The Day the Earth Stood Still

Though not quite able to live up to its reputation as a classic example of the science-fiction genre, The Day the Earth Stood Still nevertheless remains a cut above the majority of its campy ’50s brethren – as the film boasts a number of overtly positive elements that prove effective at capturing (and sustaining) the viewer’s interest. The story follows an alien named Klaatu (Michael Rennie) as he arrives on Earth with an urgent message of peace and understanding, although, after a soldier shoots him within minutes of his arrival, the outer-space visitor eventually decides to hide in plain sight by taking a room at a boarding house (which is also home to a widow and her inquisitive son). It’s interesting to note that The Day the Earth Stood Still primarily comes off as a low-key drama, as screenwriter Edmund H. North emphasizes Klaatu’s efforts at understanding just what makes humankind tick. There’s little doubt, however, that director Robert Wise does a nice job of infusing the proceedings with a distinctly ominous vibe, with Leo Tover’s moody visuals and Bernard Hermann’s spacy score certainly contributing heavily to the film’s foreboding atmosphere. The expectedly preachy bent of North’s script only becomes a problem as the movie approaches its admittedly underwhelming finale, as Klaatu delivers a lengthy sermon that feels oddly out of place when compared to the relatively subtle nature of everything that preceded it. It’s nevertheless impossible to deny that The Day the Earth Stood Still is, for the most part, far more entertaining and engaging than one might’ve expected, with Klaatu’s fish-out-of-water exploits ultimately standing as an obvious highlight.

*** out of ****