The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 1951 American science fiction film from 20th Century-Fox, produced by Julian Blaustein and directed by Robert Wise. It stars Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray, Frances Bavier and Lock Martin. The screenplay was written by Edmund H. North, based on the 1940 science fiction short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates. The film score was composed by Bernard Herrmann.Gianos 1998 p. 23. Set in the Cold War during the early stages of the nuclear arms race, the storyline involves a humanoid alien visitor who comes to Earth, accompanied by a powerful robot, to deliver an important message that will affect the entire human race. In 1995, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant"."'The Day the Earth Stood Still': Award Wins and Nominations." IMDb.com. Retrieved: February 1, 2015.
Plot
After a flying saucer lands in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States Army surrounds it with soldiers and tanks. A humanoid in a spacesuit emerges, announcing that he comes "in peace and with good will". While the alien is opening a small metallic device, he is shot and wounded by a nervous soldier. A large robot emerges from the saucer and disintegrates the soldiers' weapons, including tanks. The alien, Klaatu, orders the robot, Gort, to desist. Klaatu explains that the now-broken device was a gift for the President of the United States "to study life on the other planets". Klaatu is taken to Walter Reed Army Hospital for surgery, after which he uses a salve to heal his wound quickly. The Army is unable to open or blast into the saucer. Gort stands outside, silent and unmoving.
The President's secretary, Mr. Harley, visits Klaatu, who states that his message must be delivered to all world leaders simultaneously. Harley says this is impossible in the current situation. When Klaatu proposes spending time among ordinary humans to understand better their "unreasoning suspicions and attitudes", Harley rejects the proposal, and Klaatu remains locked in his room.
Klaatu escapes and acquires a suit; the laundry ticket on the jacket sleeve says "Maj. Carpenter". He rents a room at a boarding house under that last name. Among the residents are a young widow named Helen Benson and her son Bobby. Helen's boyfriend Tom Stevens becomes jealous of the stranger.
Bobby takes Klaatu on a tour of the city, including the Lincoln Memorial and a visit to his father's grave in Arlington National Cemetery. Klaatu learns that most of the dead are soldiers killed in wars. When Klaatu asks Bobby "Who is the greatest living person?", Bobby suggests Professor Barnhardt. They go to his home, but he is away. Peering through a window, Klaatu sees that Barnhardt’s blackboard is covered with equations (an attempt to solve the three-body problem). To "leave a calling card", Klaatu enters and writes the solution on the board, then gives his contact information to the housekeeper.
That evening, a government agent escorts Klaatu to Barnhardt. Klaatu tells Barnhardt the people of other planets are concerned about Earth's aggressiveness now that humanity has developed rudimentary atomic power and that if Klaatu's message is ignored, Earth could be "eliminated". Barnhardt agrees to gather scientists from around the world at the saucer; he suggests that Klaatu provide a demonstration of his power beforehand.
Unaware that Bobby is following, Klaatu returns to his spaceship. Bobby watches as Gort knocks out two soldiers so Klaatu can reenter the saucer. After running home, Bobby tells Helen, who does not believe him, but Tom is suspicious. The next day, all electrical equipment on Earth ceases to function for 30 minutes, except for essential services.
Learning that Bobby followed him the previous night, Klaatu visits Helen at work, reveals his mission, and asks that she not betray him. Helen asks Tom to keep Klaatu's secret, but he alerts the military. Helen and Klaatu take a taxi and head toward Barnhardt's home. Klaatu instructs Helen that if anything should happen to him, she must say to Gort "Klaatu barada nikto." The Army tracks them down. Klaatu is shot and killed; his body is placed in a jail cell. Rushing to the saucer, Helen recites the phrase to Gort, who then carries her into the saucer. Gort retrieves Klaatu's body and revives him inside the saucer.
Exiting the spaceship with Klaatu and Gort, Helen joins Barnhardt and the gathered scientists. Klaatu tells them that an interplanetary organization has created a police force of invincible robots like Gort and that "In matters of aggression, we have given them absolute power over us." Klaatu concludes, "Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration." With a final wave to Helen, Klaatu and Gort then depart in the saucer.
