Forbidden Planet (1956)
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The story
In the 23rd century, the United Planets starship C-57D arrives at the distant planet Altair IV to determine the fate of the ship Bellerophon, which vanished twenty years prior. The crew encounters Dr. Edward Morbius, the sole survivor of the previous expedition, who warns them of a mysterious 'planetary force' that decimated his team. As the crew investigates the ruins and Morbius' residence, they are confronted by the presence of an unseen intruder. The mission becomes a desperate struggle for survival as the crew must navigate the dangers of an alien world and the secrets of a high-tech, ancient civilization left behind by the vanished Krell.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the 23rd century, the starship C-57D arrives at Altair IV to investigate the fate of the Bellerophon. They find Dr. Morbius, who survived the previous expedition but claims his team was killed by a 'planetary force.' Morbius has been studying the technology of the Krell, an advanced race that perished 200,000 years ago. He used a device to enhance his intellect and discovered a massive underground machine capable of creating anything through thought. However, the Krell were destroyed because they allowed their subconscious desires—'monsters from the id'—to manifest with unlimited power. When an invisible intruder begins attacking the C-57D crew, it is revealed to be a manifestation of Morbius' own subconscious. After the intruder kills several crew members, Morbius realizes the truth and confronts his 'other self.' He is fatally injured but manages to activate a self-destruct system for the planet. The survivors escape into deep space as Altair IV is obliterated, with Morbius' final words acknowledging that humanity is not yet ready for the power they encountered.
- First release year
- 1956
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Fred M. Wilcox
- Writers
- Cyril Hume · screenplay; Allen Adler · story; Irving Block · story
- Cast and characters
- Walter Pidgeon · Dr. Morbius; Anne Francis · Altaira; Leslie Nielsen · Commander John J. Adams; Warren Stevens · Doc Ostrow; Robby the Robot · Robby the Robot
- Genres
- science fiction; monster; space adventure
- Themes
- the dangers of unchecked power; humanity vs. technology; the subconscious mind
- Tone and mood
- tense; eerie; grand
- Setting
- The planet Altair IV in the 23rd century.
- Premise and plot tags
- space exploration; alien world; hidden technology; psychological horror
- Source material / true-story basis
- Original screenplay by Cyril Hume based on a story by Allen Adler and Irving Block.
- Reception
- The film is hailed as a landmark of 1950s science fiction, praised for its innovative electronic score, groundbreaking special effects, and its status as a precursor to modern sci-fi. It was notably selected for the National Film Registry.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 93% · scale: percentage · review count: 54
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Special Effects · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film featured the first entirely electronic musical score.; The Robby the Robot prop was once the most valuable film prop ever sold at auction.; The film was originally titled 'Fatal Planet' in 1952.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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