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film summary
A huge 'flying saucer'
lands in Washington, D.C . A semi-panic ensues and troops
arrive. A humanoid alien (Klaatu) and a robot (Gort)
emerge, but Klaatu is wounded by a nervous soldier.
Gort then uses his laserbeam 'eye' to melt the weapons
right out of soldiers' hands and even a tank. Klaatu's
arm is treated at Walter Reed hospital and he tries
to arrange a meeting with the leaders of the world,
but they cannot agree on a meeting place, letting pettiness
and pride rule them.
"I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned
to live without it".
The story continues with Klaatu escaping
from the hospital, hiding out in a boarding house, befriending
a young boy, and contacting a scientist in the attempt
to meet with the best scientific minds of Earth. Even
they require prodding, so Klaatu arranges to shut down
Earth's power for half an hour (hence the title). He
is hunted down by the military, is killed, brought back
to life by Gort, and introduces the world to the phrase,
"Gort, Klaatu barada nikto". One reviewer
thought that means "don't destroy the planet".
I rather believe it means, "Hey, come get me!",
but yes, "spare those dumb humans" is part
of it. Anyway, once he finally has our attention (and
is ready to leave), he addresses a world audience, warning
us that unless the people of Earth stop their nuclear
frenzy, which also endangers the rest of the universe,
Gort and the rest of the robots on Klaatu's planet will
reduce the world "to a burnt-out cinder".
"The choice," declares Klaatu, "is yours."
It still is.
Hard to believe this was made in
1951. This is one of the greatest science fiction movies
ever made.
timeline of the day the earth
stood still
Thursday, April 19, 1951
"
3:47 PM -- Spaceship lands at the Ellipse in Washington
DC *
5:30 PM -- Drew Pearson reports on Evening Newscast
*
5:40 PM -- Spaceship opens; Klaatu appears "
5:50 PM -- Klaatu is shot: take to Walter Reed Memorial
Hospital, Room 306 "
8:30 PM -- First meeting with Secretary Harley '
Friday, April 20, 1951 "
3:30 PM -- Checkup by MD: healed of gunshot wound '
3:40 PM -- Second meeting with Secretary Harley '
7:00 PM -- Klaatu's escape discovered '
8:00 PM -- Carpenter (Klaatu) rents room at Mrs. Crocket's
'
Saturday, April 21, 1951"
Afternoon -- Talks with Bobby Benson
Sunday, April 22, 1951"
10:00 AM - Escorts Bobby Benson on tour of Washington
DC '
10:30 AM - Visit Arlington Memorial Cemetary '
11:30 AM - Visit Lincoln Memorial '
12:00 PM - Visit Spaceship '
1:00 PM -- Attempt to meet with Professor Barnhardt
'
2:00 PM -- Lunch and Matinee ?
8:30 PM -- Federal agent takes Carpenter to Professor's
home '
9:00 PM -- Carpenter meets with Professor Barnhardt
'
Monday, April 23, 1951 "
9:00 PM -- Klaatu returns to Spaceship to program 'anomoly'
'
11:00 PM - Klaatu discovered by Tom Stevenson '
Tuesday, April 24, 1951 "
The Day the Earth Stood Still
11:45 AM - Carpenter meets Helen Benson at work "
12:00 PM - Anomoly occurs: all electrical activity ceases
for one half hour *
12:30 PM - Military puts Washington under quaranteen
*
7:00 PM -- Helen confronts Tom: Feds alerted by Tom
'
7:30 PM -- Helen leaves boarding house with Carpenter:
chase begins ?
7:55 PM -- Chase ends: Klaatu shot and killed - moved
to Police Station nearby ?
8:00 PM -- Gort activates: dissolves plastic restraint
'
8:10 PM -- Helen tells Gort, "Klaatu birada nicto"
'
8:20 PM -- Gort recovers body of Klaatu and returns
to spaceship '
8:35 PM -- Klaatu is revived '
9:00 PM -- Scientist conference begins - Klaatu presents
ultimatum *
9:15 PM -- Klaatu and Gort depart in Spaceship *
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