Two Words, One Answer.
Bomb Scare
 The Day The Earth Stood Still $12.99 Filmed entirely on the FOX backlot (except for a few 2nd unit shots of D.C.), no one at the time could have imagined that THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL would reach legendary status and remain there almost 60 years later. The story of the arrival in the U.S. capital city of alien Klaatu and his policeman robot Gort remains relevant to this day. Klaatu's message that Earthlings are becoming a threat because of their militarism and nuclear weapons might be right out of today's news. Klaatu comes in peace with a communique vital to our planet's survival and is immediately wounded by rifle fire for his efforts. After escaping from Walter Reed Hospital, Klaatu takes on the alias of Carpenter and becomes a boarder with Helen Benson (Neal). He instantly bonds with Helen's son, Bobby (Gray) and the two go on a D.C. sightseeing tour that ends at the home of Prof. Barnhardt (Jaffe). "Carpenter" solves a complex mathematical equation on the not-home professor's chalkboard, and leaves a note with his name and address. Later, Carpenter/Klaatu enlists Barnhardt's aid in telling all the nations of Earth that the planet will be destroyed if a way ian't found for everyone to live in peace. He also reveals his true identity to Helen; her boyfriend, Tom (Marlowe) betrays Helen's confidence and informs the authorities of Klaatu's whereabouts, but if he's killed, robot Gort is programmed to destroy the Earth. Another recommended 1950s sci-fier is INVADERS FROM MARS, where intelligent life from the red planet have a plan to turn everyone on Earth into willing slaves. (VHS version) - (DVD version) Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website. (8.1) The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951) - Michael Rennie/Patricia Neal/Hugh Marlowe/Sam Jaffe/Billy Gray/Lock Martin (as Gort) Themselves: Drew Pearson/H.V. Kaltenborn/Gabriel Heatter (uncredited: 'Snub' Pollard/Holly Bane) TRIVIA: Bernard Herrmann's eerie Theremin-laced score was recycled for the pilot episode of TV's LOST IN SPACE. Because of the then rampant Congressional Communist witchhunts, this was Sam Jaffe's last movie appearance for almost a decade. Billy Gray (Bobby) portrayed Bud on the sitcom FATHER KNOWS BEST. Klaatu was originally slated to be played by Claude Rains. Jack Palance was suggested to inhabit Gort's robot suit. A more frail man (Martin) was chosen instead. Ranked #5 on AFI's "10 Greatest Sci-fi Films" list.  Bomb Scare: The History and Future of Nuclear Weapons $18.95 He had shipped the book on time, but it never arrived. It was not his fault, but he still refunded the money. I would still do business with him again. |
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