A film crew goes to a tropical island for an exotic location shoot and discovers a colossal ape who takes a shine to their female blonde star. He is then captured and brought back to New York City for public exhibition.
An alien (Klaatu) with his mighty robot (Gort) land their spacecraft on Cold War-era Earth just after the end of World War II. They bring an important message to the planet that Klaatu wishes to tell to representatives of all nations. However, communication turns out to be difficult, so, after learning something about the natives, Klaatu decides on an alternative approach. Written by
Bruce Janson <bruce@cs.su.oz.au>
Lock Martin (Joseph Lockard Martin) was perhaps "discovered" working as a doorman, but this film was definitely not his first: his first movie role was a credited supporting (with lines and a close-up!) Sultan's guard in "Lost in a Harem" (1944). A few more movies and a theatrical comedy duo (with a midget) traveling with Spike Jones's stage show followed. Then, he helped create the immortal Gort. See more »
Goofs
After Klaatu is shot, blood is seen on his shoulder, but when he's actually shot, not only is there no sign of his being hit in the shoulder, the device he's carrying is blasted out of his hand, and his physical reactions clearly are those of someone just shot in the hand or wrist. Not to mention that the device is found shot apart, damage that could not have happened to it just from falling onto the grass, and had Klaatu been hit in the shoulder. See more »
This was one of the first sci-fi movies I ever saw and one by which I gage all others. Before there was 'Star Wars' there was 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'. It brought together all that later sci-fi movies strive for. A solid story, believable characters and, for the day, great special FX. It was an examination of society at the time and the racial prejudice that permeated all levels of life. It studies mans fear of the unknown and the violent reaction it produces even today, and how the love of one person can change the course of events for the better. It's a movie that can still stand on its own even by today's standards and should never be remade.
But that's just my opinion.
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This was one of the first sci-fi movies I ever saw and one by which I gage all others. Before there was 'Star Wars' there was 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'. It brought together all that later sci-fi movies strive for. A solid story, believable characters and, for the day, great special FX. It was an examination of society at the time and the racial prejudice that permeated all levels of life. It studies mans fear of the unknown and the violent reaction it produces even today, and how the love of one person can change the course of events for the better. It's a movie that can still stand on its own even by today's standards and should never be remade.
But that's just my opinion.