Customer Reviews

The Day the Earth Stood Still (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(368)
4 star:		(61)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Watching this recently, it amazed me how little action there is in this movie, and yet it remains as captivating and enthralling as ever. There are none of the set pieces we have come to expect in modern genre films: no explosions, no gory deaths, one small chase scene. Tension is developed through character development and the wonderful performances of Patricia Neal and Michael Rennie, with some wonderful supporting work from Sam Jaffe and Frances Bavier (Mayberry's Aunt Bea!)

There are very few special effects: the odd tank disappears in a glow of light, but other than that, this is a film driven by character development. Taut direction by Robert Wise, straightforward writing from Edmund North and impressive cinematography by Leo Tower create an intelligent, literate, adult science fiction film that appeals to all ages.

Special mention must be made of Bernard Herrmann's haunting score. One of the first film scores to use Leon Theremin's eerie and eponymous electronic instrument, which unfortunately became a genre cliché, the music adds immeasurably to the tense and unsettling atmosphere.

Modern audiences may find the film's message heavy handed and obvious, relying on 1950's atomic paranoia and the absolute power it brought. In fact, Klaatu's proffered peaceful solution borders on totalianarianism. But these are minor considerations considering this is a simple story stunningly told.

The DVD contains many interesting extras of interest to film buffs and collectors, including a shooting script, extended discussions on the evolution of the film from idea to release, and an odd look at the people fascinated with collecting 1950's sci-fi film props and paraphernalia.

First and foremost, this is a review for the 1951, black and white, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, 2-disc, special edition DVD and NOT for the remake (Gort! Keanu barada nikto :)

Okay so here's the lowdown; as I now have both this new edition and the original single, flipper disc, version, and having watched all of the bonus features on the new 2-disc set, I can tell you this: keep the old disc!

Why, because the 73 plus minute, making of, on the original disc is gone, replaced with a new 23 minute fluff piece that only skims the surface of the story, of the making of this film.

Gone are the lengthy on camera interviews with the producer, director and female lead, replaced instead with film historian's inane babble, with the odd snippet of voice recordings of the director and producer, taken from the 73 plus minutes, making of, from the original disc (without the on camera picture).

Also gone, is the very interesting, "Collectors", segment, tacked onto the end of the original making of, which had several prominent collectors showing off such treasures as the original flying saucer model and Gort statue, used in the actual film, with anecdotes about the film, and where the props they now owned, had ended up after the filming.

As for the extra stuff added to the 2-disc set, nothing is worth the non-inclusion of the original making of from the first disc (most of the new stuff has nothing to do with the film, but instead conveys the political tensions of the world at that time, which, although slightly of interest, is not worth upgrading for).

And on a new extra note for the new 2-disc set, the reading of, Farewell To The Master, is poorly executed, with a static picture with simple playing instructions, present throughout the entire reading (where as they could of has stills from the film playing throughout the reading, while the soundtrack played quietly in the background) and trying to maneuver through the reading is a nightmare, as there are three chapter stops, which are about 10 plus minutes each, with no way of fast searching through the 10 plus minute segments, so if you stop playing the reading at 9 minutes, you can't start the playback where you left off but instead have to listen to the whole thing from the start of the chapter (I know this because I stopped the playback for a minute, and when I hit the play button on the remote, the film started to play, so I had to go back to the menu and start the reading again, and listen to the stuff I had already heard. I would have preferred that an onscreen text version of the short (45 pages - not so short in my books) story be included instead).

So unless you are a completes, then this 2-disc version isn't worth the money, and even if you are looking to buy this for the first time, I'd HIGHLY recommend that you pick up the original DVD release, as the picture quality is the same, and you get the far superior 73 plus minute, making of, along with the director's commentary, picture galleries and original trailer.

In many respects THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL is a very dated film. Obviously a comment on Cold War paranoias, it has little in the way of special effects or high-class production values, Edmund H. North's script is surprisingly talky, and it captures the very clunky look of late-1940s/early-1950s America to an uncomfortable degree. Certainly few involved in the project took it very seriously--even leading lady Patricia Neal admitted that she and Michael Rennie had tremendous difficulty keeping straight faces while spouting "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!" But strangely, against all the odds, the film continues to speak, capturing the imagination of each new generation that sees it.

