Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

I can remember when I first watched The Day the Earth Stood Still. The story riveted me, and the robot was spectacular!


Brief Plot Synopsis

The world is in a panic. A spaceship has landed in Washington, DC, and an alien accompanied by a robot emerge to speak with the people of Earth. Through a series of unfortunate events, the alien is distrusted, misunderstood and attacked. These actions could lead to the destruction of the planet. Only a woman and her son, who befriend this otherworldly stranger, hold the key to perhaps saving humanity.


My Experiences

I didn't fully appreciate the nuances of this movie when I first viewed it as a teenager. This is definitely a movie with a message, and it doesn't bother to sugar-coat the morality tale. However, cloaked in science fiction … with a masterfully rendered robot … this film has become a science fiction classic.

The acting is well done. Michael Rennie is believable as the alien. He has a unique way of observing the world, trying to understand humanity and how the social/worldly politics work. His voice and even his facial physical characteristics help lend that otherworldly mood to his character. Lock Martin plays the part of Gort, the robot. It helped that this actor stood 7' 7" tall in real life.

Patricia Neal portrays a widow and mother trying to build a relationship with a suitor. Her emotions run the gambit from practical, concerned, worried, angry, and terrified. She anchors the movie, pulling the viewer into this reality. Her son, played by Billy Gray, is the typical 1950's child who is both polite and curious. He lends urgency to the situation, especially once he realizes his friend "Mr. Carpenter" is actually the alien everyone is looking to find. Hugh Marlowe, is the suitor, trying to win Patricia Neal's character's heart. He does a good job portraying a cool gentleman with more logic than heart.

The boarding house where "Mr. Carpenter" stays is where he meets Patricia Neal's character. It was fun to see Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee in the "Andy Griffith Show", as one of the boarders.

For a 1951 film, the special effects are extraordinary. The flying saucer coming to Earth is very well done. It even casts a shadow as it passes over land. As the spaceship extends its gangway and the ship door opens, it has a futuristic look. My favorite special effect is the robot, though. When I was younger, it never occurred to me that someone must in the robot suit. The effect was that spellbinding. Now, it is evident that someone is inside the suit … but, still, the effect is terrific. It is eerie and frightening when the robot's visor opens to reveal the ray-weapon.

This black-and-white movie is crisp and extremely well rendered. What really impresses me is the music score. The music is haunting and eerie. It can stand as a character in the movie, lending suspense and fear to each film frame.

The plot works well. There are a few areas I would have tightened to improve the pacing, but this is being picky. One thing that doesn't work well for me is the budding romance between the characters portrayed by Patricia Neal and Hugh Marlowe. There is no chemistry between these two actors. She is intelligent, warm and feeling, while he is distant, self-serving and cold. It's hard to imagine her putting up with him.

I have heard people comment on the religious aspect of this film. Listening to the movie commentary, it is explained that the film makers never realized the movie had the religious implications that people now attribute to it. They just adapted the movie from the novel "Farewell to the Master" written by Harry Bates, and they never noticed any religious implications.


Special Features

Note that to view all the special features, you have to flip the DVD over. This is not stated anywhere, except it is written in small print on the inner rim of the DVD.

It includes these special features:

SIDE A

Film Commentary by Robert Wise and Nicholas Meyer
Excellent!!! This commentary is loaded with behind-the-scenes information about the movie, the script, production and direction, to the actors, special effects, and music. There is a lot of information packed into this feature.

THX Optimizer
A series of audio signals and visual patterns help set the television to optimize the viewing experience for this film.

Movie Tone News 1951
Black-and-white news reel footage from 1951.

Theatrical Trailer
Always fun to view these. Don't be alarmed when you view a black screen but can hear the audio. The picture does appear after a short while.

SIDE B

Making the Earth Stood Still
This is a 70 minute documentary about the making of the movie. This feature is mostly commentary by various people. There are some still-shots and some footage from the film, but it is mostly reminiscing by those involved in the movie. It opens with director Robert Wise discussing the film, followed by comments by producer Julian Blaustein. Others who offer commentary include: Patricia Neal and Billy Gray (actors in the movie), Joe Dante (a director), Bob Burns (memorabilia authority), and memorabilia collectors Marc Zubatkin, William Malone. This feature covers a lot of territory, but it is not presented in an exciting format. Those talking sit in chairs and speak to the camera.

Restoration Comparison
The opening screens have written text that discusses the original 35mm film and camera negatives and how the deteriorated film was restored. Following these screen shots are side-by-side film comparisons so that the changes can be viewed.

Still Galleries
The gallery is divided into categories: Production, Scene and Set Photos, Shooting Script, Construction Blue Prints for the Ship, American and British Pressbooks, and a section of Posters, Lobby Cards, Spaceship Model and Gort. This is a great feature … except you have to manually scroll through the images. I wish there was a way to automatically play them like a slide show.

Trailers
The trailers include: "One Million Years BC" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth".


Cast

Michael Rennie – Klaatu
Patricia Neal – Helen Benson
Billy Gray – Bobby Benson
Hugh Marlowe – Tom Stevens
Sam Jaffe – Professor Jacob Barnhardt
Frances Bavier – Mrs. Barley
Lock Martin – Gort

Director: Robert Wise (movies: Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Andromeda Strain)


Purchasing & Specifications

I paid $14.98 for this DVD when it was first released. I see that Amazon.com now sells it for $7.49.

This 1951 black-and-white movie is 92 minutes long. The aspect ratio is 1.33:1, and is Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only). The DVD offers scene selections and several special features (listed above in this review). The movie is in English stereo and mono, French mono, or Spanish mono with subtitles in English and Spanish. The Classic Studios release of this DVD includes a folded sheet of heavy-stock paper with some information about the movie as well as a list of the scene selections.


Summary

The Day the Earth Stood Still is an excellent film that any science fiction collector will want to own. Not only does the movie relay an important message, but the film is extremely well crafted.

I hope you found this review useful.

Enjoy the day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Please read my other reviews:

Forbidden Planet

Monolith Monsters

The Incredible Shrinking Man

Quatermass & The Pit and Quatermass 2 (two movies)

The Mummy: The Legacy Collection (five movies)

Tremors Attack Pack (three movies)

Riddick Trilogy (three Vin Diesel movies)

X-Men Trilogy (3 movies)

Space Odyssey – 10 science fiction movie collection

LiteOn DVD Recorder/Player


Copyright 2008 Dawn L. Stewart


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD