The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) | FIRST TIME WATCHING!! | MOVIE REACTION & COMMENTARY!!

[@martinrayner6466]

This movie and the *"Forbidden Planet"* are both good SF standouts of their time.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Eager to get to that film too :)

[@jeffreyjeziorski1480]

And the music is both is fantastic!!!!

[@libradragon]

This is the movie that got my attention. I was born a few months after its release. This one - and - Forbidden Planet are exceptional in their own right. My first visit to your KZbin channel. Subscribed and Thumbs up. Good presentation!

[@RenfrewPrume]

So glad to see you react to this, still one of my 15 favorite SF movies. This was an A movie, with an intelligent adult script, top-notch effects for the time, substantial location shooting in Washington, a pioneering musical score by the great Bernard Hermann, and fine direction by Robert Wise. The reporters shown at the beginning were actual famous broadcasters of the time. I especially love the opening: the tracking of the flight, the reports, the people listening around the world, and the man running across 14th street. The location shooting added great identification for anyone who lived in the Washington area. Even as a kid I knew those streets and buildings. I first saw it, probably around 1963 or 64, on what I think was its TV premiere on “Saturday Night at the Movies,” a national show (9-11 p.m.) featuring major A movies. My bedtime was 9:00, but my parents let me stay up and see this. What anticipation! What exhilaration afterward! This was loosely based on a famous SF novelette, “Farewell to the Master” by Harry Bates. The story’s impact lay largely in the ending, where it is revealed that the robot is the master, a shocking idea for 1940, when it was published Yes, even as a kid I saw the plot hole of Gort retrieving Klaatu’s body; one just has to shrug it off. Today they would add 15 minutes to the movie by contriving a rationale---maybe an action sequence of some kind---but that would be contrary to the tone of the movie.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Completely agree with your sentiments for the film, the beginning started off the film so strong, and as you mentioned, the wonderful script, and tension led up to a fantastic ending, with a powerful message. Thanks for taking the time to write and tune in :)

[@CandC68]

Watching SciFi movies for 70 years. This has always been one of the best, imho. Current movie that is in this category, "Arrival."

[@latenightswithsammy]

A fantastic film indeed!

[@jaxstuff898]

Another classic, I love that you are doing the classics. I HIGHLY recommend the BAD SEED from 1956, wonderfully done.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thank you for tuning in, and the recommendation :)

[@Lethgar_Smith]

You would never believe how close to reality this movie actually is.

[@latenightswithsammy]

So true!

[@RealBLAlley]

I love how their message isn't "stop being violent with one another before you destroy yourselves", but rather "We don't care how terrible you are to one another, but if you mess with the rest of us you're toast.".

[@latenightswithsammy]

Quite the message :)

[@randallbesch2424]

@@latenightswithsammy one wonders how much time they have?

[@hawkmaster381]

This movie was about Mr. “Carpenter” from a higher power sent to Earth to save its people from their bad decisions which will condemn them; was killed, his body locked away under military guard but his angel Gort removed the wall where he was imprisoned without being detected and then resurrected before returning to the heavens. Interesting.

[@richelliott9320]

I never noticed the carpenter connection. Thanx

[@RenfrewPrume]

Amazing! I must have seen this movie 20 times over 60 years, and I too never noticed the carpenter connection. Thank you.

[@hawkmaster381]

@@RenfrewPrume Believe it or not, I’ve also watched this movie for decades and only now did I make the connection. Lol

[@latenightswithsammy]

WOAHHHH! How did I miss this! Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing this :)

[@aiavecchia]

Regarding the 'Jesus' metaphor: Screenwriter Edmund North (who adapted the 1940 short story "Farewell to the Master" by Harry Bates) said, "It was my private little joke. I never discussed this angle with (Producer) Julian Blaustein nor (Director) Robert Wise because I didn't want it expressed. I had originally hoped that the Christ comparison would be subliminal." . . . [see 'Metaphors' section at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Earth_Stood_Still ]

[@robertcartier5088]

7:18 _"...he never gave them that information..."_ Actually, yes, he did... he said he had travelled 250 million miles. That is barely past the orbit of Mars. Indeed, if the planets were at opposite ends of their respective orbits, it would coincide with that distance pretty closely. In 1951, the general public had no clue about distances in space, so 250 million miles sounded properly extreme. In fact it is practically in our own back yard! The story didn't need to be any more accurate than the level of knowledge of its audience. If an alien said he'd come from 250 million miles away, today, he's be laughed off the damn planet! ;-]

