Forbidden Planet Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Trekweb ^ | 03/30/06

[hattend]

Q. How does a man get inside to operate the suit?

A. The Robby costume separates into three sections, head, torso and legs. An actor is lowered into the legs where he positions his feet into special stirrups. Then a harness is fashioned over his shoulders so the operator can lift up on the suit, allowing all joints and rubber connecting straps to move about freely. Then the torso is lowered onto the legs and secured with special fasteners, finally, the head is placed onto the torso, all the electrical connections are made and Robby is ready for his first take of the day.

[js1138]

I'm so old I saw it in its original theatrical release. I believe Quaker Oats or some cereal came with free tickets, which is how I saw it. The first SciFi movie I saw was "Them" -- also great.

I attended "House of Wax" in 3D with my older brother, but spent most of the movie in the lobby.

[Joe 6-pack]

Indeed Banzai was a classic...even if Jeff Goldblum did grow up to be a twerp. I think Lithgow made the movie.

[asp1]

Please add my name to this ping list. Thank you.

[hattend]

The first SciFi I saw was "Earth Vs The Flying Saucers".

It's still a favorite of mine.

I loved "Them"

[KevinDavis]

I must be the youngest here.. Never did see the Forbidden Planet when it first came out..

[chimera]

I hear ya, Dude. That guy was da bomb for a '50s sort of bro-ham.

[asp1]

We seem to come from the same era. I saw it in the theater as well. LOL! As for "THEM" I slept under my bed for about three months after that one. :o) !!

[Darkwolf377]

It stands up today because it was a true science fiction/space opera, not an action movie in SF dress. The set/cyclorama and especially the "music" added to the alien feel, and the speculation (inspired by The Tempest) was terrific.

I also prefer the title to "Fatal Planet" which was the original name.

Also, the monster from the Id is a parody of the MGM lion, and looks like that combined with Walter Pigeon's face.

The music, btw, is amazing and highly original. The Barrons, the couple who "composed" it, created these circuits, and then turned them on. What you're hearing in the movie are the sounds the circuits made as they burned out. No two could ever be exactly alike, and once they burned out, those particular progressions couldn't be recreated, and the recordings were edited to make the soundtrack.

[BibChr]

"What's a bathing suit?"

Followed by, "Ohh, brrother!" and a quick turn.

Dan

[Knitting A Conundrum]

One of my most favorite since I was a little bitty thing.

[sully777]

"Dude, Leslie Nielsen was HOT!"

---

Frank (Nielsen): Interesting... Almost as interesting as the photographs I saw today.

Jane (Presley): I was young. I needed the work!
~Naked Gun

[BibChr]

It really is a great movie. I can still enjoy it as an adult, and my kids love it. Its date is simply remarkable; to think thye hit such a high mark, and then had so many years of mediocre movies until the genre picked up again in the 70's.

I'd love to see a remake, where the effects match the imagination of the original. I'm just afraid that the current powers in Ho'wood don't have what it takes.

Dan

[Jonah Hex]

I think Lithgow made the movie.

"Laugh-a while you can, monkeyboy!"

[RhoTheta]

"Them" has been a family favorite. Don't want those critters at MY picnic! Nope, Nope, Nope!

How about "The Thing" with James Arness. I saw that as a mere pup of a lad, and hid behind the seatback in front of me when the frozen sled dog rolled out of the cabinet. Then, of course, made my dad sit through it again so I could see what I missed.

[RhoTheta]

I think Forbidden Planet used a Theramin in the soundtrack. I used to see these once in a while on Ed Sullivan, or some such. It was a box with an "antenna" on either end. Moving your hands near the antennas changed the circuit constants in an oscillator to vary pitch and amplitude, as I remember. Definitely, pre-Moog.

[PoorMuttly]

Every time I am in Nevada....I look at the the ridgelines....and expect it.

I really do.

Some day.

[Darkwolf377]

Check out the documentary THEREMIN. One of the best documentaries I've ever seen. I recommend it to everyone who simply wants to see a GOOD movie. The inventor used to make spy equipment for the Russians, came to America, wanted the Theremin used as part of the orchestra, and was kidnapped back to the Soviet Union. And the story doesn't end there!

But there is no Theremin in Forbidden Planet.

"The musical score, termed "electronic tonalities," was composed by Louis and Bebe Barron. They were a married couple, collaborators of avant-garde composer John Cage. The "bleats, burps, whirs, whines, throbs, hums and screeches" that make up the sound track contained carefully developed themes and motifs, as well as providing general atmosphere. Unlike Bernard Herrmann's score for The Day the Earth Stood Still, which used the Theremin as well as an unconventional selection of standard musical instruments, Forbidden Planet's innovative score was entirely electronic."

http://www.moviediva.com/MD_root/reviewpages/MDForbiddenPlanet.htm

"The soundtrack to the movie "Forbidden Planet" in 1956 consisted of truly out of this world electronic effects created by Louis and Bebe Barron (a husband and wife team) using custom-built circuits."

http://www.mfiles.co.uk/film-electronic.htm

[Darkwolf377]

BTW I'm a huge soundtrack fan--3000 LPs and 1500 CDs--and the Forbidden Planet soundtrack is one of the best "space out" CDs I've got. Herrmann's Theremin-flavored Day the Earth Stood Still is another.

[RhoTheta]

Thanks for the clarification. My dad used to bring home records by Cage and others. He was a Humanities teacher at Arroyo HS in San Lrenzo, CA. Some of the "music" was events like someone breaking up a piano onstage. Others featured things like a glass flute. I liked Peter Shickeley, myself: Concerto for Lute, Balalika. Left-handed Sewer Flute and Double-reed Slide Music Stand.