Specifications
This movie was released in 1956. It stars Walter Pidgeon, Anne
Francis, and Leslie Neilsen.
Status
I first watched this movie in the 1960's, and it made enough of an
impression that I remember it even today. I have purchased the DVD.
Significance
The significance of this movie is hard to state because it is so
very significant. It is the forerunner of Star Trek, and, therefore,
Star Wars. (I think I read this somewhere, but it is obvious,
really.)
In addition, the technology is surprisingly modern. That is, it
shows a "cell phone" that is about the size of my 2004 cell
phone, which transmits pictures. That, in itself is significant.
Also, "Id" is referred to as an obsolete term. I've seen
references that have indicated that this term is now considered just
that, an obsolete term.
The major gist of the movie is significant as well. It is based
on the Greek myth of Belerephon, and perhaps the most significant
point is the exploration of the relationship between god's and men.
That is, Dr. Morbius learns of a very advanced technology, but
refuses to allow anyone else to learn it. That is, he plays the part
of Belerephon, who thought he was equal to the gods.
In the end, this is summed up by Commander John J. Adams (Leslie
Neilsen). "It's true it will remind us that we are, after all, not
god."
It also reminds us that we need to think about all
the ramifications of the things we do. That is, we are not God.
Another point is the concept of
religion, which is much different than the concept that is extant
today. That is, religion (and laws) is said to be there so that
people could learn to live together. How different this is from the
commonly hear view now that religion simply separates people.
Review
This movie starts with a
space ship traveling faster than light approaching Altar. They are
"greeted" by Dr. Morbius, who warns them to stay. They had been
sent to review the situation, and offer assistance to a colony
established twenty years earlier by the space ship the Belerephon (an
obvious reference to the myth). Dr. Morbius (Dr. Death, for those
who don't recognize the base word) tells them no assistance is
needed.
Come to find out, Dr.
Morbius and his daughter (who was born on Altar-4) are the only
survivors of the colony. There is evidence that Dr. Morbius has told
his daughter rather bad things about Earth, so initially she doesn't
consider going to Earth an option.
Meanwhile, Dr. Morbius, a
philologist (studying word meaning, etc) is not helpful. He tells
them that the crew of the Belerephon all died due to a mysterious
force, including the last three who tried to flee the planet.
The expedition had
discovered the remains of a civilization called the Krell. This was
a very advanced civilization, which had created some very advanced
technology. For example, one machine increased a person's IQ by a
large factor. But most people it killed. Dr. Morbius was the only
one to have used the machine and survived.
(There is a computer which
is a cube twenty miles on a side. In view of today's technology, it
would be interesting to consider how much computing power was there -
certainly many hundreds of times more than is available currently on
the Earth.)
Dr. Morbius's life is
pleasant, as is his daughters. However, after the ship lands it is
attacked by an invisible being. This being is not stopped by
anything, including the most advanced weapons of the time. Many men
were killed (using WW II tactics). Then, for no apparent reason, the
monster disappears.
While this is going on,
Alta, Dr. Morbius's daughter, was falling in love with the captain
dispite her father's warnings. (It has to be admitted that Alta is
very careful to bend rules to their absolute limit. "[Dr. Morbius]
said not to go too near the ship. After all, this is not very near."
Also, the ship's cook adds a
bit of comedy. He has Robbie make fifty gallons of bourbon, for
example, and gets into trouble because he gets drunk.
In the end, Dr. Morbius is
the source of the monsters, which killed every one of the Belerophon
crew, and attacked this now expedition. That is, the Krell were
built a machine which could project matter to any place for any
purpose strictly by the use of the Krell minds. Immediately
afterwards, the Krell died in a single day.
It is determined that the
problem is the subconscious. That is, subconsciously people think,
"I wish he were dead," so the planet grants the wish. This
killed all the Krell, and when Dr. Morbius used the machine, he was
"hooked into" the system, so the people he subconsciously
disliked were all killed. The monster that attacked the current ship
disappeared because Dr. Morbius woke up.
Finally, the monster is
attacking everyone, including the captain and Alta, who are with Dr.
Morbius, who will not believe the truth. Finally, he does come to
believe it, and puts himself between the monster and his companions,
so Dr. Morbius is killed, but not before he arranges to have the
world of the Krell destroyed. The captain, Alta, Robby, and the
remainder of the crew escape, but watch the planet being destroyed.
This is the point that the captain makes the connection to God
mentioned above.
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