I sat down with my son recently to watch an old sci-fi classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still. This film, directed by Robert Wise, is drenched in the 1950s weltanschauung, but it has truly withstood the test of time. I was amazed at how relevant this movie remains to this day nearly 60 years after its release.
Our current global situation is not too far removed from the realities of the 1950s. We continue to struggle for rational discourse and peace. The revealing sciences are yet again offering a glimpse into a future filled with great humanitarian possibilities. We remain wary of apocalyptic threats and the disturbing potential for a new set of extinction risks.
And not surprisingly, our messianic cravings still linger, whether they be for extraterrestrial salvation or the onset of a benign artificial superintelligence. The Day the Earth Stood Still is a wish-fulfillment movie if there ever was one.
Historical Context
The 1950s were not a great time for the United States. Nerves were on edge as there seemed to be no end to international tensions and the madness of war. The Cold War had emerged and the stakes were never higher. The world had completely lost its innocence and was now living on borrowed time; the means for apocalyptic destruction were in hand.
With all this desperation and fear in the air, Hollywood was eager to oblige the collective consciousness. Audiences flocked to theaters for one of two reasons: to escape or to confront their fears head-on. A sampling of these films included The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), An American in Paris (1951), The War of the Worlds (1953), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).
But desperate times call for desperate hopes. Hollywood was also anxious to moralize and offer some optimism—even if it was far-fetched optimism. Religion took a heavy blow after World War II, and many lost faith in a God who was apparently nowhere to be seen and didn't seem to care. If God wouldn't intervene in human affairs, than perhaps Hollywood could; the masses started to seek a different kind of deus ex machina.
Fantasy films in particular offered some interesting possibilities. Comic superheroes like Superman, Captain America, and Batman would always come to the rescue. The Bat-Signal was proven to be more reliable than prayer.
Additionally, the newfound enthusiasm for science during the 1950s sparked an interest in science fiction. Combined with growing hopes for rocket ships and fears of alien invasion, these sentiments resulted in one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) (hereafter referred as TDTESS).
Substituting Fear for Reason
The story is exceedingly simple, yet provocative and poignant.
In the film, an extraterrestrial named Klaatu (played by Michael Rennie) arrives in Washington D.C. with an important message for the people of Earth. He insists that all national leaders be present for his address, but given the geopolitical stresses of the time, such an arrangement is not possible. Frustrated, Klaatu approaches the scientific community who he believes will listen to reason. In the end, with a number of prominent scientists present, he offers humanity an ultimatum: Earth can either decide to abandon warfare and join other advanced nations—a peace ensured by a massive deterrent force, the robot race Gort—or else be considered a threat and subsequently destroyed.
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Klaatu barada nikto! One of my favorite movies of all time. Thanks for your insightful piece.