The film's enduring power seems to arise from its very simplicity, which lifts the story of a visitor from outer space from mere sci-fi pulp to the level of a parable. As frequently noted, the film contains significant religious symbolism. It is easy to read the visitor as Christ, the woman who befriends him as Mary Magdalene, the man who betrays him as Judas, and the message the visitor brings as both call to repentance and opportunity for redemption--and whatever one's actual religious beliefs, the film taps into these archetypes to create a very effective modern morality tale that works on several levels. At the same time, the film makes a surprisingly acid comment on American and international politics, small minded bigotry, and media hysteria that still rings true today. And the film has surprising visual power. Although the cinematography is very basic, and the design of both the spaceship and the robot Gort are very simple, they combine to create a number of startling images: the first moment that Gort is seen standing on the spaceship's ramp; the spacecraft interior; Gort as he menaces a screaming Patricia Neal--images so simple and yet so powerful that they have become part of our cultural landscape.

The cast plays very unpretentiously and cleanly, and although Rennie and Neal may have snickered on the set none of it shows in their performances. Both are very memorable. Hugh Marlowe is appropriately smarmy as Neal's unpleasant boyfriend, and Sam Jaffe and Billy Gray are enjoyable in their supporting roles; film buffs will also enjoy seeing Frances Bavier (television's "Aunt Bea") in a rare film appearance. Robert Wise's direction is impressively unobtrusive, and any review that did not reference Bernard Herrman's brilliant score--which easily doubles the film's effectiveness--would be incredibly remiss. If you want computer generated special effects, evil aliens, and lots of blood-letting, you should look elsewhere... but if you want something to think about, and something that will hold up under repeated viewings, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL is strongly recommended.

This classic movie has aged very well -- even after 50 years it's still highly watchable and completely relevant. Some of the dialogue -- such as the discussion about how difficult it would be to get all of Earth's heads of state together in the same room -- could be taken from today's headlines. Also like today, the scientists find it easier to meet on common ground than the politicians! (Watch out for the cigarette smoking, though --- even the doctors light up in the hospital hallways! Oh well, that's really how it was back in the 50s. At the same time, it's neat to see all those "classic" cars and other props.)

This film goes to show that special effects (of which this movie has relatively few) are not necessary for effective science fiction. With good actors performing an excellent script, it doesn't really matter that the robot is a man in a rubber costume or the flying saucer looks a bit fakey when it first comes down to earth. You soon get so caught up in the story, that it's easy to suspend disbelief and let it be real. (I'm very glad they didn't colorize this, because the B&W lighting effects are a big part of the illusion. Adding color would ruin it.)

Precisely because the script doesn't go into much detail about how the spaceship works, it doesn't seem as dated as many other 1950s films. The minimalist interior of the UFO simply suggests technology so far advanced, that you can fill in explanations with your own imagination. (Frankly, I like this approach much better than the constant technobabble in recent Star Trek episodes.) Michael Rennie plays a highly intelligent alien who could be a forerunner of Spock (minus the pointed ears), and Sam Jaffe is just wonderful as the Einstein-like scientist whose unbridled curiousity and openess toward the unknown is a fine role model for us all. This movie is true drama at its best!

This movie makes most of today's special-effects- heavy blockbusters look amateur. Everything is top notch in this one. Michael Rennie is very convincing as the alien visitor who shows compassion for the people of Earth who are advancing too quickly in war technology for their own good. Patricia Neal is also good in her role of mother to a son who spends time with the mysterious stranger Mr. Carpenter. The special effects in this film were beyond anything seen at the time and continue to be impressive to this day, considering that this film was made in 1951. They are not too flashy; they are subtle enough that viewers are not distracted and they will actually make you think more about the power that the giant robot Gort wields. The phrase "he could destroy the world" holds special meaning when you see him melt weapons and revive the fallen Klaatu. This film also has several amusing scenes, such as when Klaatu offers to pay to see a movie. This one is also full of suspense. When the Earth stands still, it's truly an impressive sight. On top of all of that, you have the impressive soundtrack by the legendary Bernard Hermann. Buy this to see a truly great example of film-making. This is definitely not just for sci-fi fans.

