Flying Saucer Cinema - Summer

This classic science fiction film appreciation class showcases beloved films that cry out for viewing in a group setting the way they were first presented to the world. Each week will bring something new, films ranging from Golden Age sci-fi of the 1950s and 60s to the dystopian sci-fi of the 1970s and occasional forays beyond. Weekly sessions feature film insights, trivia, lively post-screening discussion, and optional follow-up materials—curated images, links, and observations— for those wanting to do a deeper dive. We kick off summer with the 1931 classic Frankenstein, which propelled Boris Karloff to instant stardom. Next we dip into the schlock vaults with the delirious Bride of the Gorilla (1951) and then Captain Kirk himself – Shatner! – as a veterinarian battling tarantulas in Kingdom of the Spiders (1977). We end with an essential Godzilla film, the chock-full-of-kaiju Invasion of Astro Monster, in which hot actual couple Nick Adams and Kumi Mizuno (yowza!) work out their intergalactic romance while the big guys again stomp all over Tokyo. Whether you are a seasoned science fiction film buff or simply want to put your head in a different place for a couple of hours every week, this will be an engaging, fun adventure of a class you won't want to miss.