Country: U.S.A.
Genre(s): Sci-Fi
Director: Robert
Wise
Cast: Michael
Rennie / Patricia Neal / Billy Gray
Plot
An extraterrestrial
being named Klaatu lands in Washington D.C., his mission to along an
important message intended to save all of mankind. He finds himself
the object of paranoia and investigation instead.
Thoughts
“Klaatu barada nikto.” One of the original sci-fi cult classics, 1951’s
“The Day the Earth Stood Still” helped establish the 1950s as the decade for
alien invasion science fiction movies. “Invasion
of the Body Snatchers,” “Forbidden Planet,” “The Thing from Another World,” and
“Them!” are just a few of the best examples of the onslaught of films from this
sub-genre which really hit its stride in early Cold War era. Ironically, “The Day the Earth Stood Still”
stands apart from the films it helped inspire simply because it is not truly an
alien invasion film. There is no
invasion. Indeed, its extraterrestrial
figure, Klaatu, essentially comes to Earth with a message intended to be the
planet’s salvation. Whereas the aliens
in most sci-fi films of the era are killers or monsters, Klaatu is actually the
closest thing to a hero that the film has.
As far as human
heroes go, “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is also unique for a film of its
time because it’s primary human protagonist is a woman, Helen Benson (played by
Patricia Neal), whose assistance Klaatu enlists in his effort to get his
message to the world. Helen is braver
and smarter than any human male in the entire film, an unusual characterization
for the era that the domestic housewife ideal was about the only positive image
of adult women in film.
Granted, while the
movie is ahead of its time in terms of themes and plot, it still has many of
the shortcomings common to all sci-fi in this period. Though most of the performances are
acceptable, some of the acting, particularly among supporting cast members, is
pathetic. Logically, some of the details
of the plot make no practical sense (Just two soldiers are assigned to guard an
advanced spacecraft that has landed in the middle of our nation’s capital? Aliens have the same physical features and
haircuts as Caucasian Americans?). Nonetheless,
the film rises above its shortcomings because its script is more
thought-provoking than any sci-fi film up to that time, at least since the
1930s.
Though the movie’s
effects are almost entirely outdated by today’s standards, one can still
respect the production techniques and camera tricks necessary to pull off some
of the film’s famous visuals. I actually
had a difficult time figuring out how a few of the special effects were pulled
off considering the limited means available to the filmmakers in 1951. If the effects are no longer as stunning as
they once were, they remain impressive for anyone willing to pay close attention
and give them any thought.
Better yet, because
the plot is kept relatively simple and the script keeps the story moving along
at a brisk pace, the move remains an entertaining and enjoyable viewing more
than sixty years after its release.
Most Memorable Scene
The arrival of the
spacecraft in Washington D.C., a scene which has been imitated quite frequently
since, is still vibrant with both drama and spectacle. As the world scrambles to both understand and
defend itself against what has happened, the viewer can’t help but be drawn in
by the Cold War influenced paranoia, especially once the spaceship finally
opens up to reveal its two passengers. That
a sense of drama remains steady throughout the film following this stunning
opening is a tribute to the skills of the writers and director Robert Wise, as
a tension-laden introduction such as this could stand to ruin the pacing of the
rest of the film in lesser hands.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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