THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

US, 1951, 92 minutes, Black and White.
Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe.
Directed by Robert Wise.

The Day the Earth Stood Still came early in the popularity of science fiction films. While it shows someone coming from another planet and people's fears, it shows a sympathetic 'alien' instead of a terrifying monster. Michael Rennie invests Klaatu with great dignity and wisdom. This makes the film not only science-fiction adventure but a moral fable as well. The film was directed by Robert Wise when he made several films for Fox each year, long before the days of West Side Story and The Sound of Music.

1. Although this film was made in 1950 and with the styles of those times, critics say it is good science-fiction for our times. Do you agree? Why?

2. How far-fetched were the basic ideas of the plot? How possible that advanced life exists on other planets? How plausible did the film make its plot - e.g. the Washington setting?

3. How would you expect people to react if a spaceship landed amongst them? How strong would their fears be?

4. How typical was the American reaction of shooting impulsively?

5. What kind of person was Klaatu? How attractive a man? How did the film make him a hero?

6. Why had he come to earth? How important his message?

7. The core of the film was the contrast of earth behaviour with Klaatu's behaviour, of showing up our own squabbles, hatreds, fears, suspicions by contrasting these with Klaatu's. How was this done effectively - e.g. the radio and T.V. bulletins, Klaatu's discussions with government representatives, the telegrams for his proposed summit conference, the gossip created about him?

8. How important for the message of the film was Klaatu's living in the boarding house and his learning of earth from ordinary people?

9. What did Klaatu’s friendship and outings with the family contribute to the film - and its message?

10. What kind of woman was the heroine? Her sympathy? Her trust of Klaatu?

11. Her fiancee? His ambition to be a hero overcoming his love for her? was this credibly shown?

12. The encounter with the Professor? How important? The proposed conference?

13. The chase - was it excitingly filmed? Klaatu's death. What were your reactions? Why?

14. Were you glad of Klaatu's revival and escape?

15. What impact does this kind of film have? Is the lesson timely and valuable? The value of Klaatu's personality and behaviour as a model?