The Day the Earth Stood Still

MPAA Rating

Theatrical Release Date

May 19, 1951

Genre(s)

Classic Sci-Fi
Robots & Androids
Alien Invasion
Aliens
Science Fiction
Family Features
Science Fiction & Fantasy

Rating (Stars)

Description

A hallmark of the science fiction genre as well as a wry commentary on the political climate of the 1950s, The Day the Earth Stood Still is a sci-fi movie less concerned with special effects than with a social parable. A spacecraft lands in Washington, D.C., carrying a humanoid messenger from another world (Michael Rennie) imparting a warning to the people of Earth to cease their violent behavior. But panic ensues as the messenger lands and is shot by a nervous soldier. His large robot companion destroys the Capitol as the messenger escapes the confines of the hospital. He moves in with a family as a boarder and blends into society to observe the full range of the human experience. Director Robert Wise (West Side Story) not only provides one of the most recognizable icons of the science fiction world in his depiction of the massive robot loyal to his master, but he avoids the obvious camp elements of the story to create a quiet and observant story highlighting both the good and the bad in human nature. --Robert Lane

Director

Robert Wise

Stars

Frances Bavier
Marshall Bradford
John Burton
Wheaton Chambers
James Craven

Running Time

92 minutes

Original Price

$14.98

Current Value

$6.41

DVD Features

Black & White
Closed-captioned
DVD-Video
NTSC
1.33:1