This is supposed to be B&W not color - a listing error


Extras for this release include:

Commentary by Robert Wise and Nicolas Meyer
Commentary by Film & Music Historians John Morgan, Steven Smith, William Stromberg and Nick Redman
Isolated Score Track
The Mysterious, Melodious Theremin
The Day The Earth Stood Still Main Title Live Performance By Peter Pringle
The Making of The Day the Earth Stood Still
Decoding "Klaatu, Barada, Nikto": Science Fiction as Metaphor Featurette
A Brief History of Flying Saucers Featurette
The Astounding Harry Bates Featurette
Edmund North: The Man Who Made the Earth Stand Still Featurette
Race To Oblivion: A Documentary Short Written And Produced By Edmund North
Farewell To The Master: A Reading By Jamieson K. Price Of The Original Harry Bates Short Story
Interactive Pressbook
Fox Movietonews from 1951
Theatrical Trailer
Advertising Gallery
Behind-The Scenes Gallery
Portrait Gallery
Production Gallery
Spaceship Construction Blueprints
Shooting Script

some say an ad trailer for the new movie will now be included, I expect to be disappointed in the new movie but will check it out anyway

- Steve R , great nephew of Bernard Herrmann who did the original music for this movie - this DVD will contain an isolated music track for those who want to hear just the music at some point

The Day the Earth Stood Still was the first relatively modern film to show that Science Fiction and horror do not necessarily equate. Unlike most of the genre at that time, and even today, TDTESS derives its strength not from violence and destruction but from the then rather radical message that peace and reason were superior to power and conquest. The fact that the message is delivered by alien "invaders" adds the magic of irony and role reversal to the story.

Michael Rennie displays a marvelous range of acting skills, ranging from patient forbearance to barely concealed contempt, in his dealings with understandably cynical and suspicious humans. Patricia Neal fills a truly unique niche for the cinema of the day, portraying an independent woman with the intellect to think for herself, the strength of character to say what she feels, and the courage to take action when necessary. Sam Jaffe is delightful as the distinguished Professor Barnhart, who serves as the catalyst in allowing Klaatu (Rennie) to present his message of sober self-determination with the potential for either enlightening or ominous consequences.

The monster of this film is the robot Gort, also unusual in that he seldom initiates any form of activity, but reacts decisively and often irrevocably when provoked. Another unusual twist is this thought-provoking movie is that many of the mysteries surrounding Gort are never revealed.

Most Sci-Fi of the early days either had no message, or the message was so shallow and transparent as to be laughable. The messages brought forth in TDTESS are many and varied, both overt and subtle. Among the most obvious are that, while man holds his fate in his own hands, there comes a point at which he is no longer in control of the consequences of irresponsible action. Another is that those we assume to be enemies are not necessarily so, and those we determine to be friends may not always remain that way.

Although The Day the Earth Stood Still is more than forty years old, it remains a profound, effective gem of Science Fiction as relevant today as it was in the early days of the Cold War.

This movie belongs in the library of any true Sci-Fi enthusiast.

Loosely based on the Harry Bates short story "Farewell to the Master", "Day.." is an intelligent movie that avoids the hoary sf cliches of the period, though this can be difficult to appreciate since the film has been copied so many times over the years.

Michael Rennie displays real charisma as Klaatu, the enigmatic messenger from space. His subdued performance succeeds in displaying the wisdom, intelligence and maturity of Klaatu as he almost desperately tries to deliver his warning to the people of Earth.

An equally great performance is turned in by Patricia Neal. Her fright at the sight of Gort and her effort to compose herself as she tries to stop the robot from destroying her (and, presumably, the rest of Washington D.C.) with the words "Klaatu barada nikto" remains a classic genre sequence.

Bernard Hermann's theremin score was considered to be highly original at the time and it works well for the film, but it has been copied so many times that it has become something of a cliche.

