Most people might debate over what exactly is the greatest aspect of a film like The Day the Earth Stood Still. It could be the solid acting performances of Patricia Neal and Michael Rennie. It could be the fear-inspiring qualities of the robot Gort. Or it could be the collective sentiments that the movie evoked upon its initial release to the world, which was at the time mired in Cold War angst and xenophobia.
But no, the greatest trait of this cinematic gem is the fact that it is as utterly mesmerizing a film in 2008 as it was 57 years ago, in 1951. Sure, its context may have changed but its overall campaign for peace and understanding resonates as loud as ever. It's a message the human race still has yet to learn, and one that hits even harder upon that realization.
We could all use the sort of rude awakening Klaatu (Rennie) and Gort (Lock Martin - truly more machine than man) bring to Earth. Imagine all of the electricity on the planet going out, for a half hour. It would be even more catastrophic in today's technology-driven world than it was then.
But at the same time, Rennie brings an odd sort of comforting presence to Klaatu. He's an alien bringing a warning of destruction to the planet, yet he makes you feel so at ease through it all. He takes young Bobby Benson (Billy Gray) sightseeing throughout DC and solves seemingly unsolvable equations for the eccentric Professor Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), and is equally convincing in each facet of his Earth persona, Mr. Carpenter.
What's more, his performance brings out the best in his co-stars, making them more believable and, thus, the film more likable. All things considered, Patricia Neal on her own is rather uninspiring as Helen Benson, but she has a certain chemistry with Rennie that allows you to overlook it all.
Given the upcoming remake, it might be easy to overlook the artistic side of things. How can a film from the 50s possibly compete with 21st-century blockbuster? In much the same way that the 1933 version of King Kong trumps Peter Jackson's recent remake: the effects are there to augment the film, not to drive it. By not assaulting our senses with cheese, director Robert Wise lets us truly appreciate his special effects for the time period from whence they came - whether the spaceship travelling to Earth or Gort's creepy eye-beams that melt anything he chooses.
I could go on, but I'd likely be here for weeks listing all of the positives. Put simply, The Day the Earth Stood Still is a sci-fi classic and an indisputably great piece of filmmaking - as relevant today as it was half a century ago. But don't take my word for it. Rent this, and let the movie do the talking...
4 stars out of 4
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