script attempt.



So, if RKO did try to make a movie that was more swashbuckling than what Tolkein wanted, he would probably squash it. I think you're best bet is after 1968.

Torqumada

I willing to change thing if you have a good alternate suggestion.

[unclepatrick]

And the script that was written in the OTL is just a Starting point. I planning that the Final Script would be adapted by Ray Bradbury and Philip Yordan.
Bradbury did some scripts in the 1950's including Moby Dick and Yordan was a two time Academy award winner for his scripts. In addittion he worst two of my favorite adult westerns. Day of the Outlaw and The Bravados.

[Richter10]

More ideas:

-> Man of Many Minds, by E. Everett Evans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_Many_Minds)

-> Needle, by Hal Clement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_(book))

-> The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Triffids) (If you wish one good for stop motions, this is one!)

-> Double Jeopardy, by Fletcher Pratt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Jeopardy_(novel))

-> The Invention of Morel, by Adolfo Bios Casares (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invention_of_Morel)

[unclepatrick]

Originally Posted by Richter10

More ideas:

-> Man of Many Minds, by E. Everett Evans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_Many_Minds)

-> Needle, by Hal Clement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_(book))

-> The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Triffids) (If you wish one good for stop motions, this is one!)

-> Double Jeopardy, by Fletcher Pratt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Jeopardy_(novel))

-> The Invention of Morel, by Adolfo Bios Casares (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invention_of_Morel)

You came with two that I never Heard of , Man of Many Minds and Invention of Morel.

I considering Needle. fairly cheap to do. If island sets cost too much. could be move to another location with out losing the story.

Day of the Triffids, I leaving alone. OTL it was a Movie, A 6 part TV show and a two part mini series. May do movie remake in the 1990 and then do the sequel, Night of the Triffids
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_of_the_Triffids

Double Jeopardy is one of those book that I never been able to find a copy. Like Pratt. but his stuff is impossible to find.

[unclepatrick]

I am thinking of some of Pratt shorts on Republic Sci Fi anthology show. Is a tv version of the radio Show X minus One too ASB? 1958?
Would have them do some story for Incomplete Enchanter and Gavagan Bar.
Would a series based on Gavagan Bar and Arthur C Clark's Tales of the White Hart work in 1960?
If more stories were needed,then some of Lord Dunsany better Jorkens stories could be adapted.

[unclepatrick]

Part three of Step by Step Hollywood outline is up at 20's and 30's Sci Fi stories into films
http://www.alternatehistory.com/disc...d.php?t=252274
Please check it out and let me know what you think.