Abstract
Inspired by a 1940s short story by Harry Bates, scripted by Edmund H. North, and directed by Robert Wise, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) is a science fiction cult classic. Of all its diverse interpretations, a commonly adopted reading influenced by the dawning of the Atomic Age parades it as an anti-nuclear exemplar starring alien emissary Klaatu visiting Earth with his robot companion Gort to (supposedly) suppress humanity’s atomic progress. However, upon a close forensic inspection of the film and commentator comments, this anti-atomic claim is resoundingly rejected. Utilizing humanist film criticism as the guiding analytical lens (i.e., looking inside not outside the frame), plus a selective review of the critical literature, it was demonstrated that: (a) there is a dearth of atomic iconography and dialogue, (b) there is no mention of banning atomic energy or weapons, (c) Earth’s atomics are nascent and not serious threats to the Federation, and (d) Klaatu is not anti-atomic but proudly pro-atomic. Overall, this SF film is strongly pro-nuclear in intention, word, and deed, which was frequently misinterpreted due to faulty film criticism, invented facts, and jumping to conclusions, and thus in need of academic correction. Further research into alien first-contact scenarios, robotic artificial intelligence, and the moral make-up of the SF universe is warranted and long overdue.
Highlights
Why be coy and repeatedly eschew the atomic topic if this was the serious message of the film? given this coy reluctance coupled with the severe audiovisual avoidance of banning atomic energy or weapons, the antinuclear premise confidently proffered by commentators is severely diminished and and repeatedly eschew the atomic topic if this was the serious message of the film? given this coy reluctance coupled with the severe audiovisual avoidance of banning atomic energy or weapons, the anti-nuclear premise confidently proffered by commentators is severely diminished and becomes problematic
Robert Wise’s The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) contains either none, or very brief references to atomic energy, nuclear weaponry, banning atomic bombs, or the suppression of Earth’s nuclear experimentation, whilst emissary Klaatu clearly demonstrates via intention, word, and deed that he is profoundly pro-atomic, not anti-atomic as frequently touted within both the critical and popular literatures
The frequent misinterpretations led to faulty film criticism underpinned by overzealous critics making too many assumptions, inventing facts, and jumping to conclusions
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. A humanoid emissary (with robot companion), representing an interplanetary Federation, visited Earth (in a saucer-shaped spaceship) espousing peace and good will and offering cosmic membership, sweetened with a technological gift of inestimable value He eagerly wanted to address the entire planet but instead was shot and wounded, imprisoned, and after escaping, lived incognito amongst the people whilst being hunted. 2009), history (Barone 1996) to pop culture science (Luokkala 2019), but by doing so, they sometimes misconceived, misunderstood, or misread the actual filmic facts in the process Such is the case concerning whether this 1950s visitation (not invasion) film, and alien emissary Klaatu (Michael Rennie) who represented an interplanetary Federation of other intelligent worlds making first-contact with humanity, stood for, or against, Earth’s atomics.. All of which makes this methodology apt for the author’s intended research task
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