![]() ![]() My friend and I were talking about this movie and the only improvement we could think of is maybe to smooth out the edges of Klaatu's flying saucer. I cannot understand why they are re-making this movie and screwing with the plot in a major way. As far as classic sci-fi goes, it's brilliant. User Comments for Day the Earth Stood Still, Theįor its time a brilliant piece of work. The 5 Best TV Comedies ClassicBecky Didn't Like At.Read "Day the Earth Stood Still, The" Script.The 5 Best Episodes of the Original "Star Trek".The Day the Earth Stood Still: Do You Remember the.Later in the movie, we get to hear Mutual Radio's Gabriel Heatter, who significantly doesn't use his catch phrase "Ah yes, there's good news tonight!" as he tries to scare the whey out of DC radio listeners with the story of Klaatu's "escape".īack in the Day, these kinds of appearances were not uncommon. Covering the actual landing (for ABC-TV) is columnist Drew Pearson of "Washington Merry-Go-Round" fame, not long before he starting tangling with that Senator from Wisconsin. He covered Jimmy Stewart's filibuster in Mr. This wasn't Kaltenborn's first movie appearance: ![]() Kaltenborn, then still trying to live down his on-air certainty that Thomas Dewey was going to beat Harry Truman in the '48 presidential election. He came to that job after years as a CBS Radio news commentator post-war, he went to ABC Radio (and later TV), where he appeared for the rest of his life. First up: Elmer Davis, who a few years before had been the Director of the US Government's Office of War Information. What I still love to watch is the opening scenes of The Day The Earth Stood Still, as the newscasters of the world cover the landing.Īpparently, few remember (or even know) the American commentators: Welcome once again to Better Late Than Never!: And Sam Jaffe as the 'Einstein'-like scientist and the little boy Billy Gray and that awful Hugh Marlowe as the slimy publicity seeking boyfriend. I loved Patricia Neal in it - there's just something so vibrant in her scenes with Rennie. I love a movie that catches up its audience and makes the watching of it kind of an 'event'.Įveything about this film works well. Some of us were watching this just the other day and as usual we got caught up in the story and wondering what sort of power Gort might have to enable him to destroy a planet. He was always a stand out whatever film he was in. For me, part of the film's mystic (or do I mean 'mythic'?) quality is Michael Rennie's exceptional 'look'. My mom and I always had the biggest crush on Michael Rennie. I agree with Rick's comment that he was able to make the alien visitor 'seem human'. He definitely had an 'other wordly' look to him. Those chiseled cheek bones, that sculpted head. Michael Rennie - an everyman? Oh, nay, nay, Rich. You'd be amazed at how many different variations I've heard of: "Klaatu barada nikto!" ![]() I love to watch it with young people and tell them that they will need to memorize the film's classic phrase and repeat it at the appropriate point in the film.or the Earth will be destroyed. But it's the story-along with that awesome robot Gort-that makes The Day the Earth Stood Still popular with viewers of all ages. The cast, music, and richness of themes contribute mightily to the film's timeless quality. North for adding these provocative layers on top of a traditional science fiction tale. Producer Blaustein credits screenwriter Edmund H. And, of course, he is murdered and resurrected. He brings a message of peace, but is largely misunderstood. He performs a "miracle" of global proportions. Klaatu becomes a Carpenter (if in name only). Loosely based on the Harry Bates story "Farewell to the Master," The Day the Earth Stood Still features strong religious undercurrents. Still, Herrmann' score remains an impressive achievement today. Its distinctive sound became almost a cliche through repeated use in other sci fi films of the 1950s. One of the first electronic instruments, the theremin is "played" by moving one's hands in front of it to change sound frequencies. In addition to its visual impact, The Day the Earth Still even sounds other-worldly thanks to composer Bernard Herrmann's innovative use of a theremin (shown on right). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |