Forbidden Planet is an undisputable classic
Science Fiction film. The plot is based on Shakespeare's The Tempest.
A young , Leslie Neilson (best known for his
later roles in the Naked Gun series of films) appears here in one of his
first leading roles as Commander Adams of the United Planets Cruiser C-57D
that comes to the rescue of a group of scientists on the planet Altair
IV. Upon arrival He and his crew discover Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon)
, his daughter Altaira (Ann Francis), and Robby the robot. Shortly after
the ship and it's crew are attacked byan invisible creature. During the
crew's investigation of the creature they discover the wonders left by
the previous inhabitants of the planet and how they've affected Morbius.
The plot here deals with the power of the mind and what may happen
when the more primal instincts are not checked by the rational parts of
our mind.
While eclipsed by current movie technology, the special effects in
this movie are very good. These effects were ciutting edge foir thier time
and were not seriously surpassed until films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey
and Star Wars.
Effects were not the far reaching parts of this film. Star Trek was
undeniably affected by this film. Gene Roddenberry must ahve been thinking
of Neilson's Commander Adams when he created Captain Kirk (played by William
Shatner). Adam's chief advisors "Doc" Ostrow (Warren Stevens) and Lt.Forman
seem to have translated into Kirk's McCoy and Spock. The structure of the
pllot could easily haev have been a Star Trek episode.Robby the Robot
would later show up in other Science Fiction including Lost in Space.
In a time of radiation monsters, and thinly veiled "red scare plotted
science fiction films, Forbideon Planet presented movie goeers with a film
which brought a good deal of thought and ideas to the forefront while at
the same time delivered humor, action, and spectacular special effects
for it's time.
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