The Day the Earth Stood Still (film)
**The Day the Earth Stood Still** is a classic American science fiction film that premiered in 1951, set against the backdrop of the Cold War and rising nuclear tensions. The story follows Klaatu, a humanoid alien who arrives on Earth with a powerful robot named Gort to deliver an urgent message to the world’s leaders about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Upon landing in Washington, D.C., Klaatu faces hostility from the military and is ultimately shot, which leads to Gort demonstrating his formidable power by melting the soldiers' weapons. Disguised as a human, Klaatu learns about life on Earth while staying with a woman named Helen and her son, Bobby.
The film explores themes of accountability and the dual nature of technology, culminating in a demonstration of power when Klaatu temporarily disables all electricity on the planet to convey the seriousness of his warning. The narrative emphasizes peace and the interconnectedness of civilizations in the universe, suggesting dire consequences if humanity fails to address its aggressive tendencies. Notably, the film received the Golden Globe for Best Film Promoting International Understanding and is recognized for its impactful score by Bernard Herrmann, which helped shape the sound of future science fiction films.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (film)
- Release Date: 1951
- Director(s): Robert Wise
- Writer(s): Edmund H. North
- Principal Actors and Roles: Patricia Neal (Helen Benson); Michael Rennie (Klaatu); Sam Jaffe (Prof. Jacob Barnhardt); Lock Martin (Gort)
- Book / Story Film Based On: Farewell to the Master by Harry Bates
The Day the Earth Stood Still is an American science fiction film that premiered in 1951 during the atomic and space ages, as well as the heating up of the Cold War. At the time of its release, the United States was embroiled in a politically based war with the Soviet Union in which fears of nuclear war were rampant. The Day the Earth Stood Still became a classic anti-nuclear war film that influenced other science fiction films of the decade and beyond.
The film is black-and-white and used for what was at the time some technologically advanced visual effects, including computer-generated images. Some of these visual effects are clearly evident at the opening of the film when Klaatu, an alien that looks like a human, flies on a flying saucer into Washington, DC. The film’s overall message is that technology could be used for both aggression and peace and that people need to be accountable and responsible with technology. Its prime example of the dangers of technology is shown when Klaatu cuts off all electrical power on Earth and then, as a result, is killed for his actions.
Plot
The film is set in Washington, DC, in the 1950s. Klaatu arrives from outer space with Gort, a robot he commands, landing on the White House Mall. Klaatu has come to speak to not just the president of the United States but all the world’s leaders. US soldiers surround the spacecraft. Klaatu is shot when a gift he is holding is mistaken for a weapon. In response, Gort makes all of the soldiers’ weapons melt. Klaatu orders Gort to stop.
Klaatu is taken to an army hospital to be cared for. Doctors are amazed that he heals quickly because he has human-like anatomy. Klaatu is frustrated when his request to meet with the world’s leaders is turned down. He feels he has been imprisoned in the hospital and decides to escape. He finds a place to stay in a boarding house where he meets a young woman named Helen and her son Bobby. Because Klaatu appears to be human, rather than alien, others are not threatened by his appearance. Klaatu changes his name to Mr. Carpenter and learns about life on Earth while living in the boarding house. He also obtains the help he needs from Bobby to connect to the leaders of the scientific community. Bobby reveals to Klaatu that he thinks Professor Barnhardt is the greatest human in the world.
Professor Barnhardt is Earth’s top scientist but is frustrated by the lack of respect he receives from the government. He meets with Klaatu and learns the reason why he has come to Earth is out of concern for nuclear weapons. Klaatu tells the professor that there are consequences if nuclear weapons are used—the other planets will destroy Earth. In turn, the professor agrees to arrange a meeting of Earth’s leaders as long as Klaatu can show him a sign of power. He believes that Earth’s leaders may listen to Klaatu if he can display such a feat.
Klaatu finds Helen at work and tells her who he really is. He then stops all power on Earth for about 30 minutes. (Yet power is not lost should it compromise anyone’s life.) In the meantime, Helen’s boyfriend Tom has figured out Klaatu’s true identity and told authorities where to find him. While Klaatu and Helen are on their way to Professor Barnhardt’s home, he tells her that if anything happens to him that she needs to give this command to Gort: "Klaatu barada nikto." After Klaatu is shot and killed by the authorities, Helen goes to Klaatu’s spaceship to find Gort. Gort revives Klaatu, but Helen learns that it is not permanent. Gort lives long enough to tell the scientists who are standing outside the spaceship that if the leaders of Earth do not stop their aggression with nuclear weapons, the robots of the universe will attack and destroy Earth.
Significance
The Day the Earth Stood Still was a landmark film in terms of Cold-War era science fiction. It was awarded the Golden Globe for best film promoting international understanding but did not receive any Academy Award nominations.
The main character, Klaatu, is almost a savior-like alien that has come to Earth to save the universe, or at least pacify it during an age of nuclear proliferation, the space race, and new technological frontiers. Even at the end of the film, Klaatu is resurrected (but only for a short time), which parallels what adherents of Christianity believe happened to Christ before he returned to Heaven. Klaatu is viewed with suspicion by the military and government (which is similar to the experience of Christ) but befriends regular citizens such as Bobby and Helen. Klaatu’s misson as the "chosen one" from the universe is to be a representative of peace, but also to warn the people of Earth of the consequences of their actions. He explains the other planets in the universe hold this concern because their civilizations may be impacted if the leaders of planet Earth use nuclear weapons. He and the other leaders in the universe are only interfering with interactions on Earth because unlike other weapons, nuclear weapons will certainly affect life and peace in the universe. They represent the moral conscience that may be overlooked by the leaders of Earth who now have access to nuclear weapons and space technology. Though he comes in peace, he warns that if order is not maintained and use of nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation continues, Earth will be destroyed.
Composer Bernard Herrmann arranged the film’s eerie score, which was his first for a science fiction film. His use of electronic music was innovative and forward thinking. It influenced the scores of other films for decades to come.
Awards and nominations
Won
- Golden Globe (1951) Best Film Promoting International Understanding
Nominated
- Golden Globe (1951) Best Score
Bibliography
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Bliss, Michael. Invasions USE: The Essential Science Fiction Films of the 1950s. London: Rowman, 2014. Print.
Booker, M. Keith. Alternate Americas. Westport: Greenwood, 2006. Print.
Matthews, Melvin E., Jr. Hostile Aliens, Hollywood and Today’s News: 1950s Science Fiction Films and 9/11. New York: Algora, 2007. Print.
Rickman, Gregg, ed. The Science Fiction Film Reader. New York: Limelight, 2004. Print.
Sanders, Steven M., ed. The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film. Lexington: UP of Kentucky, 2008. Print.
Shaw, Tony. Hollywood’s Cold War. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2007. Print.