[@latenightswithsammy]

True! Thanks for sharing this :)

[@DakrWingDuck]

I don't think most people knew the difference between 250 Million miles and 250 Million light years in 1951...nor do they to this day. 😉 Even Han Solo claimed that his Millennium Falcon "made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs". A parsec is a unit of distance, not a unit of time. 🤩

[@williambranch4283]

A lost world when my parents were young. The first TV set displayed in a department store, was watched with fascination like the crowd around the flying saucer.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Wow! Could only imagine being in that department store, thanks for painting the picture :)

[@michaelbastraw1493]

Klaatu says that he traveled 250 million miles to get here. That is actually the same as Mars' orbital apogee from Earth. Best. Mike.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Ahh ... Interesting! Thanks for sharing this :)

[@jeffreyjeziorski1480]

DING DING DING!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

He's nicer than the Vogons were.

[@AlanCanon2222]

He's a better poet, but that's not saying much.

[@jeffreyjeziorski1480]

If you cant be bothered to check on your local concerns, that's your getout.

[@Fast_Eddy_Magic]

@@jeffreyjeziorski1480 I know it's only 4 light-years away, but I've been busy. 😁

[@iKvetch558]

It is a terrific film with an artfully told story that is a cautionary allegory about the danger of xenophobia and anti-Communist paranoia....among other things. I am really glad you chose to put up this reaction.

[@latenightswithsammy]

A wonderfully thought-provoking film indeed! Thanks for tuning in :)

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

Michael Rennie was a very famous British actor at that time, but was pretty much unknown to US audiences. That enhanced his image of being an alien. The actor who played Gort, I forget his name, really was over seven feet tall. (And fittingly, a brief clip of this was used in Independence Day).

[@latenightswithsammy]

WOW ... I have no memory of Gort being in Independence Day, will check that out! Thanks for sharing :)

[@micpar2]

Check out The Thing (1951), The War of the Worlds (1953), THEM! (1954), Forbidden Planet, Invasion of the Body Snatchers from (1956). The Deadly Mantis and The Blob (1957) too.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Yeah, the '82 version of the thing has been reacted to almost 100 times and the 1951 version which inspired Carpenter, I believe zero times. One thing I find challenging about millenials and gen z is that most of them have no knowledge of anything before "Star Wars" and most are happy to die in that state.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thank you so much for these wonderful suggestions! I will try my best to get to as many of them as possible :)

[@RenfrewPrume]

@@brandonflorida1092 I agree 100%. The loss of cultural knowledge is shocking

[@RealBLAlley]

Great list.

[@geraldmcboingboing7401]

Thanks for this reaction. This has been my favorite film ever since I first watched it as an 8 year-old. .

[@latenightswithsammy]

It is wonderfully made, so good! Thanks for taking the time to tune in :)

[@thunderstruck5484]

Really enjoy this movie every time I watch it, and the remake is good also in my opinion, thanks Sammy!

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thanks for taking the time to write and tune in :)

[@perlman7376]

@@latenightswithsammy The remake is a "climate change" ad. Not even close to the original which has a profound message and a possible solution. The remake is preachy, woke and depicts the military as evil morons. And, of course, a single mom saves the planet from complete obliteration at the end which leaves the earth with no electricity which means billions would starve without energy. In other words, no real ending except the message that technical progress SUCKS.

[@AlanCanon2222]

Arthur C. Clarke rated this film on his personal science fiction film favorite list, just above his and Stanley Kubrick's movie, "2001: a Space Odyssey". It's hands-down my favorite science fiction movie from its era, with its thoughtful plot and great storytelling.

[@latenightswithsammy]

That's awesome! Must be something to list this above a film you penned :) Thanks for taking the time to write and tune in!

