Review of The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) by Stacy S — 26 Mar 2010

The Day the Earth Stood Still was released back in a time where suspusions between nations were high, and propaganda was everywhere during the time of the Second Red Scare, or the fear of espionage of the United States government. Day the Earth Stood Still is one of those films that seeks to deliver a moral. With it's explict message of peace and dark outlook on society, it has gained widespread to the extent that it is being placed in the National Film Registry for being "cultureally, historically, or aesthetically significant.".

The film tells the story of an unidentified flying object that lands in the United States capitol of Washington D.C. The ship's pilot is Klaatu, who departs seeking to speak with not just the President, but the leaders of all nations of the Earth. He quickly learns that the current state of world affairs is interfearing with his mission and is world leaders are in a position where they refuse to meet in one location, despite the fear of this strange new visitor. Klatuu then decides to spend some time amoung those in society and he takes residence in a boarding house where he befriends Bobby Benson while his mother Helen goes out with her boyfriend.

Through what could be considered one of the film's most significant scenes, Bobby takes Klaatu on a tour of D.C., where they visit Arlington National Cemetary and the Lincoln Memorial. At the National Cemetary it is here where we first learn more about Klaatu, and why he is so negative about the "stupidity" of Earth politics and warfare. At the Lincoln Memorial Klaatu reads the Gettysburg Address and stands hopeful that some humans may understand his message.

Without spoiling too much Klaatu eventually finds someone wise enough to listen to him and the alien delivers a non-violent example of his power and what could happen should the Earth not find an alternative to it's war-like state. With his 8-foot tall indestructable robot Gort and the threatening position it seems to hold, the US military unsurprisingly causes various problems for Klaatu throughout the film.

All in all, Day the Earth Stood Still seeks to deliver a message of peace that really stands out. At the time of it's release there was much controversy from film critics calling the director and producer sympathetic to communism. Nonetheless it gives a strong moral that isn't common in the films of today and deserves a chance to be observed so others can decide for themselves; is our ways of war really responsible or will they be our ticket to destruction through ourselves or an otherworldly force?