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The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
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SAM33
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Joined: 12 Feb 2016
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 1:12 pm    Post subject: Pretty much a personal top 10 film Reply with quote

Just re-watched this last night. First saw it as a kid on NBC Saturday (or SOME night) At The Movies in the early 60's. It actually scared me, with that creepy Theremin music and the night scenes of Gort. Didn't even get through it the first time!

I have now seen it countless times since, and probably can't really say anything that hasn't already been said - this film has been written about perhaps more than any 50's sci-fi film, and is rightly held in high regard by most critics, even those who consider the genre "lesser".

I myself consider it more or less perfect, probably the only criticism I have is the couple of sped up shots of the running crowds. These are the only thing that break the spell of it for a moment as I experience it. Still find the effects to work well and never take me out of the story. Yeah, if you know where to look now you can see Gort's laces and the wires holding Patricia Neal, but very minor and forgivable. NEVER saw this as kid or young adult, and they just don't hurt it for me now.

Still, one thing struck me last night that never has before, although I was certain somebody had noticed this already, but as I say, there's been SO much written about it and I've obviously not read it all. But it's so clear that I'm sure I've just never come across it being discussed. Finally here I see it mentioned at least in one of the posts.

Before moving into my spring "50's Sci-Fi Season" when I yearly watch this category of film, I have been viewing a lot of film noir this winter, and specifically those from the series of Fox DVD releases from awhile back.

So of course it logically follows that I see this now as "Sci-Fi Noir", which is a specific tag I'd never really thought of. I guess we can say that about some other 50's sci-fi as well, but it REALLY fits DTESS.

Fox was one of the pioneering studios for the so-called "documentary" feel of film making starting post war, and Wise was a house director there at the time. His film just before this was HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL, a great noir and part of that DVD series. Just watched it for the first time a few weeks ago. And of course he'd also done THE SET UP and the surprisingly tough BORN TO KILL.

So the moody docu feel is just a stylistic continuation of what a lot of Fox films had been doing and the connections are obvious - Studio, director, DP (Leo Tover, who had shot I WALK ALONE, WOMAN ON THE BEACH, and DEAD RECKONING).

By treating this as more of a human interest story and manhunt crime thriller than fantasy film, it grounds it in a kind of reality that many later genre films of the decade didn't try or couldn't muster. Much as I love an all-out alien destruction fantasy such as WAR OF THE WORLDS or KRONOS or any one of dozens of others, this has a unique place in the canon for me.

Things like DONOVAN'S BRAIN, MAGNETIC MONSTER, and QUATERMASS XPERIMENT try and succeed somewhat as noirish crime mysteries, but don't really nail it near as well, either stylistically or content-wise. MAGNETIC and DONOVAN are not really that dark and moody, more straight documentary style, and don't contain overt "aliens-on-earth" sci-fi content. QUATERMASS has the moodiness and some of the human tragedy, but its horror elements ultimately override the human drama IMO. And as much as I love all these, none are as well-written in regards to characters.

And of course there's the caliber of acting talent on hand to bring them to life - few other sci-fi films of the period had better leads. Rennie has that other-worldly suffering quality that David Bowie brought to MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, Christ-like indeed whether intentional or not (I personally believe some of this CAN'T have been accidental, but the makers do deny it) and Patricia Neal was just a total pro who seems to really care about her child, Rennie, and heel-paramour Hugh Marlowe, who was never this good again in any film as far as I know. Her story really ends in a sort of tragedy and loss, as real love escapes her. As noir as it gets. Gray and Jaffe are also excellent in their important supporting roles.

I watch this at least every 3 years, and it never fails to thrill and satisfy me. The opening strains of Herrmann's score still send a chill up my spine after 50+ years of watching. I find myself moved by the scenes at the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery, and sad and angry by Marlowe's betrayal of Neal and Rennie. And yes, still a little scared when Gort wakes up and slowly starts moving...

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SAM33
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Pow
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

For fun I've wondered what exactly happened to Helen & her son in the aftermath of Klaatu's visit. And to the professor.

Glaring publicity, rabid press following them all around, unceasing stories & coverage.

Then we must ask what our government did?

We're they constantly followed, questioned, & harassed?

What did co-workers, neighbors, family & friends do regarding their relationships?

Would their lives turn into a hell on earth?


Last edited by Pow on Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:31 am; edited 1 time in total
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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Oow, what great questions. I think a sequel about a grown-up Bobby in 1970 at about 30 years old would be interesting. He might be a scientist, working to develop new materials like the ones Gort and the spaceship were made of, or weapons like Gort's ray, to protect Earth from the robot police if they ever decided we need to be reduced to a burned out cinder.

