USA | 1986| 38′ | documentary
Before E.T. and Star Wars there was The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal. An unforgettable celebration and endearing tribute to the life and career of the father of science fiction and fantasy in modern film – George Pal.
The documentary covers the five decades life and career of eight-time Academy Award winner producer-director whose vision and groundbreaking works continue to inspire the filmmakers of today. And to think his career actually started in Eindhoven, at the Philips factory!
The documentary features interviews with the stars and filmmakers whose lives he touched, along with famous movie scenes, rare footage, and original artist’s renderings.
Three years in the making, Fantasy Film Worlds details Pal’s life and work from his marvellous Oscar®-winning Puppetoons to Rod Taylor’s journey in The Time Machine and Gene Barry’s battle against Martians in The War of the Worlds. Includes Destination Moon (Chesley Bonestell), When Worlds Collide (BarbaraRush), Houdini (Tony Curtis & Janet Leigh), The Naked Jungle (Charlton Heston) among others.
Enjoy an endearing tribute to the father of fantasy and science fiction filmmaking – George Pal, produced and directed by Arnold Leibovit, chief advisor Mrs. George Pal.
CAST
Bob Baker, Robert Bloch, Chesley Bonestell, Ray Bradbury, Wah Ming Chang, Tony Curtis, Jim Danforth, Joe Dante Roy E. Disney, Barbara Eden, Paul Frees (Narrator), Duke Goldstone, Gae Griffith, Ray Harryhausen, Charlton Heston, Walter Lantz, Janet Leigh, Albert Nozaki, George Pal, Mrs. George (Zsoka) Pal, David Pal, Tony Randall, Ann Robinson, Gene Roddenberry, Russ Tamblyn, Rod Taylor, William Tuttle, Gene Warren Sr., Robert Wise, Alan Young, Ward Kimball.
The screening of the documentary will be preceded by an intro by Cat Johnston. She is a director and designer who blends stop motion craft with her bold illustration style to create playful, character-driven worlds. Her creatures, inspired by folklore, nature and mystical memories, emerge
through drawings, sculptures, puppets, and sets…all brimming with charm and detail. She’s worked across commercials, film and design with clients like Penguin, Linda McCartney Foods and Facebook. Cat’s first short as co-director, funded by BFI Network, brought her puppets into a live action world and has screened at festivals including Anima and Pictoplasma.
Cat will show us her 2025 animated short The Wickywock and the JubJub Berry and discuss how it was influenced by the worlds of George Pal.
