Thursday, November 7, 2024

LUX RADIO THEATRE: THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (JANUARY 4, 1954)

 Klaatu barada nikto

Michael Rennie reprises his role as Klaatu from the classic science fiction film The Day the 
Earth Stood Still
.  For this radio episode, Jean Peters ("the only woman [Howard Hughes] ever loved") took over the Patricia Neal role of Helen Benson, and Billy Gray reprised his film role as young Bobby Benson.

A flying saucer lands in Washington, D.C.  A humanoid, Klaatu, comes out and announces he "comes in peace and with good will.  With him is the giant, invincible robot Gort.  Human suspicion and fear threaten Klaatu's mission.  In the end, Earth has a choice to make...but will it choose correctly?

Based on Harry Bates' story "Farewell to the Master" (Astounding Science Fiction, October 1940), the original film is considered a classic.  (Not so much the 2008 remake with Keanu Reeves.)  The original film was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress's National film Registry in 2001.  It ranked Number 82 on the list of America's most heart-pounding films, and Number 67 on the list of America's most inspiring films.  In 2008, the American Film Institute ranked it the country's fifth best film in the science genre.  The New York Times as one of The Best 1000 Movies Ever Made.

Enjoy this adaptation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J26YmLqESMg

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