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Films with theme "Space opera", sorted by production date
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When Worlds Collide (1951)
, 1h23Directed by Rudolph Maté
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Thriller, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films set in Africa, Space adventure films, La fin du monde, Films about religion, Films based on science fiction novels, Films set in the future, Political films, Dystopian films, Impact events in fiction, Space opera, Disaster films, American disaster films
Actors Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Larry Keating, Peter Hansen, John Hoyt, Rachel Ames
Pilot David Randall is paid to fly top-secret photographs from South African astronomer Dr. Emery Bronson to Dr. Cole Hendron in the United States. Hendron, with the assistance of his daughter Joyce, confirms their worst fears: Bronson has discovered a rogue star named Bellus that is on a collision course with Earth.
Flight To Mars (1951)
, 1h12Directed by Lesley Selander
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Thriller
Themes Space adventure films, Mars in film, Films about extraterrestrial life, Space opera, Films about extraterrestrial life
Actors Cameron Mitchell, Marguerite Chapman, Arthur Franz, Virginia Huston, John Litel, Morris Ankrum
The first mission to Mars led by physicist Dr. Lane (John Litel), includes Professor Jackson (Richard Gaines), engineer Jim Barker (Arthur Franz) and his assistant Carol Stadwick (Virginia Huston). Journalist Steve Abbott (Cameron Mitchell) is also on board to cover the expedition. A final interview with the scientific team makes Steve realize that there are grave risks to the mission.
Flying Disc Man from Mars (1950)
Directed by Fred C. Brannon
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Action
Themes Space adventure films, Mars in film, Films about extraterrestrial life, Space opera, Films about extraterrestrial life
Actors Walter Reed, Lois Collier, Gregory Gaye, Harry Lauter, Richard Irving, Tom Steele
Martian invader, Mota (Gregory Gaye), attempts to conquer the Earth as Mars is worried about its use of new atomic technology. They consider that it would be much safer, and beneficial for both Earth and Mars, if the Martians were in charge. Mota, having been shot down by an experimental ray gun, blackmails American scientist, and former Nazi, Dr. Bryant (James Craven) into assisting him and hires some criminals to be his henchmen.
Destination Moon (1950)
, 1h32Directed by Irving Pichel
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Sur la Lune, Films based on science fiction novels, Space opera, Sur la Lune
Actors John Archer, Warner Anderson, Tom Powers, Dick Wesson, Dick Wesson, Erin O'Brien-Moore
When their latest rocket test fails and government funding collapses, rocket scientist Dr. Charles Cargraves (Warner Anderson) and space enthusiast General Thayer (Tom Powers) enlist the aid of aircraft magnate Jim Barnes (John Archer). With the necessary millions raised privately from a group of patriotic U. S. industrialists, Cargraves, Warner, and Barnes build an advanced single-stage-to-orbit atomic powered spaceship, named Luna, at their desert manufacturing and launch facility; the project is soon threatened by a ginned-up public uproar over "radiation safety". The three idealists circumvent legal efforts to stop their expedition by simply launching the world's first Moon mission well ahead of schedule; as a result, they must quickly substitute Joe Sweeney (Dick Wesson) as their expedition's radar and radio operator.
Rocketship X-M (1950)
, 1h18Directed by Kurt Neumann
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Films about music and musicians, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Mars in film, Films set in the future, Films about extraterrestrial life, Musical films, Political films, Martiens, Dystopian films, Space opera, Films about extraterrestrial life, Disaster films
Actors Lloyd Bridges, Osa Massen, John Emery, Noah Beery, Jr, Hugh O'Brian, Morris Ankrum
Four men and a woman blast into outer space from the White Sands Proving Ground aboard the RX-M (Rocketship Expedition-Moon) on humanity's first expedition to Luna. Halfway to their destination, the RX-M's engines shut down; the problem is resolved by recalculating the fuel mixture ratios and then moving around some of the propellent tanks and their connecting hoses. When the engines are reignited, the RX-M rapidly careens out of control, accidentally setting the spaceship on a runaway course heading beyond the Moon and into deep space. During this burst of rapid acceleration, the crew, one by one, becomes unconscious due to a drop in oxygen pressure. The engines are shut off just in time. At some later time, perhaps many days, they slowly come around. The revived crew soon discovers the RX-M has traveled some 50,000,000 miles while they were unconscious. Against all odds, this surprising sequence of events has put them on a direct course heading toward Mars. They also notice the RX-M's speed is still increasing, this time due to gravitational attraction: the Red Planet is drawing them in. They quickly calculate they are only 50,000 miles away. This forces Dr. Karl Eckstrom (John Emery) to "pause and observe respectfully while something infinitely greater assumes control.
Brick Bradford (1947)
Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet, Thomas Carr
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Sur la Lune, Space opera
Actors Kane Richmond, Rick Vallin, Pierre Watkin, Jack Ingram, Charles Quigley, Helene Stanley
Brick Bradford is assigned by the government to aid Doctor Gregor Tymak, scientist and inventor who is working on an "Interceptor Ray" that can destroy incoming rockets. Unfortunately, it can also be used as a death ray, bringing it to the attention of foreign spy agent Laydron. Tymak uses his door into the fifth dimension to escape criminals and it takes him to the far side of the Moon (which luckily has air and is a rocky terrain without craters). There he is captured and sentenced to die by freezing to absolute zero by the Queen Khana, despot of the Moon, because they do not believe he has come from the Earth.
Münchhausen (1943)
, 1h59Directed by Josef von Báky
Origin German
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Sur la Lune, Space opera
Actors Hans Albers, Wilhelm Bendow, Ilse Werner, Ferdinand Marian, Hans Brausewetter, Brigitte Horney
The film opens at an 18th-century ball, where Baron Hieronymus von Münchhausen is propositioned by a young woman who is engaged to another man. He graciously rejects her advance, and as she leaves, she asks him to turn on the light. The camera follows his hand to a modern light switch, and the young woman drives off in an automobile. The next day, the Baron, out of his costume and in modern dress, regales two of his guests with stories of the famous Baron Münchhausen, to whom his guests think he is distantly related.
Directed by Ray Taylor, Ford Beebe
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Superhero films, Space opera
Actors Buster Crabbe, Charles Middleton, Carol Hughes, Frank Shannon, Roland Drew, Herbert Rawlinson
A deadly plague is ravaging the Earth, known as the Purple Death because of the spot left on victims' foreheads. Ming the Merciless is suspected to be behind the plague and it is discovered that his spaceships have been dropping "Death Dust" in the Earth's atmosphere. Flash Gordon, along with Dr. Alexis Zarkov and Dale Arden, is sent to the planet Mongo to find a possible cure for the plague. They eventually find an antidote, called polarite in the Kingdom of Frigia. Flash and Zarkov distribute the antidote the same way the original Death Dust was spread. Ming sends an army of robot bombs after the three and he succeeds in capturing Zarkov for a short time before Flash frees him.
Buck Rogers (1939)
Directed by Ford Beebe
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Films set in the future, Space opera
Actors Buster Crabbe, Constance Moore, Jackie Moran, Anthony Warde, Charles Montague Shaw, Jack Mulhall
The story begins with Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe) and Buddy Wade (Jackie Moran) in the midst of a dirigible flight over the North Pole. They are caught in a savage storm and crash - but not before they release an experimental substance called Nirvano Gas that they hope will preserve them until rescue can arrive. The Nirvano Gas works, but the dirigible is buried in an avalanche and is not found until 500 years have passed. When Buck and Buddy are found, they awaken to a world ruled by the ruthless dictator, Killer Kane (Anthony Warde), and his army of "super-racketeers". Only those who live in the "Hidden City", run by the benevolent scientist Dr. Huer (C. Montague Shaw) and his military counterpart, Air Marshal Kragg (William Gould), resist the criminal rulers of Earth.
Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938)
Directed by Ford Beebe, Robert Hill
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Mars in film, Films about extraterrestrial life, Superhero films, Space opera, Films about extraterrestrial life
Actors Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton, Frank Shannon, Beatrice Roberts, Richard Alexander
When a mysterious beam of light starts disrupting and destroying the Earth's atmosphere, Flash Gordon (Larry "Buster" Crabbe), Dr. Zarkov (Frank Shannon), and Dale Arden (Jean Rogers) - accidentally accompanied by wisecracking reporter Happy Hapgood (Donald Kerr) - swing into action in Zarkov's rocketship, believing that it could be coming from the planet Mongo. Once in space, however, they discover that the ray is originating from Mars.
