Taglines: Is there a face that can destroy the world?
The Day the Earth Stood Still movie storyline. One of the seminal science fiction films of motion picture history, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) is based on Edmund H. North’s adaptation of the short story “Farewell to the Master” by Harry Bates. Much like the “drive in movies” of the 1950’s, such as The War of the Worlds (1952), Forbidden Planet (1956), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), this influential, fantasy sci-fi film featured state-of-the-art visual effects and salient social commentary on the Cold War and warfare.
The film not only examined wider issues of politics and society, but also at human emotions and frailties. This cautionary science fiction parable begins with the landing of a spacecraft on the White House Mall. A benevolent, interplanetary alien in humanoid form, Klaatu (Rennie), causes a panic when he demands to speak to all of the representatives of Earth’s governments. Although he warns the people of Earth to be non-violent and stop nuclear testing, he is shot by a nervous soldier.
His massive robotic companion Gort (Martin) vaporizes the offensive weapons, as Klaatu is hospitalized. He goes into hiding posing as an Earthling named Carpenter while residing with a human family (single mother/widow Helen (Neal) and her son Bobby (Gray)), in order to observe their lives, and meanwhile to attempt to establish contact with Earth’s leading scientist Dr. Bernhardt (Jaffe). Klaatu’s demonstration of power over the industrial complex — by stopping power everywhere for half an hour — ends up tragically. One of the most famous phrases in science fiction history is recited by Helen to stop Gort’s rampage when Klaatu is killed: “Gort, Klaatu barada nikto.” The film ends with the alien visitor’s resurrection and a warning-proclamation. With a memorable score by Bernard Herrmann.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Directed by: Robert Wise
Starring: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray, Frances Bavier, Lock Martin, Rama Bai, John Brown, Chet Brandenburg, Michael Capanna, Wheaton Chambers, Spencer Chan
Screenplay by: Edmund H. North
Cinematography by: Leo Tover
Film Editing by: William Reynolds
Costume Design by: Travilla, Clinton Sandeen
Set Decoration by: Claude E. Carpenter, Thomas Little
Art Direction by: Addison Hehr, Lyle R. Wheeler
Music by: Bernard Herrmann
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: September 18, 1951
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