Forbidden Planet Revisited

C57-D Landing on Altair IV - Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

by blogSpotter
See androids fighting Brad and Janet
Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet
At the late night, double feature, picture show
Science Fiction Double Feature, RHPS

We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
The Tempest Act 4, scene 1, 148-158

Science Fiction is a hugely popular movie genre here in America… Star Trek and Star Wars are probably the two franchises that people really savor. Every sequel and prequel is endlessly dissected by fans worldwide. As good as they are, my personal favorite sci-fi movie is 1956’s mesmerizing Forbidden Planet. This movie pioneered several things and is considered by many enthusiasts to be the progenitor of those that came after.

Forbidden Planet is about the mystery-shrouded planet Altair IV, 16 light years from Earth. An American space crew aboard starship C57-D are dispatched to find out what happened to a crew that disappeared on Altair 20 years prior. The planet is compatible to Earth life and resembles Arizona with a violet sky. It’s inhabited by Dr. Morbius the lone survivor of the prior mission, his robot Robby and his beautiful daughter Altaira.

It seems that Dr. Morbius discovered and befriended an advanced Altairian civilization, the Krell, and he even mastered much of their advanced technology. The Krell were destroyed by their own inventions and more secrets unfold about Morbius’ own complicity in the events that transpired. The Krell invention is called a “plastic educator” and it can actually transform thoughts (fantasies) into realities. It’s the ultimate King Midas touch with equally amazing albeit disastrous consequences.

Forbidden Planet is said to be a sci-fi version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The Tempest was one of Shakespeare’s last plays and arguably one of the best. The Tempest features a remote island instead of a planet and sorcery in place of advanced technology. Shakespeare probably lifted The Tempest from a Greek play thus giving credence to the late John Lennon’s famous quip, “All songs are plagiarized”.

Forbidden Planet was the first sci-fi movie entirely removed from Earth, featuring a starship. It’s also the first sci-fi movie to have an advanced, electronic musical score. Gene Roddenberry of Star Trek fame says he was directly influenced by Forbidden Planet and even used it as the basis for a couple of episodes. Robby the Robot cost a then unheard-of $125,000 to build. Both Robby and the spectacular sets were reused in other productions such as Invisible Boy and Twilight Zone. Walt Disney loaned out one its best animators to create the subterranean Krell city which even by 21st century standards is spectacular.

A young Leslie Nielson plays the role of Captain John Adams, quite serious and deadpan as a leading man. (No hint of the Naked Gun to come). Anne Francis is beautiful and Walter Pidgeon is unequaled as the complex Dr. Morbius. Forbidden Planet mixes action, adventure, romance and mystery into a potent, sci-fi cocktail. There’s a parable quality to it all, and we have to wince as Altair IV implodes upon itself in the end. We all will likely say the same thing -- we’re potentially the Krell. Do we risk imploding ourselves with technology miracles that become untethered from ethical standards? Do we unleash forces with no forward vision about the human nature that underlies it?

If looking for your next sci-fi thrill, get a copy of this movie. You’ll be enchanted by the purple sky, Morbius’ ultra-modern 50’s Altaira space abode, the Krell super city, the beautiful movie cast, and most of all -- the overriding message that we probably need to conquer ourselves in the process of conquering any new frontier.

© 2011 blogSpotter