Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2797 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-04-18
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Formats: Black & White, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 88 minutes

Synopsis
Beginning with a documentary style that immediately hooks the viewer, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, based on the Harry Bates short story FAREWELL TO THE MASTER, becomes as much a human interest story as it does a sci-fi B-movie classic. The film soberly depicts the arrival of an alien dignitary, Klaatu (Michael Rennie), who has come to earth with his deadly robot, Gort (Lock Martin), to deliver the message that earthlings must stop warring among themselves--or else. After being shot at by ignorant, panicky military guards, Klaatu is brought to a Washington, D.C., hospital, where he begs a sympathetic but frank Major White (Robert Osterloh) to gather all the world's leaders so he can tell them more specifically what he has come 250 million miles to warn them about. Losing patience, Klaatu slips into the human world, adapting a false identity and living at a boarding house where he meets a smart woman with a conscience, Helen Benson (Patricia Neal), and her inquisitive son, Bobby (Billy Gray). Both mother and son soon find themselves embroiled in the complex mystery of Klaatu, his message, and the government's witch hunt for the alien. Made during the cold war--when Americans were obsessed with the destructive capabilities of the atomic bomb--THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, thanks to its beautiful pacing, excellent dialogue, and haunting score by Bernard Herrmann, is still a treat for contemporary audiences.

Customer Reviews

The Day The Earth Stood Still (DVD) (1951)
This film is the original version, which although made in 1951, still has a great storyline (with a moral about us destroying our planet), immense suspense, whilst also offering an easy-watch-story leading up to a final, exciting crescendo.

The story most of you know, either from this version or the more modern 2008 Keanu Reeves re-make, so I have no need to give you those details. Just to say, this original still has what it takes to hold an audience.

In many ways I prefer this older version to the updated one. Good old-fashioned suspense and entertainment. Michael Rennie is great as 'the alien' Klaatu, and Patricia Neal as the woman who helps stop his 'robot' in his tracks, and you think she is not going to make it!

I would recommend you get this version for good entertainment, reliant on the atmosphere rather than special effects.

sci fi brillance
this film will always be one of the best top ten sci -fi films of all time.I was so bitterly dissappointed with the remake starring Keanu Reeves
he was good but the film fell way short of following the original.the original has every thing. Tension, suspense and believability.
have watched it so many times that I could act the part of the robot no probs.

Classic SciFi
This is one of the best SciFi films ever made - a true classic. The message is as meaningful now as then. Somehow Hollywood managed to step out of its American protectionism at the time and see the worlds cold war conflicts as superior beings would see them - totally mad, bad and dangerous. The eerie musical score is a major factor in creating the other world illusion and the excitement. The silent Robot is genuinely scary and I like the idea that it can't be reasoned with. We need a robot just like it to eliminate all the killers in the world. Of course adults will notice some bizarre things - why does the new reader always have a hat on - even in the studio! The Robot seems a bit clunky at first and he seems to have underwear(!) but you get over that once he gets into action. The times between the action scenes might be too long for modern teenagers used to non-stop action. Just a bit more action would have made it perfect.