Movie Review: The Day the Earth Stood Still

By Doug Mappin

   “The Day the Earth Stood Still” is considered by many science fiction aficionados to be one of the greatest message films ever made.  The film, released in 1951 and directed by Robert Wise, has long been viewed as one of the director’s greatest successes.  Released during the tense Cold War years, the film’s message put forth the perfect message, which Klaatu, the lead character, clearly states:  “I am afraid when reason is replaced with fear.”   Edmund H. North wrote the movie script after adapting it from the short story “Farewell to the Master” by Harry Bates.  The film’s cast was played to perfection.  Michael Rennie, a relatively newcomer to Hollywood was cast as the alien Klaatu.  A young Patricia Neal portrayed Helen Benson.  Hugh Marlow and Billy Gray rounded out the main cast.  The supporting players added a warm depth to the remainder of the cast.  Perhaps the most important element to the story adding to the film’s mystery was Bernard Hermann’s soundtrack.

   The film’s entire premise revolves around the appearance of a spaceship that lands in the National Mall in Washington, D.C.  Its unexpected landing sends the capitol’s inhabitants in the nation’s capital into a near panic.  No sooner than soldiers surround the landed craft, tanks and other assorted weapons a figure, looking remarkably human, emerges.  Showing the ignorance and fear of the time, a soldier accidentally wounds the alien.  Immediately the fear factor is stepped up as a huge robot (Gort) appears and neatly destroys the weaponry surrounding their spacecraft—all the while harming no one, not even the personnel sitting inside the tanks.  From this point on, without giving away too many details, the story centers on Klaatu’s journey to better understand those irrational inhabitants of this strange planet earth.  Klaatu has come to earth with a message—one of supreme relevance to the existence of humanity.

   Films of this nature rest upon the audience’s ability to suspend their disbelief.  The writing, direction, music and the conviction of the acting make all of this easy.  Many films of the 1950s were so poorly conceived that science fiction was given a bad name amongst filmgoers.  This film, in contrast, was intelligently conceived and thoughtfully produced.  In a time when space travel was nearly two decades away, the film strove to make the people and situations as believable as possible.  Klaatu’s curiosity about his hosts was played out in a fashion that was both humorous and compelling.  Adding to the warmth of the characters was musical score that added mystery and depth to Klaatu’s quest to warn mankind of its demise—if his message is not heeded.

     This reviewer counts this film as one of the top ten science fiction films of all times.  The acting was superbly handled—even the young Billy Gray, who later as a teen joined the television program “Father Knows Best,” was up the chores working with an adult cast.  For its time, the special effects, while not many, were believable.  When the spacecraft hovered over the mall in the beginning of the film, its shadow was clearly visible.  Most filmmakers would not have paid that much attention to detail for a lowly science fiction film.  Clearly, the filmmakers did not take its audience for granted. 

   While the movie’s special effects may not be as sophisticated as those we see in more modern films, the message was the primary concern.  In a time of our nation’s history when McCarthyism ran rampant, the fear of communism and fear of atomic destruction, this film dared to strike a more thoughtful, more cautious tone and preach of tolerance, intelligence and reason.  Realizing that the film’s lack of action may lead some to say “The Day the Theatre Stood Still” would be more appropriate, this reviewer prefers more thought-provoking themes and welcomes the intelligence displayed by the morality play from a time of unbridled fear of the unknown.  Interestingly enough, the message seems a timeless.  Today’s tensions between Iraq and the Middle East can be easily be substituted by yesterday’s fear of communism.

   In conclusion, this movie is a must-see.  Yes.  “The Day the Earth Stood Still” was filmed in black and white, but this does not diminish its allure or its message.  Even its lack of color clearly says that no issue is black and white.  Can this film be improved upon.  Perhaps.  But consider this.  In the mid 1980s a sequel to this film was considered for a short time.  Sadly, Michael Rennie had died in the 1971, and using another actor to portray Klaatu seemed unthinkable.  Needless to say, the project did not make it off the launch pad, pun intended.  How could they?  Klaatu came to earth with a message.  Perhaps today’s leaders could learn something from this “little” science fiction film from the 50s.  Times may change, messages don’t nor do people.