Cosmic Journey (1936)
, 1h10Genres Science fiction
Themes Space adventure films, Sur la Lune, Films set in the future, Space opera, Sur la Lune
Actors Sergueï Komarov
In the year 1946, the Soviet space program is undergoing turmoil. Professor Sedikh, who is planning to lead the first manned exploration to the moon, is denounced by his rival Professor Karin as being too old and too mentally unstable for the mission. Professor Sedikh, aided by his assistant Marina and a youth named Andryusha, disregard Prof. Karin’s authority and make a successful landing on the moon. Although a few problems occur at the moon, including the discovery of a damaged oxygen tank and Professor Sedikh’s becoming trapped under a fallen boulder, the expedition is a success and the cosmonauts return to Moscow.
Flash Gordon (1936)
, 4h5Directed by Ray Taylor, Robert Hill, Frederick Stephani
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Dans l'espace, Superhero films, Space opera, Films about extraterrestrial life, Robot films
Actors Buster Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles Middleton, Priscilla Lawson, Frank Shannon, Richard Alexander
The Planet of Peril The planet Mongo is on a collision course with Earth. Dr. Alexis Zarkov takes off in a rocket ship to Mongo, with Flash Gordon and Dale Arden as his assistants. They find that the planet is ruled by the cruel Emperor Ming, who lusts after Dale and sends Flash to fight in the arena. Ming's daughter, Princess Aura, tries to spare Flash's life.
The Phantom Empire (1935)
, 4h5Directed by Otto Brower, B. Reeves Eason
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Action, Musical, Western
Themes Space opera
Actors Gene Autry, Frankie Darro, Dorothy Christy, Wheeler Oakman, Charles K. French, Warner Richmond
Gene Autry (Gene Autry) is a singing cowboy who runs Radio Ranch, a dude ranch from which he makes a daily live radio broadcast at 2:00 pm. Gene has two kid sidekicks, Frankie Baxter (Frankie Darro) and Betsy Baxter (Betsy King Ross), who lead a club, the Junior Thunder Riders, in which the kids play at being armored knights of an unknown civilization, the mysterious Thunder Riders who make a sound like thunder when they ride. The kids, dressing up in capes and water-bucket helmets, play at riding "To the rescue!" (their motto).
Just Imagine (1930)
, 1h49Directed by David Butler
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Comic science fiction
Themes Space adventure films, Films about music and musicians, Transport films, Mars in film, Aviation films, Comedy science fiction films, Films set in the future, Musical films, Space opera
Actors El Brendel, Maureen O'Sullivan, John Garrick, Marjorie White, Frank Albertson, Hobart Bosworth
In 1980, J-21 (John Garrick) sets his aircraft on "hover" mode in New York, lands and converses with the beautiful LN-18 (Maureen O'Sullivan). He describes how the marriage tribunal had refused to consider J-21's marital filing and applications, and LN-18 is going to be forced to marry the conceited and mean MT-3 (Kenneth Thomson). J-21 plans to visit LN-18 that night.
Mars (1930)
Directed by Bill Nolan, Walter Lantz
Genres Animation
Themes Space adventure films, Mars in film, Space opera, Children's films
Oswald and a big badger are sitting on a bench in a park. Momentarily a pretty female teddy bear walks around and sings the song A Bench in the Park (this song was used earlier in King of Jazz). When she drops a handkerchief, Oswald and the badger rush to pick it up. Upon picking, they pulled the handkerchief until it is rip apart. When the teddy bear passes by again, Oswald snags part of the badger's clothing onto a nail on the bench. The badger rushes again and ends up wearing just his undergarments. Oswald then approaches the teddy bear as the other guy runs away in embarrassment. But before he could spend a long time with her, the badger returns in a wine barrel before kicking Oswald in the rear. The kick is so strong that Oswald is sent into space.