Gort, Klaatu Barada Nikto

Isn't it? Isn't a giant robot going to show up and save the day.

Damn, and I was looking forward to it.

I know what ya mean.
 
No toasted weapons...

No living in fear of what the shiny guy will do next...

Is the shrub oily enough to be classified as "shiny?"
:eek:
 
Not my words but a good description. Too bad it isn't real.

It’s taken from a short story called "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates. Robert Wise directed -- the same guy who directed "The Sound of Music," West Side Story," "The Andromeda Strain, and even "Star Trek -- the Motion Picture." The benevolent alien is played convincingly by Michael Rennie. The female lead is Patricia Neal. Sam Jaffe plays the understanding professor. Billy Gray is Neal’s young son who befriends the alien Klaatu, also known as "Mr. Carpenter." Lock Martin is the giant robot Gort.
The story is timeless and brilliant. Klaatu’s saucer lands on the Washington Mall and is soon surrounded by a military cordon. After hours of waiting with the world watching on live TV, the ship opens and Klaatu and Gort emerge. But a trigger-happy soldier shoots Klaatu. He is taken to a hospital where he heals instantly while Gort stands motionless near the ship.
Klaatu demands an audience of all of earth’s leaders, but the authorities tell him that’s not possible. He escapes from the hospital and becomes "Mr. Carpenter," finding a room at Patricia Neal’s boarding house. There, he makes friends with young Bobby, and begins to look for a way to convince the earth’s leaders to convene. Bobby introduces him to a professor who is only convinced after Mr. Carpenter solves a complex and vexing mathematical problem. Mr. Carpenter leaves the University armed with an idea.
Some time later, electricity fails. Everywhere -- all over the world. Only planes in flight and hospitals are spared. Carpenter -- Klaatu -- is caught on an elevator with Patricia Neal during the time the earth stands still, and she is convinced of the seriousness of the situation. Still, earth’s leaders are skeptical.
The order is put out to take Klaatu -- dead or alive. As he rides in a cab with Patricia Neal, he tells her the words to say to the robot Gort in the event of his death -- Klaatu Barada Nikto. "What can he do?" she asks. "He can do anything," is the answer. "He could destroy the earth."
As he leaves the cab, Klaatu is shot and killed. Patricia Neal goes to the Saucer where Gort still stands. Before she arrives, the Robot’s laser eye disintegrates two soldiers who try to tamper with him. As she comes on the scene, he moves and she falls nervously to the ground. The Robot’s visor opens and the laser beam is aimed in her direction. Will she remember the words?
She does -- at last. "Klaatu Barada Nikto. Gort, Klaatu Barada Nikto." The Robot picks her up and together they steal the dead alien’s body, taking it inside the otherworldly vessel. Gort places the dead Klaatu on a table and works the magic of an alien science.
Klaatu’s chest heaves. His heart beats. His eyes open.
She asks the right questions. "He has power over life and death?" Klaatu says no. That power is reserved for God. This is only a technique that can restore life for a brief time.
Meanwhile, outside the ship, some VIP’s have finally gathered. As Patricia Neal joins them, Klaatu stands on the lip of his spaceship with Gort towering by his side. He speaks and finally, someone listens.
He tells of a federation of planets that made war, but searched for peace. In desperation, they created a race of robot policemen -- such as Gort. These robots have total power, but will do nothing unless an aggressor emerges. Long aware of earthlings, none of these extraterrestrials cared -- until the atom bomb was built. Now, earth has the power to threaten intergalactic peace. The day the earth stood still was a warning. Make war, and the robots will turn the earth into a burning cinder. Or join the galaxy in peace.
Klaatu and Gort enter the spaceship and blast off as credits roll.
The acting is crisp, the direction is taut and the movie still packs a punch. It’s better than "Close Encounters" and it’s a thousand times superior to such modern pabulum as "Independence Day." But what does it mean? What’s it all about?
Heck, I can easily enjoy this move just as a great motion picture. But is it an anti-Communist film? I don’t know and I don’t care. What about the obvious savior-come-back-from-the-dead scene? Well, some might be offended, but I found the movie to be reverent and respectful of religious beliefs. Is it a liberal peace-nik movie? You could say so.
But to me, this movie says some very conservative things. It says: if you accept responsibility, you will be free. It says: there are some laws on how to use weapons. Obey the law and you can keep your weapons. Use the power wisely and nobody gets hurt. (Remember, Klaatu didn’t take away the nuclear weapons.)
If you’ve never seen this movie, rent it. Watch it a couple of times. Even after fifty years, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" is in a class by itself.
 
Wouldn't it? That was, incidentally, the correct answer to question four of my US Politics final.
 
One of the classics for sure. Back in the dark days of the fear of the bomb.
 
Ash: Klaatu Barrada n... Necktie... Nickel... It's an "N" word, it's definitely an "N" word!
 
Yes without all the high tech magic. I wonder how long it took Ray Harryhausen to film all those stop motions? The Washington monument falling, great stuff.
 
I love all the old classics. The ones with flying saucers when you can see the wire attached to the minature ship.
 
Now here's an interesting B movie:


Devil Girl From Mars

An uptight, leather-clad female alien, armed with a raygun and accompanied by a menacing robot, comes to Earth to collect Earth's men as breeding stock.


I think I know her!
 
That one still freaks me.

How about Robot monster? Anyone remember that?
 
Prince Romeo said:
Now here's an interesting B movie:


Devil Girl From Mars

An uptight, leather-clad female alien, armed with a raygun and accompanied by a menacing robot, comes to Earth to collect Earth's men as breeding stock.


I think I know her!

That was my Ex.
 
"Word" to yo leadahs.......

"I am leaving soon. And you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all, or no one is secure.

Now this does not mean giving up any freedom. Except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We, of the other planets, have long accepted this principle.

We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is of course, the police force that supports it.

For our policemen we created a race of robots. Their function is to patrol the planets in spaceships like this one and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression we have given them absolute power over us.

This power cannot be revoked. At the first sign of violence they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk.

The result is, we live in peace. Without arms or armies. Secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war. Free to pursue more profitable enterprises.

Now we do not pretend to have achieved perfection. But we do have a system. And it works. I came here to give you these facts.

It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet. But if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of your's will be reduced to a burned out cinder.

Your choice is simple. Join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration. We shall be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you."


*Now get the fuck out my way bacon eaters, I'm outta here!
Gort, you're driving........shotgun!
 
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