Review of The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) by Dylan P — 13 Mar 2012

One of the most acclaimed genre films of its era, The Day The Earth Stood Still follows the panic that unfolds once a spacecraft touches down in Washington D.C. Klaatu (Michael Rennie) is the pilot of this ship and he claims to be on a mission of grave importance to the history of the human race.

Although he befriends an ordinary family, Klaatu still has to overcome humanity's natural feelings of suspicion and prejudice if he hopes to save them from themselves. Although a very heavy-handed metaphor about the Cold War, this movie is highly watchable thanks to its brisk direction, iconic imagery, and its theremin-soaked soundtrack by Bernard Herrmann.