Directed by: Robert Wise
Cast: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe
When a large UFO enters into our atmosphere, lands in a public park, and a single alien says he comes in peace; as a viewer, I'd say too predictable. But just moments later, when the alien gets shot by a nervous soldier and the bleeding wound doesn't make him upset, my urge to hit the stop button subsides. Then the story calmly continues and the alien, who looks strikingly like an average human male, learns more about our Earthly ways (the good and bad). However, The Day the Earth Stood Still is not simply a film about extraterrestrial contact. Released only 6 years after the official end of World War II, this 1951 Golden Globe winner for "Best Film Promoting International Understanding," represents a changing time in American culture. The Cold War was in its early years, so uncertainty about the direction of foreign affairs was on the minds of many. The film shows the wary reaction of the average American citizen. People seem more upset than amazed about what initially appears to be a wonderful chance for technological advancement, among other possibilities.
The Day the Earth Stood Still also has some interesting visual qualities, especially Gort, an enormous robot, played by the 7'7" actor Lock Martin. His robot character has a bare metallic-looking body with no flashy lights or mechanisms, which provides for an overall enigmatic quality.
The film holds its place in the classic sci-fi genre and a viewer should make note of both "classic" and "sci-fi" -no surprises there. Runtime: 92 minutes.