The robot Gort is sleek and imposing despite being a bit weak at the knees and Klaatu's saucer is an equally impressive design, though the interior seems to be too spartan.

Unintentional humor is seen when the two doctors who are tending to an injured Klaatu are expressing amazement at his healthy, youthful condition at 75 years of age while they both light up cigarettes. Such was the state of medical science in the early 1950's.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" kicked off a flowering of sf films in the 50's and yet for intelligence and charm it was hardly ever equalled.

I have to confess, up until I watched this DVD, my total appreciation of The Day the Earth Stood Still consisted of my mom's idealistic teenage Can't we all just get along? memories of it, and the fact that the film and its star, Michael Rennie, made it into a line of the Rocky Horror theme song. (You remember, he told us where to stand, On our feet!). I didn't expect to get all that much out of it, but kept hearing my movie buff friends tout it as THE sci-fi classic of the early fifties. Well. Writer Nicolas Mayer, useful idiot though he may have been (Russia was trying to bring peace to the world, - he says in an accompanying documentary, referring to the time when Stalin was eating Ukrainians for breakfast, artists like Mayer for dinner, and throwing the leftovers in the Gulag, -and [the West] kept building bombs.), created a screenplay that transcended the political times. He says he employed a subtle Christ theme that he didn't expect anyone to notice. I noticed. It's precious.

A guy from beyond our world, who takes on the name Carpenter, and shows up in human form, comes to warn us that if all of us don't stop fighting....if we all don't learn to love each other that is... terrible destruction will befall us. But this message isn't for the select few who are full of self- importance. He insists the message is for everyone, although constantly he faces powers that try to stop him. Kids love him. He doesn't care very much about money. Sound familiar? I could go on, but reviews like that are called Spoilers.

The direction and acting are superb. Shadow and light and camera direction are well-used to show how different the stranger seems to the others in the film, even though he looks like an ordinary human being to the viewer. The choice of an unknown was a brilliant means to ensure the interplanetary visitor was a stranger...unfortunately for Mr.Rennie, his career did so poorly he's a stranger for us, too. There are a few faux pas in scenery during a scene with Ms. Neal and the robot that could have been edited more carefully, hence the subtracted star.

Extras: The documentary about the making of the film is interesting but drags on a bit.

It is 1950 and Hollywood takes an original idea combines it with the genius' of Studio CEO Darryl F. Zanuck, Producer - Julian Blaustein, Director - Robert Wise, ScreenPlay - Edmund H. North, the eerie futuristc Music, a spaceman, a giant robot & the words "KLAATU BARADA NIKTO" and 50+ years later we have the timeless scifi classic, "THE DAY THE WORLD STOOD STILL". Now digitally remastered and on this outstanding DVD.

This outstanding movie is presented with better clarity and sound than the original 1951 film release. This incredible movie now can be enjoyed over & over again without ever losing picture quality.

This 2 sided DVD Full Frame Format (4:3 tv / 1.33:1 aspect ratio - before WideScreen) Black/White as the movie and audio commentary with Robert Wise & Nicolas Meyer on SIDE A and a 70 minute "Making the Earth Stood Still" documentary, Movietone newsreel 1951, Restoration comparison footage, 5 still galleries, shooting script & trailer.

Summary: This movie has an outstanding cast with newcomer Michael Rennie as Klaatu the peaceful (human)alien who visits paranoid earth circa 1951. First stop Washington D.C. Greeted with violence and skepticism, escapes and goes into hiding. He befriends a mother (Patricia Neal) & her son (Billy Gray - also her real son) at a boarding house as he covertly studies the humans behaviors disguised as a businessman. He trys to get the world leaders to reach a world wide peace but they resist his ideas. They are given a sign of his powers by stopping all machinery worldwide, thus "THE DAY THE WORLD STOOD STILL". The ending is perfect and the audiences loved this film.

Even today the special effects stand the test of time and the story is so profound and sheer genius. Hollywood delivered a classic scifi film for all time. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a Hallmark film. This is scifi at its best & now this DVD can be added to your home movie library. Enjoy.