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The Day the Earth Stood Still

7.0

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2 Related Movies

Related Documentary:

Making the Earth Stand Still

Remake:

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Original title

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Year

1951

Running time

89 min.

Country

United States

Director

Robert Wise

Screenwriter

Edmund H. North. Story: Harry Bates

Cast

Music

Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography

Leo Tover (B&W)

Producer

20th Century Fox

Genre

Sci-Fi. Drama | Aliens. Robots

Synopsis

A space craft lands in Washington D.C. and an alien named Klaatu appears with a robot, Gort. He's come to speak to the leaders of the world in the hope that he can convince them of the danger that Earth is in. Finally he is forced to show his true powers to teach mankind a lesson.

Rankings Position

#97 Best Science Fiction Movies

Awards: 1951: Golden Globes: Best Film Promoting International Understanding

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Critics' reviews

"Iconic from the get-go."

Bill Weber: Slant
"Like most of Robert Wise's work, this slickly constructed 1951 science fiction film settles squarely in the middle of its genre, better than some and worse than others."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Tribune
"Despite the fantastic basis of the story, the movie isn't dominated by its effects, or even the eight-foot-tall robot Gort"

Cindy White: IGN
"Working from a script by Edmund North ('Patton'), taken from a story by Harry Bates, Robert Wise directs the movie with a minimum of spectacle."

Keith Phipps: AV Club
"Robert Wise directed what turned out to be one of his best-liked movies and a personal favorite of his"

Kevin Thomas: Los Angeles Times
"It is comforting, of course, to have it made plain that our planetary neighbors are much wiser and more peaceful than are we, but this makes for a tepid entertainment"

Bosley Crowther: The New York Times
"Superb performances by all involved, restrained direction by Wise, and a magnificent and innovative score by Bernard Herrmann help keep this 35-year-old film just as relevant today as it was the day it was released."

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Ranking Lists Position

74 My Favorite Sci-Fi Films (216)

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The Day the Earth Stood Still

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