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The
Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)
In Robert Wise's seminal, big budget science-fiction
film:
- the film's intriguing title sequence of an extra-terrestrial
vessel's approach into the Earth's atmosphere, emphasized by the
electronic sounds of theremin theme music
- the initial flying saucer-spaceship landing on the
Ellipse in Washington DC in 1951 - causing a panic and troop deployment
- the sequence of the emergence of a humanoid, benevolent,
pacifist, interplanetary alien emissary-visitor named Klaatu (Michael
Rennie), who was seeking peace - he walked down a ramp, held out
his hand, and announced: "We have come to visit you in peace
and with good will" - but when he pulled out a device or object
from inside his spacesuit (later described as a gift to the US President),
an edgy soldier fired his weapon, and the device was shattered in
pieces and seen lying on the ground next to the wounded Klaatu
- suddenly, through the hatch of the vessel-ship emerged
a silent, killer bodyguard - a giant robot named (Gort); he descended
the ramp from the ship and confronted the military force; he had
the ability, when threatened, to zap (vaporize or melt) the soldiers'
weapons, tanks and giant guns with a lethal, disintegration, death-ray
laser beam heat-ray behind his sliding visor; the robot, an interstellar
guardian - a member of a police force, also had the power to destroy
worlds such as Earth, whose inhabitants were intent on destruction,
aggression, and hostility; however, his main objective was to warn
Earth to establish peace
- the sequence of Klaatu's (now using the name Mr. Carpenter)
tour of Washington DC, led by the son Bobby (Billy Gray) of young
WWII war widow Helen Benson (Patricia Neal), including their visit
to Arlington Cemetery (and the grave of Bobby's father, who was killed
at Anzio) - Klaatu was amazed ("Did all those people die in
wars?"); Klaatu was impressed with the Lincoln Memorial (and
its inscribed Gettysburg Address)
- Klaatu's meeting with Bobby's recommendation for
"the smartest man in the world" -- the Einstein-like scientist
character Dr. Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), who conferred with Klaatu, and
was told that other alien peoples threatened to completely eliminate
Earth (after its development of atomic power) if they didn't seek peace
and heed his message
- later in the film, Gort demonstrated his power one
day at noon, by shutting down the world's power supply for 30 minutes
(hence, the film's title "The Day the Earth Stood Still")
Gort Menacing Helen Benson Before She Commanded:
"Klaatu barada nikto"
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- the scene of young WWII war widow Helen Benson
(Patricia Neal) menaced outside the spaceship by the shadowy approach
of Gort; to save herself, she delivered a command of three words
- "Klaatu barada nikto" given to her by Klaatu - to prevent
the menacing Gort looming above her from killing her and destroying
the planet after Klaatu had been shot (and killed) by troops; afterwards,
the robot carried Helen in his arms into the spaceship
Klaatu's Farewell Address
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- the film's soft-spoken final scene, with resurrected
extra-terrestrial Klaatu's pro-disarmament address to scientists
and other top leaders - he lectured and warned world leaders with
a final challenge, as robot Gort stood behind him near the entrance
to their spaceship - before they departed: ("...but if you
threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced
to a burned-out cinder. Your choice is simple. Join us and live
in peace or pursue your present course and face obliteration. We
shall be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you")
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Spaceship Landing in DC - With Troops Surrounding It
Klaatu (Michael Rennie) with Device
Shattered Object
Robot Gort
Gort's Laser Beam Disintegrated Weapons
Dr. Barnhardt
(Sam Jaffe)
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