Cast Michael Rennie as Klaatu Patricia Neal as Helen Benson Hugh Marlowe as Tom Stevens Sam Jaffe as Professor Jacob Barnhardt Billy Gray as Bobby Benson Frances Bavier as Mrs. Barley Lock Martin as Gort
+Uncredited (in order of appearance)Guy WilliamsRadio operator: "Holy mackerel, call headquarters, get the lieutenant."Kenneth KendallBBC news presenterElmer Davis"This is Elmer Davis again. We still don't know what it is or where it comes from..."Harry Harvey Sr.Taxi driver listening to Elmer Davis on radioCharles Tannen [voice only]Radio newscaster: "We interrupt this program to give you a bulletin just received..."H. V. Kaltenborn"This is H. V. Kaltenborn speaking. Here in the nation's capital there is anxiety and concern..."Louis Jean HeydtAirforce captain anxiously looking upward at the approaching spaceshipRoy EngelGovernment employee (in fedora) looking upwardPat AherneGeneral at Pentagon: "Get me the chief of staff"Wilson WoodOfficial: "Hello... I want to speak to the President..."Drew Pearson"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, this is Drew Pearson. We bring you this special..."Harry LauterPlatoon leader at spaceship landing siteFrank ConroyMr. Harley, secretary to the President: "I've been told you speak our language..."Fay RoopeMajor general visiting the site of the spaceship landing: "Oh, Carlson, what's the report?"Harlan WardeCarlson, government metallurgist examining the spaceship: "No luck, sir. We've tried everything..."Stuart WhitmanSentry guarding the spaceshipRobert OsterlohMajor White, Klaatu's physician at Walter Reed HospitalLawrence DobkinArmy physician at Walter Reed Hospital examining Klaatu's X-rayEdith EvansonMrs. Crockett, proprietor of boarding house where Klaatu rents a roomJohn BrownMr. Barley, husband of Mrs. Barley; resident at Mrs. Crockett'sOlan SouleMr. Krull, resident of Mrs. Crockett's boarding houseGabriel Heatter [voice only]"And now, on this Sunday morning, we ask some questions that have been haunting..."James CravenBusinessman among the crowd looking at the spaceshipTyler McVeyMr. Brady, government agent who comes to see Klaatu at the boarding houseHouse Peters Jr.Military police captain who arrives with Klaatu at Professor Barnhardt's houseFranklyn FarnumMan passing Klaatu and Helen Benson in her office building corridorWheaton ChambersMr. Bleeker, jeweler to whom Tom Stevens brings Klaatu's diamond for evaluationMillard Mitchell [voice only]General at Pentagon meetingGeorge LynnColonel Ryder at Pentagon meeting who reports Gort was being encased in a block of KL93 plasticChet BrandenburgMan unable to start his outboard motor due to the power outageCarleton YoungColonel in jeep riding towards Klaatu's boarding house: "Attention all units!"Snub PollardTaxi driver listening to radio announcementSpencer ChanOne of the world scientists gathered at Professor Barnhardt's meeting alongside the spaceship
Top broadcast journalists of their time, Elmer Davis, H.V. Kaltenborn, Drew Pearson, and Gabriel Heatter, had cameo roles. Spencer Tracy and Claude Rains originally were considered for the part of Klaatu."Making the Earth Stand Still LaserDisc (Fox Video; 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment): Julian Blaustein, Robert Wise, Patricia Neal, Billy Gray." IMDb, 1995. Retrieved: 1 February 2015."Cult Movies Showcase 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: February 1, 2015.
Metaphors
In a 1995 interview, producer Julian Blaustein explained that Joseph Breen, the film censor installed by the Motion Picture Association of America at the Twentieth Century Fox studios, balked at the portrayal of Klaatu's resurrection and limitless power. At the behest of the MPAA, a line was written into the script; when Helen asks Klaatu whether Gort has unlimited power over life and death, Klaatu explains that Gort has only revived him temporarily: "that power is reserved to the Almighty Spirit."Shermer 2001, pp. 74–75. Of the elements that he added to Klaatu's character, screenwriter Edmund North said, "It was my private little joke. I never discussed this angle with Blaustein or Wise because I didn't want it expressed. I had originally hoped that the Christ comparison would be subliminal."Matthews 2007, p. 54.
That the question even came up in an interview is proof enough that such comparisons did not remain subliminal, but they are subtle enough so that it is not immediately obvious to all viewers that those elements were intended to compare Klaatu to Jesus Christ.Holloway and Beck 2005, p. 135. When Klaatu escapes from the hospital, he steals the clothing of a Maj. Carpenter. This is an allusion to carpentry as the profession the New Testament says Jesus learned from Joseph, his adoptive father. His previous actions are misunderstood, and he eventually is killed by military authority. At the end of the film, Klaatu, having been restored to life, ascends into the (night) sky. Other parallels include his coming to Earth with a message for all mankind, his befriending of a child, possessing wisdom and specialized scientific knowledge beyond those of any human being, and people being given a sign of his power. At the start of the film, one of the British radar technicians, upon observing the speed of Klaatu's spaceship, is heard to exclaim, "Holy Christmas!".Haspel, Paul. "Future Shock on the National Mall." Journal of Popular Film & Television, Vol. 34, Issue 2, Summer 2006, pp. 62–71. .
Production Development Producer Julian Blaustein originally set out to make a film under the working titles of Farewell to the Master and Journey to the World which illustrated the fear and suspicion that characterized the early Cold War and Atomic Age. He reviewed more than two hundred science fiction short stories and novels in search of a storyline that could be used because this film genre was well suited for a metaphorical discussion of such grave issues. Studio head Darryl F. Zanuck gave the go-ahead for this project, and Blaustein hired Edmund North to write the screenplay based on elements from Harry Bates's 1940 short story "Farewell to the Master". The revised final screenplay was completed on February 21, 1951. Science fiction writer Raymond F. Jones worked as an uncredited adviser."DVD: 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' Shooting Script." Still Galleries, [Fox Video 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]. Retrieved: February 1, 2015.
Pre-production