A return visit from Klaatu's people (perhaps even Klaatu himself) would be a big part of the story, with the conflict being something to do with an alien race who has figured out a way to take over the robots and use them for their own purposes.

Too cliched? Hmmm . . . maybe.

What you think, Pow?

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Robert (Butch) Day
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pow wrote:
For fun I've wondered what exactly happened to Helen & her son in the aftermath of Klaatu's visit. And to the professor.

Glaring publicity, rapid press following them all around, unceasing stories & coverage.

Then we must ask what our government did?

We're they constantly followed, questioned, & harassed?

What did co-workers, neighbors, family & friends do regarding their relationships?

Would their lives turn into a hell on earth?


Rapid press? The press was fast? Or do you mean rabid?

MAJIC (Military Administrated Joint Intelligence Committee) would follow them forever! (Same for anyone who are connected with them.) It would NOT be a "living hell" because they would never know.
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Krel
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 28, 2016 11:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I could see them getting hauled in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee.

David.
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orzel-w
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 3:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I watched the movie again last night and caught a quote that stuck with me.

Quote:
It isn't faith that makes good science, Mr. Klaatu. It's curiosity.

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `─Prof. Barnhardt

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Maurice
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's something fun, the Lux Radio Theater adapted The Day the Earth Stood Still for Radio, starring... Michael Rennie!!!

Click here to hear it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D53xiPF8U0

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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 8:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Thanks, Maurice!

I had to check to be sure the link still worked on the post we have for this show in our section called Sci-Fi Radio Programs.

If I'd discovered that it no longer worked, I was going to use the one you provided to fix it! Very Happy

Fortunately it does still work and we're grateful to you for reminding us about this wonderful version of the story!



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Aug 22, 2022 12:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Maurice
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 20, 2016 1:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually, if you want a link that's unlikely to change, hit this one from the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/TheDayTheEarthStoodStillRadioShow

I just gave it a listen Fun as an accessory to the movie, but not very good radio, as it hews so closely to the film script that narration is required to explain all the scenes with Gort. A good radio adaptation would have figured out a way to get around this (radio reports, what have you) and make it part of the narrative.

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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 2:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Ever wonder what The Day the Earth Stood Still would have looked like in widescreen? Well, I guess instead of looking like this —



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— it would look more like this.





The small one above is not a cropped version of the wide one. Very Happy

What I did was use Paint.net to expand the original picture on the sides by copying sections of the saucer and pasting them together, along with some stretching of the sections to change the slope of the saucer as it became more horizontal on the sides in the new areas I created.

I carefully painted over the rough edges where any two pasted sections were joined, to make it all look seamless and right.

One difficult part of the job was getting the light poles in the background just the right contrast. You'll notice on your own display that if you're viewing them from slighter higher-or-lower than exactly perpendicular to the screen, they'll either be much brighter than they should be or they'll vanish into the blackness completely!

When doing the color and contrast enhancements on photos for All Sci-Fi and the CHFB, I always have to be careful to adjust the lid of the laptop at just the right angle so that I'm viewing it "dead on".

Otherwise I'll mess up what I'm working on!

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Aug 22, 2022 12:23 pm; edited 3 times in total
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote


_______________________________________________________________________






























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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:20 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 1:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

I love the design of Gort, but he does have a few features I've never cared for, namely the wide belt, the broad cuffs, Frankenstein platform shoes, and (oh my goodness . . ) the pants.

Let's face it, they look a little silly.

Here's my attempt to correct those features I don't like. I can't speak for anyone else, but I like it a bit better.



With the actual suit, however, this doesn't work so well (I tried it). But slimming his torso and reducing the size of the belt and pants looks a little better. Very Happy




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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Aug 22, 2022 12:24 pm; edited 3 times in total
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Robert (Butch) Day
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like your version better, also. The problem comes from the "man-in-suit" design they had to use in order to portray the policeman.

Artist William R. Warren, Jr. once did a painting of Gort giving a traffic ticket to a disgruntled pilot while the pilot's girlfriend looks on in exasperation. I wish I could find a copy and post it.
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Bud Brewster
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 05, 2016 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

________________________________

Or we could give Gort a belt that has a bit more pizzaz, like this one.

What do you think, guys? Very Happy



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)


Last edited by Bud Brewster on Sat Dec 02, 2017 1:23 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Robert (Butch) Day
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

MESSAGE FROM EADIE:

Me Likee! It'll also make the girl-bots go loco!

(Eadie needs to re-register.)
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