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Summary: The Day theEarth Stood Still
Review: This is more of a commentary rather than a review but I dislike anyone embellishing their commentary with incorrect information. Robert Lane wrote a review of this movie and indicated that the robot destroyed the Capital.. This is absolutely incorrect. The robot "Gort" never destroyed anything more than the tools of war (tanks, guns) directed at the ship and his humanoid partner. Please get the facts straight. I look forward to seeing this wonderful, classic movie on DVD.
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Summary: A Classic of Classics
Review: As a guy pushing 51 I have been a sci-fi fan all my life. I can tell you that 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' stands today as one of the top sci-fi films of all time. Released in the early 1950's this film was far advanced for it's time. As we pass through the 21st century this sci-fi thriller will remain a "Classic of Classics" in the sci-fi genre!!!
Rating: 
Summary: [...]
Review: ...This is one my favorite old sci-fi movies. I saw it first on Saturday Night at the Movies (it may have been the *first* movie shown there, but I was young then and forgetful now), at the beginning of the eventual flood of cinema to the small screen in the early 60's. Good acting, very good effects for 1951, good script, lecturing held in check, and the coolest music to date, composed by Bernard Herrmann. Love that theremin...
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Summary: The Day Sci Fi Peaked
Review: This is an outstanding piece of sci-fi, it portrays mankind's ignorance and prejudices and our "if you don't understand it, kill it" primitive mentality. Michael Rennie plays an excellent part as the peaceful understanding Claatu who befriends the small child of the landlady in the house he boards in, the professor is the typical foreign accented "Einstein" lookalike and although a very old film without todays computer wizardry for effect it is by far a classic movie with a serious underlying message, that mankind is recognised as being clearly belligerent and wishes only to constantly attack itself, but once that destructive streak starts aiming for the stars it is necessary for Intergalactic Police to take over, make mankind review its stupidity and belligerence or be destroyed as any other threat might be.If you haven't seen this, do so.......it is a refreshing change from the modern day worn out "hero gets the girl" movie.
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Summary: Exposes the failure of civilization - avoiding war.
Review: All the accolades for this movie are totally justified. As a very young boy I saw this film with my family at a drive in theatre. All I could remember was Klaatu and the robot. It wasn't until later as a grown up I could really appreciate its social commentary...The saddest thing is, the social commentary of the film is still relevant after 51 year.
Rating:
Summary: Day the Earth Stood Still
Review: Just awsome. The best of all the SCI-FI movies
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Summary: Classic sci-fi morality film
Review: This 1951 film is a classic science fiction film, with a warning about human ignorance, hostility, and atomic power. Klaatu is a being from another planet who lands in Washington DC to military power who capture him. He asks for a meeting with the leaders of every country to send them a message, but due to hate, suspicion, and war, this cannot be done. Klaatu then escapes and spends some time learning about our culture. He seeks a scientist to organize the meeting and he agrees. Humans don't want to listen to Klaatu, he observes that the only time they will understand, or take notice is after violent action. Will humans accept his message or will they be obliterated? This is one of the first films to show aliens as peaceful, instead of monsters trying to take over Earth. There is good social commentary, and revealing of our negative attitudes and selfish, greedy ways. The film is well directed and acted, and the story is a very good one. Kids and adults will enjoy this film, as well as people into science fiction. This is on my Top 100 list. 5 stars.
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Summary: Invasion of the . . . . THEREMIN !!
Review: Bernard Hermann may need no introduction to devotees of the film SCORE, but his orchestrations (do a quick Google search!) have made some amazing contributions to the cinema. The music in TDTESS moved me as a child and still evokes goosebumps and watery eyes. Follow Klaatu with Bobby to his nocturnal robot rendezvous. Dare to confront the Silver Giant with the words that will save the world! The weird tones of the
T H E R E M I N
influenced a whole SF sub-species, culminating with
"Mars Attacks!"
Wait 'til this one hits DVD!!
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Summary: One of the greatest sci-fi political statements movie EVER!
Review: Michael Rennie and cast do a great job of early science fiction. This is a statement against war and against agression between nations. The early electronic music is great. This work is in b&w but approaches the greatness of Forbidden Planet.
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Summary: "From Out Of Space... A Warning And An Ultimatum!"
Review: "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is arguably the most religious science fiction film ever made. It is hard to miss the religious symbolism of Klaatu (Michael Rennie), the strange visitor from another planet, who explores the neighborhood under the name of "Carpenter," especially when he is killed and resurrected by his robot companion Gort (Lock Morton). The parallels between Klaatu and Christ continue as the alien brings a message for all of the people of earth that the people of earth are not all that interested in hearing. It seems that now that Earth is developing atomic power, the other inhabited planets of the galaxy are concerned that the new kids on the block are not mature enough to avoid destroying everything. I remember Michael Rennie from "Lost in Space," where he played "The Keeper," and he brings the same sort of strong, dignity to the role of Klaatu. The alien might be here to lecture the Earth people, but he sounds so reasonable in his condemnation. Besides, how can you disagree with his reasoning? Patricia Neal as Helen Benson is the calmest and most rationale female lead every seen in a science fiction film, black & white from the Fifties or any other type. Helen accepts the reality of the rather remarkable situation she and her son Bobby (Billy Gray) find themselves involved in without really batting an eye. Nor does her voice tremble when she utters the greatest alien phrase in cinematic history. Sam Jaffe is equally unperturbed as Professor Jacob Barnhardt, the smartest man on Earth, who comes back from lunch and finds somebody (Klaatu) has been editing the formula on his blackboard. In contrast to these paragons of humanity is Hugh Marlowe as Tom Stevens, who has been stepping out with the widow Benson but throws all that away to be the man who captures the fugitive alien. The man is just such a schmuck. The film is based on the Harry Bates short story "Farewell to the Master," which was first published in the October 1940 issue of "Astounding Stories." Actually, screenwriter Edmund H. North only keeps the first part of the story, when the spaceship lands on earth, Klaatu and the robot emerge, and the humanoid is shot (check out the original story if you can track it down). Of course, in the 1950s, Hollywood was always taking great liberties with classic science fiction short stories. The other great example of this would be "The Thing From Another World," based on John W. Campbell's short story "Who Goes There?" "The Day the Earth Stood Still" provides one of the most unambiguous alien messages to be found in a science fiction film (cf. "2001: A Space Odyssey"). As an extra bonus, you have Aunt Bee sharing her thoughts on aliens. This remains a classic science fiction film, a rare opportunity for the intellectualism of the genre to be given free reign on the big screen. Not my favorite Fifites sci-fi film, but certainly should be on everybody's top 10 list for the decade. However, watching the movie again this time I was struck by the fact that Robert Wise took the same sort of approach when he directed "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." The weaker moments in both of those films have a lot in common.
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