This is a list of science fiction films that premiered between 1 January 1930 and 31 December 1939. In Phil Hardy's book Science Fiction (1983), the 1930s are described as a period where both science fiction literature and cinema were "in turmoil", and that by examining films of the decade, "it is clear that Science Fiction, in no sense, can be seen as an ongoing genre in the thirties".
In the United States, films would use a science fiction plot device or character such as a mad scientist, but more closely resembled contemporary genres like horror, thriller and detective films. The films enhanced other genres such as melodrama (Six Hours to Live), Westerns (The Phantom Empire), and most predominantly horror films, such as Frankenstein or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Towards the middle of the decade, science fiction was prominent in low-budget Poverty Row films and film series. European films such as End of the World, F.P.1 antwortet nicht, and Things to Come continued the line of prophetic speculation of Fritz Lang's film Metropolis. Towards the end of the 1930s, as the political climate was changing in Europe, films such as Bila Nemoc used science fiction elements to imagine the horrors of World War II.
Few films from the era have been nominated or won awards; these include Fredric March winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, while the film received nominations for best writing and cinematography. Gilbert Kurland was nominated for Best Sound Recording for Bride of Frankenstein
List
+ Science fiction films of the 1930s Title Director Release Primary cast Production country Notes Wally Wales, Neva Gerber, Robert D. WalkerUnited StatesFilm serial with 10 chapters Alraune Brigitte Helm, Albert Bassermann, Harald PaulsenGermany Just Imagine El Brendel, Maureen O'Sullivan, Marjorie WhiteUnited States Title Director Release Primary cast Production country Notes End of the World Colette Darfeuil, Abel Gance, Victor FrancenFrance Frankenstein Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae ClarkeUnited States Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Rose HobartUnited States Title Director Release Primary cast Production country Notes Brigitte HelmGermany, France Doctor X Michael Curtiz Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Lee Tracy United States Science fiction horror , William C. Menzies Edmund Lowe, Irene Ware, Bela LugosiUnited States Warner Baxter, Miriam Jordan, John BolesUnited States Hans Albers, Sybille Schmitz, Paul HartmannGermany Island of Lost Souls Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Leila HyamsUnited States Title Director Release Primary cast Production country NotesMen Must Fight Diana Wynyard, Lewis Stone, Phillips HolmesUnited States It's Great to Be Alive Raúl Roulien, Gloria Stuart, Edna May OliverUnited States Deluge Peggy Shannon, Sidney Blackmer, Lois WilsonUnited States Harry Piel, Fritz Odemar, Lissy ArnaGermany Conrad VeidtJill EsmondLeslie FentonGermany English version of 1932 German movie Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William HarriganUnited States "The Tunnel" Paul Hartmann, Olly von Flint, Gustaf GründgensGermany Multiple-language film "The Tunnel" Jean Gabin, Madeleine Renaud, Robert Le Vigan, Edmond Van DaëleFrance Multiple-language film Title Director Release Primary cast Production country Notes Harry Piel, Kurt Vespermann, Annie MarkartGermany Gold Hans Albers, Brigitte Helm, Michael BohnenGermany Onslow Stevens, Ada Ince, Walter MillerUnited StatesFilm serial with 12 chaptersMaster of the World Walter Janssen, Sybille Schmitz, Walter FranckGermany Once in a New MoonDerrick de Marney, Vernon Kelso, John ClementsUnited Kingdom This was released in December 1934, and is frequently listed as a 1935 film. See: Title Director Release Primary cast Production country Notes William "Stage" Boyd, Kane Richmond, Claudia DellUnited StatesFilm serial with 12 chapters, B. Reeves Eason Gene Autry, Frankie Darro, Betsy King RossUnited StatesFilm serial with 12 chaptersLoss of SensationSergey Vecheslov, Vladimir GardinSoviet Union Bride of FrankensteinBoris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie HobsonUnited States Air HawksRalph Bellamy, Tala Birell, Wiley PostUnited States Richard Dix, Leslie Banks, Madge EvansUnited KingdomMultiple-language film Title Director Release Primary cast Production country Notes Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Frances DrakeUnited States Kosmicheskiy reys (Cosmic Voyage) Soviet Union Things to ComeRaymond Massey, Cedric Hardwicke, Edward ChapmanUnited Kingdom Boris Karloff, Ricardo Cortez, Edmund GwennUnited States Flash Gordon Larry "Buster" Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles B. MiddletonUnited StatesFilm serial with 13 chaptersUndersea Kingdom, Joseph Kane Ray "Crash" Corrigan, Lois WildeUnited StatesFilm serial with 12 chaptersGhost Patrol Tim McCoy, Claudia Dell, Walter MillerUnited States Boris Karloff, Anna Lee, John LoderUnited Kingdom Title Director Release Primary cast Production country NotesNon-Stop New YorkJohn Loder, Anna Lee, Francis L. SullivanUnited Kingdom Skeleton on HorsebackHugo Haas, Bedrich Karen, Zdenek StephanekCzechoslovakia Title Director Release Primary cast Production country NotesThe Fighting Devil DogsWilliam Witney, John EnglishLee Powell, Herman Brix, Eleanor Stewart, Montagu LoveUnited StatesFilm serial with 12 chapters Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, Robert F. HillLarry "Buster" Crabbe, Jean Rogers, Charles B. MiddletonUnited StatesFilm serial with 15 chapters Flight to FameCharles Farrell, Jacqueline Wells, Hugh SothernUnited States Title Director Release Primary cast Production country NotesBela Lugosi, Robert Kent, Dorothy ArnoldUnited StatesFilm serial with 12 chaptersSon of FrankensteinBasil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Bela LugosiUnited States Buck Rogers, Saul A. GoodkindLarry "Buster" Crabbe, Constance Moore, Jackie MoranUnited StatesFilm serial with 12 chapters Boris Karloff, Lorna Gray, Robert WilcoxUnited States Humphrey Bogart, Rosemary Lane, Wayne MorrisUnited States
See also History of science fiction films
Notes
References
External links Science fiction films of the 1930s on Internet Movie Database