Home Page | Alphabetic Index | Ratings Index | Web Resources

Forbidden Planet (1956)

A review by Damian Cannon.
Copyright © Movie Reviews UK 1997
Updating Shakespeare's The Tempest to a science-fiction setting, this is a classy and intelligent film with an exquisite concept of evil lurking within its heart. Headed by Commander Adams (Leslie Nielsen), a patrol ship from Earth is just arriving at Altair after a year in hyperspace. Their mission is to investigate the fate of an exploration vehicle, which landed on the fourth planet 20 years ago and was never heard from again. Surrounded by flashing lights and oscilloscopes (great standbys of 50s space-opera), the ship comes within range of the planet and achieves voice contact with a survivor. Identifying himself as Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), the scientist explains that all is well and that there's no need to land. Pressed a little further, Morbius reveals how the rest of the crew are long dead and that he can't possibly be responsible for their safety. Intrigued, Adams orders a landing and prepares to investigate the mystery.

Stretching their legs after the long voyage, the crew find themselves positioned in a large, empty desert. On the horizon a dust cloud forms, moving rapidly and becoming larger as they watch. Suddenly a vehicle appears, driven by Robby the Robot. With much whirring of gears Robby explains that Adams, Chief Quinn (Richard Anderson) and Lt Ostrow (Warren Stevens) are to accompany him to Morbius' home. In his palatial domicile the good Doctor explains how he built Robby with his bare hands, even though he's a linguist, and that the rest of the crew perished through some natural force. It's a plausible explanation, although Adams has decided to contact Earth for further instructions. This will mean spending a few more weeks on the planet but then it never seemed that hospitable to send them back immediately, after a year in space. However, when Morbius' daughter Altair (Anne Francis) appears the situation is immediately complicated.

Altair is a rather innocent, and ravishing, young woman who is quite taken with these fine examples of masculinity (having only known her father until now). Being wizened old space-dogs, the crew are more than delighted to teach her a few essentials, such as how to kiss. The first inkling of trouble, which Morbius earlier hinted at, comes when their communication equipment is mysteriously vandalised. Suspecting their reluctant host, Adams and his officers visit Morbius and get taken on a tour of the labs. These were actually built thousands of years ago by another, higher race - which explains Robbie and how Morbius gets his power. The underground works are vast, imposing and fascinating; the stored knowledge itself is incredible. Morbius continues to act erratically, which puts him under further suspicion when the ship is attacked again by a powerful force and an officer torn apart. Clearly there is more here than meets the eye.

Radically reinventing the original stage play, but staying true to its essential plot themes, Forbidden Planet combines excellent special effects with an imaginative script. Whilst the standard 50s sci-fi conventions are used (shiny ray-guns), these never seem constricting or ridiculous. The cast don't try for a kitschy self-awareness (like many modern films) but play the story straight instead, which works fine. The acting is really quite good, encompassing scenes of humour, fear, sadness and awe more than adequately. Particular mention needs to be made of the special effects, which haven't dated in the slightest, and the eerie, effective electronic score. The sets look vibrant and convincing (in Eastmancolor) and make particularly good use of CinemaScope. Altogether, Forbidden Planet is a movie which is fun, doesn't insult your intelligence and stays eternally fresh (like the alien machinery).

Home Page | Alphabetic Index | Ratings Index | Web Resources