There's a sci fi gem out there called FORBIDDEN PLANET. I saw a few minutes of it many years ago, and dismissed it as primitive, stilted, and tame. I must have been in a strange mood that day, for it is essentially none of those things. Released in 1956, it was the first major sci fi release which didn't feature some iconic hero (a Flash or Buck), but to call it a "missing link" also does it a disservice. It's essentially a ripper, and paved the way for a more humanistic vision of our reaching out into space. It was also the first major sci fi film to have a large budget, around two million dollars. The money was well-spent. The effects and visuals stand up well to shows with exponentially larger budgets and decades more FX development.
The iconic robot, Robby, stands every bit as tall as an icon should. His incorporation of Asimov's first law of robotics makes him a fitting progenitor for Artoo, Twiki, Data, and all the rest. The heroic space captain is played by a young Leslie Nielsen, but rest assured, Lt. Drebin is quickly forgotten, and his steady presence lends a comforting familiarity. And the casting of Warren Stevens as Doc, later a guest star on the excellent "By Any Other Name" episode of STAR TREK, should warm the cockles of trekkies everywhere.
So did the film have an impact on thirty-five year old Los Angeles police sergeant Gene Roddenberry? Just take note of the time their ship sets down on the alien planet.
Exactly 17:01.
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