FORBIDDEN PLANET is the very best sci-fi film of the 1950's. In fact, its production values and intelligent scripting were not surpassed until the release of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968). The plot of FORBIDDEN PLANET is derived from Shakespeare's "The Tempest".
In 2257 A.D. the crew of the United Planets Cruiser C-57D, led by Commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen), visit Altair IV. This remote planet with a green sky is in the constellation Aquila, 17 light years from Earth. The crew of C-57D are looking for survivors of the scientific Bellerophon expedition.
On Altair IV the crew meet Robby the Robot, who has a human-like personality, great intelligence and many skills. Robby takes them to Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), a reclusive philologist and his nineteen year old daughter Altaira Morbius (Anne Francis). They are the only survivors of the pioneering explorers.
Dr. Morbius wants the crew to leave Altair IV immediately because of an unseen deadly force. He gives them a tour of the underground technolology created by the Krell, the original inhabitants who disappeared 200,000 years ago. Many Krell devices are controlled by the mind and one contraption is capable of increasing intelligence.
Morbius explains: "In times long past, this planet was the home of a mighty, noble race of beings who called themselves the Krell. Ethically and technologically they were a million years ahead of humankind, for in unlocking the meaning of nature they had conquered even their baser selves, and when in the course of eons they had abolished sickness and insanity, crime and all injustice, they turned, still in high benevolence, upwards towards space. Then, having reached the heights, this all-but-divine race disappeared in a single night, and nothing was preserved above ground."
When the crew refuse to leave and take a romantic interest in beautiful Altaira, all hell breaks loose. The unseen force manifests itself and it is Dr. Morbius' id.
Altaira: (shocked) "Father, he's dead."
Morbius: "He was warned, and now he's paid. Let him be buried with the other victims of human greed and folly."
Altaira: (coldly) "Morbius. You wanted me to make a choice. Now you've chosen for me."
Morbius: "Alta?"
Altaira: (to Commander Adams) "I'm ready to go with you now, darling."
(she runs up the stairs)
Morbius: "Altaira!"
Also in the cast are: Warren Steven (Lt. "Doc" Ostrow), Richard Anderson (Quinn), Earl Holliman (James Dirocco), George Wallace (Bosun), Robert Dix (Grey), Jimmy Thompson (Youngerford), James Drury (Joe Strong), Harry Harver Jr. (Randall), Roger McGee (Lindstrom), Peter Miller (Moran), Morgan Jones (Nichols), Richard Grant (Silvers), Frankie Darro (Robby the Robot), James Best, and William Boyet. Marvin Miller is the voice of Robby the Robot and Les Treymayne provided the voice-over narration. The story from Shakespeare was written by Irving Block and Allen Adler. Cyril Hume wrote the screenplay. W. J. Stuart wrote the subsequent novel. Fred McLeod Wilcox directed.
FORBIDDEN PLANET has terrific special effects and unique "electronic tonalities" created by Bebe and Louis Barron. They worked on the soundtrack in New York, had never composed music for a movie, and were absolutely impossible to work with. Their music is termed "electronic tonalities" because the musician's union would not allow them to be credited as "composers". Their "electronic tonalities" were re-cycled in FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON (1958). Uniforms were re-used in QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE (1958). The spaceship C-57D models were later used in seven episodes of the TWILIGHT ZONE TV series. Robbie the Robot cost $125,000 to build and appears in other movies and TV shows.
