Released in 1951 at the start of the Science Fiction/atomic age in pop culture, The Day The Earth Stood Still stands as a true standout of not just 50s science fiction, but the genre as a collective whole. This is due to the film dismissing ideas of monsters and alien invaders that would dominate the genre afterward. It is a brilliant showcase of taking a literal out of this world premise and grounding it into reality with a powerful message that is still relevant today.
An alien aircraft lands in Washington DC manned by Klaatu (Micheal Rennie) and his robot protector Gort. Klatu attempts to seek an audience with various world leaders with information regarding the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants. This idea of a meeting is shut down due to various tensions throughout the world and Kalutu escapes army custody taking the human alias "Carpenter". He blends himself and finds a room for rent occupied by a widow Helen Benson (Helen Benson) and her young son Bobby (Billy Gray). He becomes close to both of them, particularly Bobby, and learns more about the Earth's people and their history to do both great and terrible things. All the while he attempts to find someone who will grant him a global audience to explain his reasons for coming here.
The film with its story and message could not have been released at a better time. The world was still recovering from WW2 and the Cold War was starting up between the US and The Soviet Union. Capturing this time in the world has been captured before in film, but showing it through the perspective of the first contact with aliens was pure genius. Klaatu's first attempt to speak to world leaders is rejected as their close and single-minded perspective makes them want the meeting under their own terms. This leads to no agreement being reached and the US asks if Klaatu can simply meet with the president but Klaatu refuses this forced favoritism the government uses on him as his information regards the whole world. Klaatu also sees this when he walks among the civilians where people are in fear and jumping to conclusions rather than thinking rationally about the situation. The various news outlets and radio broadcast paint Klaatu as an unholy hideous creature bent on our destruction, which as we know are absurdly false. Klaatu comes from a world where such things as distrust and war have been abandoned and his world, as well as others, have learned to get along and work together to create a peaceful environment, which in turn leads them to be more technologically advanced than us. Klaatu witnesses the best and worst of humanity throughout his stay on earth. He is partially affected when Bobby takes him to see his father's grave at the Arlington Cemetary where he is shocked to learn all the people buried there died in War. The film also doesn't shy away from the good he sees in the world. He forms a close friendship with Helen and Bobby thanks to Helen's more open-minded outlook on Klaatu's arrival, and Bobby's youth and innocence, not yet being affected by the cynical and jaded view of his fellow adults. He also befriends scientist Profesor Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe) whom he reveals his secret to and Barnhardt instead of turning him in helps Klaatu in assembling a group of scientists to hear his warning, as scientists are not as easily bound by political affiliations.
The main reason the film and its message works is thanks to the character of Klaatu. Micheal Rennie gives a solid performance and he makes Klaatu very likable and easy to root for. While he is very disappointed and annoyed at how the humans have chosen to approach this situation he truly does have the earth and it's people best interest in mind. He does have his limits when it comes to human ignorance but is also open to seeing the best aspects of humanity, which we see through his relationships with Helen and Bobby as well as Professor Barnhardt. He sees hope for a better future in them and it allows us to see his human and compassionate side despite not being one. Klaatu's final proposal and warning of the human race of the annihilation that awaits them should they expand their violence into the cosmos is still every bit as profound and haunting as it was back then. It makes you think about the possibility for space travel you likely wouldn't before thanks to Klaatu's warning.
With several Sci-Fi films taking clear inspiration from this film, as well as a remake in 2008, The Day The Earth Stood Still is still truly a marvel.
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