IMDb >
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 9) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
28 September 1951 (USA)
more
Tagline:
A robot and a man . . . hold the world spellbound with new and startling powers from another planet! more
Plot:
An alien lands and tells the people of Earth that they must live peacefully or be destroyed as a danger to other planets. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Golden Globe.
Another 1 win
&
1 nomination
more
NewsDesk:
(278 articles)
Scores from Outer Space
(From SoundOnSight. 30 September 2009, 7:38 PM, PDT)
Cinematical Seven: Our Alien Friends
(From Cinematical. 18 August 2009, 8:02 PM, PDT)
(From SoundOnSight. 30 September 2009, 7:38 PM, PDT)
Cinematical Seven: Our Alien Friends
(From Cinematical. 18 August 2009, 8:02 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Interesting In Itself & As A Reflection of Its Era
more (323 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Michael Rennie | ... | Klaatu | |
| Patricia Neal | ... | Helen Benson | |
| Hugh Marlowe | ... | Tom Stevens | |
| Sam Jaffe | ... | Professor Jacob Barnhardt | |
| Billy Gray | ... | Bobby Benson | |
| Frances Bavier | ... | Mrs. Barley | |
| Lock Martin | ... | Gort |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
92 min | Germany:85 min
Country:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
Australia:PG (DVD rating) |
Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
Portugal:M/12 |
Italy:T |
USA:Approved (PCA #15271) (original rating) |
USA:G (re-rating) (1969) |
Canada:G (video rating) |
South Korea:12 (2004) |
Brazil:Livre |
Germany:12 (f) |
Netherlands:12 |
USA:TV-G (TV rating) |
Ireland:G |
Argentina:Atp |
Australia:G |
Finland:K-12 |
Spain:T |
Sweden:15 |
UK:U
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The name "Richard Carlson" - another leading sci-fi actor of the 1950s - appears at the bottom of the glass door to Hugh Marlowe's office.
more
Goofs:
Factual errors: During the electrical blackout there are several scenes showing Diesel buses and trucks stalled along with the other vehicles. Diesel engines do not have spark plugs and therefore do not need electricity to keep running once started. However, the scene of a Diesel locomotive stalled is correct because they are Diesel/Electric where the Diesel engine turns electric generators which supply electricity to motors which actually drive the train.
more
Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Enterprise: Cogenitor (#2.22)" (2003)
more
FAQ
Was Gort played by a robot or a real actor?From what planet did Klaatu originate?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more
more (323 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Day the Earth Stood Still | Earth vs. the Flying Saucers | Transformers | The War of the Worlds | Mars Attacks! |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Drama section |
| IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |





Interesting both in itself and as a reflection of its era, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" may seem unspectacular now to those who are used to the extravagant science fiction pictures of the present time, but it deserves its place as a cinema classic. The story is worthwhile in itself, and as soon as you set aside any preconceptions about what science fiction should involve, it also builds up some pretty good drama and suspense. Its perspective is also interesting to see as a reflection of the concerns of its era, which have such obvious similarities with those of the present.
The story itself sometimes moves rather slowly, and the focus is really more on the reactions to Klaatu's arrival than on the action itself. As Klaatu, Michael Rennie stays pretty low-key, as does the rest of the cast much of the time. Although there are times when the movie might lack some energy as a result, in general it probably works better that way than it would have if there were too much forced emphasis on the urgency of Klaatu's mission, which is more than able to speak for itself. The ideas behind the story are fairly simple, but they are, of course, just as significant now (or in practically any other era) as they were in the 1950's.