Dire Message of ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ 1951

Stop your world, I want to get off! Michael Rennie as alien visitor Klaatu.

What if an unexpected event changed your daily life?  Imagine living with a constant sense of dread, as fear and hysteria take everyone over. What happens next, when your world comes to a complete halt?

No, I am not writing about the unrest of today's world, caused by the Coronavirus, the economic fallout, and escalating racial protests. I'm talking about the still-timely message of The Day the Earth Stood Still, released nearly 70 years ago. Director Robert Wise uses the sci-fi "visitor from another planet" plot to symbolize the USA's collective fears in the '50s. When this Hollywood sci-fi classic was released, the United States had led a victory in WWII, but was already embarking on The Korean War, engaged in a Cold War with Russia, and the threat of atomic war between super powers promoted paranoia for more than a decade. All of this was the dark flip side to the sunny “Fab Fifties.”

'The Day the Earth Stood Still' still stands the test of time, since its 1951 release.

I watched The Day the Earth Stood Still over Mother's Day weekend with Mom, who was a child of the '50s, and she still enjoyed the film. Given what was going on with the Coronavirus pandemic, especially some of our fellow Michiganders fear and anger over staying-in-place, certain dialogue jumped out at us. Watching Day a second time to review, at the end of May, the story seems scarier than ever... and not from space aliens, but from our own people’s primal fears about one another, and how we act upon them.

Klaatu takes a bullet twice during his short stay in Washington, D.C. Rennie w/ Patricia Neal.

The Day the Earth Stood Still begins when Klaatu, representing an interplanetary league, arrives in a space ship, upon the Washington Mall. People whip themselves into a frenzy of speculation and the U.S. Army swiftly surrounds the ship. Despite Klaatu’s greeting that he comes in peace, when he reaches into his uniform for a gift to the President, a trigger-happy soldier shoots him—some things never change! Luckily, it’s not serious and Klaatu brings along an instant-healing salve that would sell like hotcakes on TV infomercials. Klaatu’s request to seek an audience with all of the world’s leaders is met with rejection—again, what a surprise. The alien visitor then decides to go incognito amongst the American people to see what makes humans tick, in less than 24 hours. Good luck with that. Klaatu takes the name Carpenter, from a dry cleaning bill on a suit he snags, and checks in at a boarding house. There, he befriends a war widow mother and her little boy, and also seeks out a genius professor for help. Meanwhile, the government is on the lookout for Klaatu, with the aid of the Army. This public’s fears are further stoked, and the Army finally gets their man, fatally shooting him. Luckily, Klaatu brought along a giant robot for the ride, which the widow memorably activates with three little words. Gort the ‘bot brings Klaatu back to the ship, where he is brought back to life, and goes back out to deliver his interplanetary ultimatum to the earthlings.

Klaatu: “I am fearful when I see people substituting fear for reason.”

Robert Wise came up through thrifty RKO studio, and won his first Oscar nomination for editing Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, where he observed Orson’s cinematic sleight of hand to suggest great wealth. In the fledgling director’s first movies, like Curse of the Cat People and The Body Snatchers, Wise further learned how cinematography, soundtrack, and atmosphere could heighten suspense. And these skills came in handy later, with Wise’s subtle The Haunting.

Professor Barnhardt: “It isn't faith that makes good science, Mr. Klaatu, it's curiosity.”

At just over 90 minutes, there's hardly a wasted moment in The Day the Earth Stood Still. The simple (but not simplistic) story, Wise’s subtle direction, Leo Tover’s noir-ish cinematography, mesmerizing score by Bernard Herrmann, thoughtful dialogue by Edmund H. North, and an excellent cast, all elevate this beyond the sci-fi flick genre. While The Day the Earth Stood Still is interesting as a snapshot of '50s life, the bigger picture of the movie's message still holds true. The Washington, D.C. location footage gives the film a strong sense of place—the Arlington Cemetery, Washington Mall, and Lincoln Memorial—all very much on our minds—what with Memorial Day, the recent death toll in this country, and the Lincoln Memorial and Donald Trump recent sharing camera time together. 

Klaatu: "Did all those people die in wars?"  Bobby: "Most of 'em. Didn't you ever hear of the Arlington Cemetery?"
Klaatu: "No, I'm afraid not."

Originally, Spencer Tracy and Claude Rains were considered to play Klaatu. Great actors both, but visualizing stocky Spencer or shorty Rains in a space suit is a giggle. The film’s producer suggested a newcomer, Michael Rennie—good call. Rennie's imposing physical presence is a huge plus, with his 6'4" height, striking, chiseled face, and lean appearance. Robert Wise’s wise advice to the British actor was to play Klaatu with dignity, not superiority. Rennie plays the role with great subtlety, in an era that often wasn't the case, another reason this movie remains compelling, not campy.

Klaatu: "I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it."

Patricia Neal is widowed mother Helen Benson, who is drawn to Klaatu’s calm voice of reason. Neal is a great contrast to Rennie's cool demeanor. During a period when Patricia often overplayed, Neal is intense as usual, especially with her fervid, darting eyes. Yet, she is restrained as the mother, whose world is shaken by alien visitors, with fear for her son, and later, disappointment in her fiancee. 

Those three little words that Gort needs to hear!

The supporting cast is strong, in their archetypal roles: Sam Jaffe, born to play the Einstein-esque Professor Barnhardt, with his wild hair and wide eyes; Hugh Marlowe's nice guy persona gets a nice twist as Helen’s opportunistic beau, Tom Stevens; Billy Gray of Father Knows Best is Bobby, the personification of the nice '50s kid; and there’s many other familiar faces. Look for Frances Bavier, doing a dress rehearsal for her beloved Aunt Bea. Lock Martin, at nearly 7 feet tall, had the thankless task of donning the Gort robot suit. And several real-life correspondents, such as Drew Pearson, bring authenticity to this tale.

Klaatu (Michael Rennie) gets a tour of Washington, D.C. by Billy Gray's Bobby.

You can take The Day the Earth Stood Still at face value film entertainment or view the movie’s message through today’s eyes. Either way, it's a great Day. I’ll give Klaatu the final word, with his parting shot to planet Earth:

“I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any freedom except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We of the other planets have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots. Their function is to patrol the planets—in space ships like this one—and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression, we have given them absolute power over us; this power cannot be revoked. At the first sign of violence, they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk. The result is that we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war—free to pursue more profitable enterprises. Now, we do not pretend to have achieved perfection, but we do have a system, and it works. I came here to give you these facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet. But if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder. Your choice is simple: Join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration. We shall be waiting for your answer; the decision rests with you.”

Klaatu and Gort leave Earth with a message to ponder.

FYI: I put all the movie overflow on my public FB  movie page. 

Check it out & join!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/178488909366865/