This is a summary over the book Science in Cinema: Teaching Science Fact Through Science Fiction Films by Leroy W. Dubeck, Suzanne E. Moshier, and Judith E. Boss. Copyright 1988 by Teachers College, Columbia University and published by Teachers College Press, 1234 Amsterdam Ave., New York NY, 10027.

Introduction pages ix-xv

This book was written out of concern for the nation’s lagging in science. The authors think students are not interested in science and fall under the spell of pseudo sciences because they cannot tell the difference. The authors believe that science fiction (SF) in the classroom can help show by example and counter example the true science. Using SF films not only cover science, but also covers applications of science and technology, literary and arts, and social sciences. They have also been cases of classes of this sort working and this book is set up as a teaching guide for this type of class.

I would like to add that in addition to what the authors say in the introduction that I think that ethics stand out in SF as well. If I were to do a class like this I would pay special attention to ethical controversies and look at the history of the era during which the film was made to cover relevant technology and concerns of the public. The authors do mention the social sciences, but I would put a special interest on them

Forbidden Planet Chapter 1 pages 1-15

Plot Summary

Dr.Morbius and his daughter Altaira live on a planet with a robot named Robby who was constructed from ancient “Krell” technology. The Krell where super advanced ethically and technologically compared to Earth. They had machines that would allow creation of anything that could be imagined. A party of explorers from Earth land on the planet and interact with Dr.Morbius and his family. Soon a monster attacks the humans and later turns out to be a monster created by Dr.Morbius’s unconscious mind. Dr. Morbius realizes this and destroys the planet. Altaira and the explorers manage to escape the exploding planet in time.

Scientific Principles Related to The Film

The main idea of the film is energy and the authors go into great detail explaining principles such as E=mc^2 as well as the differing forms of energy. The authors explain the differences between potential and kinetic energy and concepts of power and work.

Scientific Commentary

The authors go into detail about what the film showed accurately and inaccurately. They also offer possible plausible reasons to some of the strange things in the film such as how the entire planet is set to explode. Among the ideas it mentions is the use of energy making physical matter and even the evolution of the Earth creatures. For example, they talk about how it is unlikely that the tiger would have evolved into the same type of tiger we would recognize from Earth. They also talk about the miss use of scientific notation and math. Chemistry, nuclear physics, and gravity are also discussed.

The Day the Earth Stood Still Chapter 5 pages 48-59

Plot Summary

Klaatu and Gort come to Earth to warn us not to use aggression with nuclear weapons. Klaatu is shot by the military and taken to a hospital that he soon escapes from. He hides at a boarding house and befriends a widow and her son, Bobby. Klaatu has Bobby take him to a local scientist so he can talk about his reason for coming to Earth with him. To show his abilities, Klaatu “turns off” the electricity in everything but hospitals, airplanes, and other places where people would be put into danger without it. And I’m not talking about just shutting the power off, he makes electricity “stop” working. (The authors talk about this later. Klaatu is later shot and killed. Gort is able to revive him just long enough to give his warning then leave to die in space.

Scientific Principles Related to the Film

The authors talk about electricity and how it works. They cover how electricity is needed to hold atoms together and even how it works in the human body.

Scientific Commentary

The Authors mention that the speed and height of the UFO’s travel is possible but mentions that there should have been a sonic boom. They also say how Klaatu planet should be farther away than he says. Most of the science is pretty well done but other parts, such as the electricity is hard to rationalize.

The Andromeda Strain Chapter 7 Pages 77-96

Plot Summary note: this is more condensed than the first summary I wrote and this is the summary that will be used directly in my paper versus the long one I did originally. It came down to one sentence versus 4 pages. I had a hard time finding a happy medium so I went with the low end.

A satellite with an alien virus falls to Earth and teams of researchers have to study it in order to protect society against the strain.

Scientific principles related to the film

The authors discuss exo biology and the origin of life. They mention discussion in the field as well as discussing aspects of virology.

Scientific Commentary.

They cover a lot of chemistry and biology, as well as exobiology. A lot of the science in the movie itself is in-depth and would be appropriate for upper grades as well as college.

The Day of the Triffids Chapter 9 Pages 109-115

Plot Summary

A meteor shower blinds nearly every one on earth and the radiation from this causes a plant called a “Triffid” to mutate and become violent.

Scientific principles related to the film.

The authors go into detail to explain how the movement of the triffids and the radiation are the main fictions of the story. They also go on to explain how plants move, dissolve prey, and how mutation from radiation really works.

Scientific commentary

The authors speak mostly about biology but also astronomy. They point out that only the part of the Earth at night would be able to watch the shower and become blinded. The use of acid to attack the plants is also addressed.

2001: A Space Odyssey from Chapter 11 “A Brief analysis of other films” pages 129-132

A black monolith lures scientists to Jupiter when their computer tries to kill them all.

Scientific Commentary

Space Travel is shown accurately. The scene where commander Bowman re-enters the ship without his helmet is not truthful, however. Also, the AI is hard to approach because this level is not possible now or when the authors reviewed the film.