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This Island Earth
It's a Universal Picture! From the Vaults of the Ackerman Archives. Contains Production Background! Press Book! Biography notes on the Cast and Crew! Complete Shooting Script! Rare Photographs! Behind the Scene Photos! See the film on MCA Home Video.
1 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1990
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August 7, 2021
Over the course of my movie viewing history, I’ve had a long-running “love / meh” relationship with the Universal classic, “This Island Earth.” Not having grown up as a fan of the pulp science fiction magazines, I often found the film to be too filled with “techno-babble” and too little action. Later, when I discovered that the film’s creators resisted when Universal insisted that a monster be added … the Metaluna Mutant … my first thought was, “Are you nuts? That was the best part of the movie!” Yet, despite my initial lukewarm reception, I found myself wanting to see the show again every five years or so.
Of course, those repeated viewings also brought a periodic sense of admiration. The writing was much more intelligent than most other representative films of the period. It also reminded me a bit of a film that I always loved, “Forbidden Planet,” although that one had the benefit of a cool robot, the empty Krell city, and that wonderful Monster of the Id.
Right now, “This Island Earth” is back in my favor, and has been so since reading the novelization by the story’s original creator, Raymond F. Jones (ironically written as a three-part series in one of those pulp science fiction magazines).
This edition, THIS ISLAND EARTH: THE ORIGINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT, not only has what is promised in the title, but also an excellent overview of the story’s background and the production history of the movie, and photos of the press book sent to theater owners to promote the film. There is also an introduction by the redoubtable Forrest J. Ackerman (who was the editor of the original “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazine and Jones’ literary agent). Sprinkled throughout are nice photos illustrating different aspects of the production.
My only hesitation in fully recommending the book is that it contains a meager recounting of on-the-set stories (including cast member anecdotes). For the Reader who is primarily interested in how the film was technically created and its journey through dictates from the studio home office, this is an excellent source. Also, the original shooting script (filled with notes and corrections) offers insight into the creative process.
Most of all, the book has returned THIS ISLAND EARTH to my Watch List.
Of course, those repeated viewings also brought a periodic sense of admiration. The writing was much more intelligent than most other representative films of the period. It also reminded me a bit of a film that I always loved, “Forbidden Planet,” although that one had the benefit of a cool robot, the empty Krell city, and that wonderful Monster of the Id.
Right now, “This Island Earth” is back in my favor, and has been so since reading the novelization by the story’s original creator, Raymond F. Jones (ironically written as a three-part series in one of those pulp science fiction magazines).
This edition, THIS ISLAND EARTH: THE ORIGINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT, not only has what is promised in the title, but also an excellent overview of the story’s background and the production history of the movie, and photos of the press book sent to theater owners to promote the film. There is also an introduction by the redoubtable Forrest J. Ackerman (who was the editor of the original “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazine and Jones’ literary agent). Sprinkled throughout are nice photos illustrating different aspects of the production.
My only hesitation in fully recommending the book is that it contains a meager recounting of on-the-set stories (including cast member anecdotes). For the Reader who is primarily interested in how the film was technically created and its journey through dictates from the studio home office, this is an excellent source. Also, the original shooting script (filled with notes and corrections) offers insight into the creative process.
Most of all, the book has returned THIS ISLAND EARTH to my Watch List.
Displaying 1 of 1 review