Jack Arnold's It Came from Outer Space. Photo: UNIVERSAL / THE KOBAL COLLECTION
Film Society of Lincoln Center is excited to announce the latest in our ongoing Family Films series: a spotlight on the works of science fiction master Jack Arnold, beginning this weekend! Arnold, an apprentice of famed documentarian Robert Flaherty, boasted a career spanning nearly 40 years, with works ranging from Oscar-nominated shorts to episodes of The Love Boat.
Arnold’s best films are characterized by eerie black and white photography, spooky atmosphere, smart scripts, and a deep love of the sci-fi genre. We will be screening four of Arnold’s most famous films, all of which epitomize this style: It Came From Outer Space (1953), The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), The Space Children (1958), and The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954).
Jack Arnold's The Incredible Shrinking Man. Photo: UNIVERSAL / THE KOBAL COLLECTION
Based on a Ray Bradbury short story, It Came From Outer Space tells the story of an alien invasion in a small Arizona town. It was the first 3D film to be released by Universal Studios and, fittingly, will be the first of our Family Films to be presented in 3D when it screens on September 7 and 8! Though it was initially met with indifference, It Came From Outer Space is now recognized as a sci-fi classic.
The Incredible Shrinking Man, on the other hand, was an immediate hit, winning the 1958 Hugo Award for best science fiction or fantasy dramatic presentation. The film, which was added to the National Film Registry in 2009, tells the story of a man who, after being exposed to mysterious chemicals, begins steadily shrinking until his own home is a treacherous wilderness. The September 14 and 15 screenings will be presented in 35mm—better to appreciate the incredible trick photography!
Jack Arnold's Creature from the Black Lagoon. Photo: UNIVERSAL / THE KOBAL COLLECTION
Next up, on September 21 and 22, the Film Society will screen Arnold's The Space Children. This 1958 film is an exciting sci-fi response to Cold War anxieties, telling the story of an alien brain that visits Earth and teams with the children of scientists to prevent nuclear war.
After a brief hiatus for NYFF51, our Jack Arnold spotlight will conclude with perhaps his most famous film, Creature from the Black Lagoon. This horror version of the classic beauty and the beast tale features one of Universal’s most memorable monsters: Gill-man. The film’s October 26 and 27 screenings will also be presented in 3D.
Don’t miss out on these science fiction classics that are sure to spook and delight the entire family!
All screenings will be in the Howard Gilman Theater. Tickets are $7 for everyone, $10 for the 3D films.
