Directed by Fred M. Wilcox
Written by Cyril Hume (screenplay), Irving Block and Allen Adler (story)
Cast: Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly, Richard Anderson, Earl Holliman, George Wallace, Robert Dix, Robby the Robot
Soundtrack: Bebe & Louis Barron
First of all, the iconic poster image is a lie. The robot never carries the girl like that.
But, seriously, Forbidden Planet is pretty great.
I honestly don’t know how it rates per scholars of the genre, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that Forbidden Planet is one of the most important pieces of science fiction ever created. If nothing else, its influence is evident, particularly on Star Trek (uniforms, command structure, technology, secretly horror, etc); though apparently the plot is inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, but, hey, if you’re going to steal, it may as well be from one of the masters (funnily enough, Star Trek did the same thing in Season 3).
And it’s bold, too, especially in the decision to go with an all-electronic score (essentially avant-garde), rather than a traditional orchestra (which is funny, because the reverse decision was just as bold for Star Wars roughly twenty years later). To be sure, not everything in the film holds up (it is based on Shakespeare after all), but not for lack of trying; and while some of the effects (apparently done by guys on loan from Disney) may seem charmingly dated now, others are still spectacular (particularly Robby the Robot).
I should probably mention that this is a Leslie Nielsen-starring movie that isn’t a comedy (in fact, the movie isn’t much to laugh at, intentionally or otherwise; not that it doesn’t have moments of levity, but I appreciate that it takes itself seriously). He’s so young that it’s not an issue for me (unlike, say, The Poseidon Adventure), but I can understand some people being taken out by “The Naked Gun guy.”
I do enjoy the rest of the cast though, particularly Warren Stevens as “Doc” Ostrow (in a role that could have easily been Cameron Mitchell, but I’ll let it slide), and it was fun for me to see Richard Anderson (aka Oscar Goldman) at such a young age, playing the Chief.
All-in-all, if you have any inclination towards science fiction whatsoever (especially if you’re into original Star Trek), Forbidden Planet is a must-see.
Rating: ★★★★☆
P.S.
August is officially Sci-Fi Month on here, though in the broadest possible sense of the term. Keep an eye out.