[@rabbitandcrow]

How have I not found your reaction channel until now? You have an AMAZING line up of movies.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Hey! Thank you for the kind words, and for tuning in :)

[@melvynbuckton6881]

Your commentary is fascinating. Erudite, intelligent, thoughtful and entertaining. Thank you.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thank you for your kind comments :)

[@portland-182]

The opening with the news reporters is a throw back to the Orson Welles War of the Worlds radio broadcast of 1938 that used the same technique.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Oh! I wasn't aware that Orson Welles narrated WOTW for a radio broadcast ... thanks for sharing this :)

[@portland-182]

@@latenightswithsammy It was a full cast production, presented as news broadcasts interrupting a regular radio broadcast. People listening thought a real Martian Invasion was happening. A 1975 movie 'The Night That Panicked America' tells the story

[@adamcollazo8228]

Since this is a really old sci-film they didn't really give much thought to some of the science of the film. Klaatu says he traveled 250 million miles. On an interstellar scale that is far too short. It's clear that he comes from another solar system so 250 million miles is not correct. The four outer planets of our solar system are further than 250 million miles. Mars- 140 million miles Jupiter- 533.74 million miles Saturn- 746 million miles Uranus- 1.6 billion miles Neptune- 2.87 billion miles

[@latenightswithsammy]

Ahh, yes! Thanks for sharing this :) Fun to know after watching the film

[@richelliott9320]

There are several small but great scenes. For example the music box

[@latenightswithsammy]

So true! I really enjoyed Mr. Carpenter's first camera appearance at the hotel, BEAUTIFUL shot :)

[@jamielandis4308]

I love those old ‘50’s sci-fi movies. They often get overlooked because of the FX and black & white but are so good. “Invasion of The Body Snatchers,” “Forbidden Planet,” “Gojira,” “20 Million Miles To Earth,” “The War of The Worlds,” “The Thing From Another Planet,” “When Worlds Collide,” to name a few.

[@latenightswithsammy]

I think they're very charming! And, to recognize their ingenuity and creative problem solving to work around the FX, most of the time, as a viewer, I think works in the pictures favour

[@alexfletcher5192]

One of my favourite aspects of this movie is that the alien nature of the ship or Gort or even the seemingly magical powers they possess are very reflective of the 'irrationality' in UFO reports throughout the ages. In fact this is almost an attempt to rationalise the experiences people claim to have had. In some ways, the 'space brothers' message conveyed here (and in the broader literature) prefigures the Hippy movement.

[@michaelestabrook2018]

wr of the orld-a radio show caused panic years before.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Thanks for reacting to this masterpiece. I often urge people to react to it, but it falls on deaf ears. Most reactors won't do a movie this old. Often they react to the vastly inferior 2008 remake. Great choice. Great reaction! Thanks!

[@latenightswithsammy]

Thanks for taking the time to write and tune in Brandon! Having a lot of fun with 50s / 60s pictures :)

[@micpar2]

Check out some more classic SF movies. This is probably my very favorite SF movie of all time. Just because of the basic story, most of the cast was great to me too. Even though I wish they hadn't put so many Jesus-like suggestions in it/religious overtones. I think the Noir like use of the shadowing was great too. I do wish it had been filmed in color or redone in color for Blu ray. Or even rereleased for theaters by TCMs. I think if the boyfriend had been recast as a not so much a jerk. And if we would have seen like twenty minutes more of GORT. Like when Klaatu had been shot. I think it would have been cooler, If GORT was attacked by tanks. He wipes up the floor with them. But the tanks cause a building to catch fire. And had GORT save a bunch of people/children. Showing he's a protector not the aggressor. I think it would have made for a more exciting and better movie.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Such a wonderful film! Thanks for taking the time to write and tune in :)

[@hurricane1951]

This spaceship and the Romulan Warbird from Star Trek TNG are the best ever.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Agreed!

[@DakrWingDuck]

Fun fact: at the time the movie was made, it was still believed that the salvation of humanity lay in technology or robots and that, as portrayed in the movie, humans had to be protected from themselves by handing over sole control (dominion) to the robots (AI) in order to survive. Today, it is more likely that AIs could become the greatest threat since the development of nuclear weapons.

[@kennethrohloff7535]

I really like this movie. One of my all time favorite Sci fi films

[@latenightswithsammy]

It's definitely deserving of such praise, there's just so much to like about this film :)

[@kennethrohloff7535]

@@latenightswithsammy I agree. One thing I like about older movies is that they're clean, have good morals, and men are men and women are women

[@Dreamfox-df6bg]

A detail that is overlooked is this. He shuts off the planet, but spares vehicles and equipment where it would kill people. Even if you consider that back then there was much fewer people depending on technology functioning (fewer planes in the air and so on), the sensors, computing power and decision making software combined with the ability to leave such small pockets powered necessary for this feat is staggering even today. Considering this is just one small ship, this is even beyond anything we have seen in Star Trek on the side of the Federation and similar developed star nations. That just shows how far advanced these aliens are. BTW, Gort may have been seen when he retrieved Carpenter's body. But if so, no one was able to raise an alarm which shouldn't surprise anyone considering his disintegration beam.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Interesting observations! Thanks for sharing this :)

[@christhompson6010]

This movie boasts one of the most famous monologues in Sci-Fi history. what's kept this movie surviving from generation to generation

[@latenightswithsammy]

So good!

[@ericodionneviglione9426]

Great reaction! Sammy looked scared when the humanoid robot Gort appeared, heehee. I enjoyed this film. Science fiction at its best! I always enjoy watching Sammy reacting to classic sci-fi films. So much fun to watch, 'coz I never feel lonely. :) PS: There was this Canadian 1970s progressive rock band that named their band after the character in the movie: Klaatu. You'll love their song, "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft" (also check out the beautiful cover by The Carpenters 'coz it's real good).

[@latenightswithsammy]

Oh yeah! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this picture with me :) It was so much fun, and by far, Mr. Carpenter communicating with Gort via the boy scout mini torch, was amazing!

[@waltergiles86]

Do it our way or be destroyed! WOW!!! WAY to invite into galactic statehood 😮!!!

[@Laceykat66]

You missed the Cartenter refrence ? Interesting. 😁😁

[@76ludlow]

Place yourself in the reality of 1951 when this movie was made, and as a person of that time you will have been almost convinced at the opening that this was a documentary. From the movie's opening the viewer of that time would have seen a number of very familiar and actual radio and TV reporters who would have been well known in 1951. The sight and sound of those familiar gentlemen would have helped suspend scepticism in the minds of many viewers who would have seen or heard many of those reporters on their TVs and radios reporting on the current political and newsworthy events of that time.

[@jeffreyjeziorski1480]

All we are saying.........is give peace a chance. Thank you John Lennon.

[@tommiller4895]

This movie is obviously a reference to the 1950's Cold War with Russia.

[@richelliott9320]

News reporting sure hasnt changed

[@latenightswithsammy]

True 😅

[@thomasglynn2282]

He comes from an advanced civilization but yet he still litters by throwing the cleaners tag into the street 😂😂😂

[@latenightswithsammy]

HAHAHA You're so right!

[@randallbesch2424]

The point is that we have no idea the cut off time wise.

[@nighthiker8872]

The kid is representing, the TV. attendances

[@randallbesch2424]

Curious no UN mentioned.

[@randallbesch2424]

Sadly the weapon he is armed with isn't species selective if it was then the rest of life could go on. Rendering the planet "a burned our cinder" suggests ignition of the atmosphere which would do it.

[@hapyjac6713]

If they could naturalize the electricity all over the world with a few exceptions, why destroy the entire planet because of the actions of one species? Beyond that, it was and is a great movie, especially for 1951!

[@jonhenke1504]

Klaatu barada nikto........ I memorized those words just in case I had to use them someday....

[@latenightswithsammy]

Grand idea! Worth remembering :)

[@jeffreyjeziorski1480]

The most unrealistic thing about this movie is the perkiness of the boy.

[@randallbesch2424]

I wonder if he would look different on another planet.

[@latenightswithsammy]

Good question!

[@headrushindi]

I appreciate you presenting this film to a new generation . It was a legendary , and trail blazing film. However your timing and sense of pace are absolutely horrible. Talking over all of the major plot points that the viewers who may not be familiar with the film , may need to piece together the plot as you are watching.

[@neccron9956]

Do not read too much into the movie, it is just an Allegory to the Cold War (at that time).

[@johnlarson9037]

Only lasted a few minutes for this reactions video. This reactor is too annoying. Won't shut up. Yapping over what Gort is in the process of doing...

[@latenightswithsammy]

I appreciate your honest feedback, will try improving on my timing on future episodes

[@waltergiles86]

Total Fascist! FOUFO!!!😮

[@ezebentivegna1676]

Before I watched though was a good classic but was a romantic, pity crap. He has the power to cut the electricity the hole planet bu hospitals and he never figure out to send his stupid message to the radio, this so bad story telling.

[@DeAlpineBro]

A better movie than Prometheus is Ed Wood's 'Plan Nine From Outer Space'. The guy in a gorilla suit and diving helmet is, at a minimum, entertaining,