In a Nutshell. Mini reviews of movies old and new. No fuss. No spoilers. And often no sleep.

Monday 26 May 2014

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Amid the giant crabs and attacking UFOs, post-war sci-fi in the 1950s produced some genuine classics. TDtESS is one of the best.
The intelligent script covers a wide spectrum of concerns. The contrasts between the military response and the scientific one (i.e. between men of war and men of science) couldn't be clearer. Alongside that are more subtle but no less powerful parallels, including an evil among us that looks like us and a determined saviour with a message for the entire world.
Bernard Herrmann’s futuristic-sounding score, using electric strings and the wacky theremin, echoes the eeriness of another world.

4 homeland insecurities out of 5

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