THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (Theatrical Release USA 1951)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.9|5.0 Starsìììì

The Day the Earth Stood Still—a 1951 film that still stands in 2017 as one of the most well-written scripts Hollywood has produced—has great action, suspense, casting, timing, and acting. Add the fact that they wrapped it in innocence so that everyone can watch it and you’ve got great entertainment that serves the widest possible audience.

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images

Storyline

An outer space ship lands in a Washington, D.C. baseball field. All military surround the ship and wait for a ramp to lower. They are surprised to see a spaceman disembark and proclaim peace to all Earth’s inhabitants. A young, nervous soldier pre-anticipates trouble and shoots the spaceman in the shoulder. A humanoid robot, Gort (Lock Martin), disembarks and begins vaporizing all weapons. Klaatu (Michael Rennie) orders the robot to stop and the American soldiers realize they should help the space man with his wound. They take him to Walter Reed Hospital where the spaceman applies a special salve to heal the wound. Klaatu secretly breaks out of his hospital room, against orders, in an effort to know Earth people better and the story is on.

Additional Thanks

Best Work for Director Robert Wise. Thank you to Producer Julian Blaustein for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Helen Benson (Patricia Neal), Tom Stevens (Hugh Marlowe), Jacob (Sam Jaffe), Bobby Benson (Billy Gray), and Mrs. Barley (Frances Bavier).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This film is a ‘must see sci-fi’ flick for all ages and all people. No offense here. It’s cleanly done and contains some of the best acting and satisfying portrayal of story out there, period.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers