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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Full Frame
  • Dual Layer ( 57:14)
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  • Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
  Subtitles
    French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, English - Visually Impaired
  Extras
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Audio commentary - Director
  • 2 Featurette - Movietone News. Resoration comparison

The Day the Earth Stood Still

20th Century Fox/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment . R4 . COLOR . 89 mins . G . PAL

  Feature
Contract

The Day the Earth Stood Still is listed in the Top 250 films at www.imdb.com, and while there will always be debate surrounding films that are afforded this acclaim, there can be little doubt that it is a fine movie and remains popular with most sci-fi fans more than 50 years after its release.

An unidentified vessel is detected orbiting Earth at incredible speed, suggesting that it is not man-made. The ‘spaceship’ wastes no time in landing in Washington and naturally, being Americans, the armed forces are immediately despatched to take deal with the ‘situation’.

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"Wasssuuup?"

The media are having a field day, all busting their gut to get the story out first. With the armed forces surrounding the craft, and thousands of on-lookers gathered around it, a ramp and a door appear and a ‘spaceman’ emerges. As he approaches the awaiting forces, a shot rings out and the ‘spaceman’ falls over. Immediately, a robot appears from the craft and he is not a happy camper. He projects a ray that ‘melts’ the guns, tanks, and other toys aimed in its direction.

The spaceman is taken to hospital and subsequently identifies himself as Klaatu (Michael Rennie), announcing that he has a message for Earth that he will deliver only to the world’s leaders. However, the world leaders are only interested in meeting Klaatu on their own terms. Klaatu decides he needs to get amongst the people to learn more, and to find an alternative means for delivering his message.

He manages to ‘escape’ from hospital, and checks himself into a boarding house as Mr Carpenter, while the world continues to search for this most dangerous being. He makes contact with a prominent scientist who listens out of curiosity, and agrees to assemble like-minded scientists to hear Klaatu’s message.

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The Mars Winter Collection.

He befriends fellow boarders Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) and her son Bobby (Billy Gray), and they eventually learn the truth about their friend, but inadvertently alert the authorities as to Klaatu’s/Carpenter’s presence.

The authorities close in, but in their attempt to regain control of the situation, shoot Klaatu again, this time with far more serious consequences. Klaatu’s message is delivered, but will we as a race care to listen? The reaction of the authorities so far, would indicate, probably not.

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'I like what you've done with the place."

Newcomer Michael Rennie plays Klaatu in a controlled and deliberate manner. His calm is juxtaposed with the frantic nature of most of the rest of the cast. The anti-violence message that Klaatu brings is all but ignored, and mankind’s immediate reaction of trying to destroy that which it does not understand remains one of our most undesirable qualities.

The small budget has been wisely spent, and there are no major special effects, rubber-suited aliens or spaceships zooming all over the galaxy. The atmosphere here is created through characterisation and relationships. The parallels to the cold war are unmistakable, and the basic message that, as a race, we are on the verge of destroying life on Earth as we know it, is also quite clear. It’s such a shame that many of us still fail to heed the message.

  Video
Contract

This is a black and white film, as that was essentially the main choice of filmmakers in 1951. It is presented here in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1 (full frame) and therefore is not 16:9 enhanced. This is very close to the original aspect ratio of 1.37:1.

There is good contrast, with solid blacks and whites creating a relatively sharp image. There is very little grain, even in the stock footage, and shadow detail is generally acceptable. There are no problems with edge enhancement or shimmer, although there are a few quick negative film artefacts, but these should trouble no one.

There are a few minor glitches in Chapter 12 and the film seems to ‘wobble’ ever so slightly. There is also a rather comical scene early where a large crowd runs from the craft and the motion is sped up. This is not a fault of the transfer, but is hilarious to say the least.

There is a layer change placed between scenes at 57:15.

  Audio
Contract

There is but one English option, being a Dolby Digital 2.0 mono track. There are other language options including a very loud French audio offering, which highlights the lack of volume in the English track.

There are no problems in the dialogue, which is clear, audible and in synch, but there is a very minor amount of some age-related hiss that is really only noticed late in the film when there is a 15 to 20 second scene where the audio track appears to disappear. As there is no dialogue or music (which incidentally, is wonderfully atmospheric) during this scene it is not a problem, and without it the hiss would have passed undetected.

  Extras
Contract

The main extra is an audio commentary from director Robert Wise and Nicholas Meyer. It is almost an interview, as Meyer fires questions at Wise who responds with all manner of interesting anecdotes about the cast, continuity and special effects goofs, the filmmaking process, technology now and then, the score, and both seem quite happy to bag Hugh Marlowe whenever they can.

Movietone News 1951 were short news pieces shown in movie cinemas before the main attraction, and covered many of the hot news items of the day, and this one includes a quick promotional piece about The Day the Earth Stood Still. It lasts a little over six minutes and is a full frame, black and white presentation which is showing its age in style and narration. It also contains grain and film artefacts.

The theatrical trailer is the usual deal, in typical B-grade style with plenty of large graphics leaping out of the screen. It has the same technical specifications as the feature, but is not of the same quality.

Lastly, there is a restoration comparison which uses several split screens over four and a half minutes to contrast various film, laser disc and 2002 restoration versions.

The only thing missing from this release is the 72-minute ‘Making of’ featurette that can be found on the Region 1 DVD - an unfortunate omission.

  Overall  
Contract

The Day the Earth Stood Still is great, with several messages for the masses, some of them unintentional (such as the parallels with the expected second-coming of Christ - Klaatu even renamed himself Carpenter. Spooky or what?). The restoration job is very good, and the few extra features are of varying interest. Sci-fi fans will love it.


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      And I quote...
    "A lovingly restored sci-fi classic from 1951…"
    - Terry Kemp
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Akai
    • TV:
          TEAC CT-F803 80cm Super Flat Screen
    • Receiver:
          Pioneer VSX-D409
    • Speakers:
          Wellings
    • Centre Speaker:
          Wellings
    • Surrounds:
          Wellings
    • Subwoofer:
          Sherwood SP 210W
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
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