Blog #22 The Day the Earth Stood Still Review

Release Date September 18, 1951

Starring

Michael Rennie played Klaatu

Patricia Neal played Helen Benson

Hugh Marlow played Tom Stevens

Same Jaffe played Professor Jacob Barnhardt

Billy Gray played Bobby Benson young son of widow Helen Benson

Frances Bavier played Mrs. Barley. Recognize her? She’s Aunt Bee in Andy of Maybury

Lock Martin played Gort

Based on the short story called Farewell to the Master written by Harry Bates and 1^st published on October 1940 issue of Astounding Science Fiction

Directed by Robert Wise

Musical Score by Bernard Hermann

Synopsis

A flying saucer (called a ‘space ship) lands in Washington, D.C., at the ‘mall’ with the Washington Monument in the background. Our aliens know right where the power seat is on Earth.

So, the alien gets shot when he tries to show them his present. However, it is only by one nervous soldier, not the whole army, that would be a show! Next, a huge (meaning tall) robot, Gort, comes out of the saucer and shoots the army’s tanks and guns, melting them.

With that auspicious start, the humans rally and take the guy to Walter Reed Hospital, where he sits in bed, waiting. The humans dealing with this alien foolishly think they can control the situation and lock him in his hospital room when the talks go around in circles. Our alien, called Klaatu, decides to leave and try to get to know these irrational humans himself. Enter the young widow Helen and her son Bobby. Bobby and Klaatu meet a leading scientist (an Einstein character), and Helen helps Klaatu get a message to Gort. The message is famous in the annuals of scifi. Klaatu barata nikto. It is fascinating (though she thought it was ridiculous and couldn’t help laughing a lot through the filming).

This is a picture after she delivers the message and Gort unexpectedly picks Helen up and takes her into the ship.

The scientist and Helen save the day, and Klaatu delivers the message he came to give. That message was we’re worried about you fooling around with nuclear missiles, in case they eventually are applied to rockets. Klaatu says they have an invitation to join his people. More specifically, Klaatu wants Earth to join the other planet’s association, allow robots to patrol Earth , and prevent aggression. Klaatu says goodbye, waves to Helen (or the Professor, or both), returns to the saucer, and takes off).

Why I Think This is the Best SciFi Film

The story is very realistic. Robert Wise, the director who was involved in some excellent films (Citizen Kane is considered the best film ever by many), emphasized reality in the setup of the film. This was the infancy of Science Fiction films, and many were skittish about the quality of the story this could produce. It was done in black and white, which I think is classy and shows everyday people and their reactions to the events. Michael Renne is different (they referred to him as strange); one reason he was chosen to play Klaatu, the other was he was unknown in American film. Patricia Neal had chops as an actress. I knew her from The Fountainhead 1949 and thought she could portray a rational and intelligent person in contrast to some of the public’s reaction to the saucer coming to Earth. The little boy was very believable as a brave, smart, funny, and bold character. Sam Jaffe was excellent as the Einstein-like professor who accepted what Klaatu presented and had a marvelous time getting involved, just like a scientist should act.

The special effects (what is scifi without them?) are significant. They used what they had back in 1951, and I wish more of that was used in subsequent scifi films. The trick here was that many times, the alien stuff was inferred rather than directly shown. The scifi stuff we see comes in the ship, the robot, and the ease of Klaatu wandering around the city.

It is said this film is a thinking scifi show without monsters, but I disagree. Gort is a monster. He is presented as a robot programmed to prevent aggression with absolute power. This means it’s your fault if he zaps you as opposed to an animal who just wants to gobble you up. I disagree; he still kills you. Well, first, he destroys your weapons, but then… no 3rd chance?

A final note on the musical score. The therimin was famously used as the start of a staple for science fiction. It gives an eerie feeling of the unknown. Excellent!

Negative Points

As I previously said, there was some hedging on participation in this film. Another point I found was the discussion by the director about using the robot to enforce the ‘rules’ (no aggression). Mr. Wise felt it had to be done; it was the way to go. Following, I have posted the speech Klaatu gives explaining what he is, what Gort is, and what Earth is going to have to deal with.

KLAATU’S SPEECH FROM “THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL” (1951)

“I am leaving soon and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. (he pauses, studying the faces) The Universe grows smaller every day — and the threat of aggression by any group — anywhere — can no longer be tolerated.

There must be security for all — or no one is secure… This does not mean giving up any freedom except the freedom to act irresponsibly.

Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves — and hired policemen to enforce them.

We of the other planets have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets — and for the complete elimination of aggression. A sort of United Nations on the Planetary level… The test of any such higher authority, of course, is the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots– (indicating Gort) Their function is to patrol the planets — in space ships like this one — and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression we have given them absolute power over us.

At the first sign of violence they act automatically against the aggressor. And the penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk.

The result is that we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war — free to pursue more profitable enterprises. (after a pause) We do not pretend to have achieved perfection — but we do have a system — and it works.

I came here to give you the facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet — but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned- out cinder.

Your choice is simple. Join us and live in peace. Or pursue your present course — and face obliteration. We will be waiting for your answer. decision rests with you.^”1

Klaatu admits their system is ‘not perfection, but it works.’ I would have to agree; as it is presented, it does.

The main problem I have with this system is twofold:

One is the loss of freedom. I am talking about more than just the freedom to act irresponsibly. Aggression is part of the human condition for a fundamental evolutionary reason. Things change, and attacks can come in many forms. What if the attack is from outside, and the aggressor is stronger than the Robots? We couldn’t fight; the robots would stop us. Now what? Humans struggle with individual autonomy and the best for the group. The truth is, both are important to survive and be a whole person.

Two, the robots are given complete control, a necessary part of this system. However, these robots (and indeed all) are made and programmed by flawed creatures like humans. What guarantee is there that someday a nefarious person or group will change that programming and create an autocratic state in their idea of ‘perfection’? In fact, the original story had the robot in charge, and Klaatu is killed with the appearance of Klaatu and the robot Gnut, and he is buried nearby. Gnut tries to replicate Klaatu but fails. Up to this point, we think Klaatu is the master, but Gnut informs a reporter that Gnut is a master. A Twilight Zone ending. A different overall idea for the trip to Earth.

I love that kind of analysis. When I first saw this movie, I thought Helen should say, “Let me go grab Bobby, and we’ll come with you.” Well, it was romantic, and Klaatu is cute.

Places to Stream

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You Tube rent from $3.59

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Sources

1. https://mizpeh.blogspot.com/2010/11/klaatus-speech-from-day-earth-stood_29.html

Images

Gort and Klaatu in illustration

https://deciphermedia.tv/assets/imgs/media/movies/the_day_the_earth_stood_still_1951.jpg

Landing at the Mall in Washington DC