"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (A 1951 Science Fiction Black and White Movie.)

If you have never seen the movie,"The Day the Earth Stood Still", I highly recommend you take the time to watch it.  It is classic science fiction in every sense of the word.

Yes, it was made in 1951 and it is a black and white film.  Believe it or not, that is part of the appeal.  There are so many great aspects to this movie I hardly know where to begin.

First, let me say most of the acting is superb.  Oh, there are a few minor shots done by "fill-in" actors that look and feel like they are made of cardboard.  (And I can even smile or laugh at how corny they are.)  But the star performers, Patricia Neal, Michael Rennie and Sam Jafee are nothing short of fantastic.

Secondly, one must consider the time period in which the film was made.  The special effects are good for the period, but are nothing like the computer generated art we take for granted in today's science fiction thrillers.  But the effects are good enough to pull off the story, and they are good enough to scare young children with vivid imaginations.  (My next door neighbor told me he was scared by the movie as a kid.)

But most importantly, the story works.  It makes sense on many levels, and it gives you a plausible concept to show our place in the universe.  The mere fact that a flying saucer shows up and parks itself in Washington DC speaks volumes, all by itself.   It screams the idea that we are NOT alone.  We share this galaxy with other intelligent, perhaps some of which may be technically superior to us.  Is that a scary idea?  Yes, because it represents a big unknown.

What would happen if uninvited creatures from outer-space would suddenly come for a visit?  No one can know what they will do.  I leave that idea to your imagination.  We can only hope that if they are superior to us that they will either be friendly, smile at how cute we are and share their technology with us, or go away and leave us alone. 

Let's just hope we don't have something they want.   Now there's a scary thought!


R. Allan Worrell
Author: Father John's Gift
e-mail:  alw3141@gmail.com