Movie Review: Forbidden Planet (1956)

Forbidden Planet (1956) directed by Fred McLeod Wilcox

A spaceship crew visits Altair IV, a planet where a shipful of scientists had landed twenty years ago. No word has come from the colony since their arrival, naturally causing concern. On approach, one scientist, Dr. Morbius (Walter Pigeon), radios the ship and warns them away. The ship lands anyway because it's their job to investigate what happened. They discover Morbius is alone except for his daughter (Anne Francis) and a helpful robot. Morbius is cordial but standoffish. The mystery of why he survived and no one else (along with the presence of a young, beautiful woman) keeps the crew on the planet. Strange events start happening, much like the strange events that wiped out the scientists twenty years earlier. Will the new crew solve the mystery and escape before they are killed off by some invisible menace on the planet?

Forbidden Planet is a classic science fiction movie. It has a lot of scientific jargon that sounds a bit fake but definitely gives it a 1950s pulp science fiction tone. The look also fits the pulp tone, with grey-clad space travelers who use their ray guns when they need to. And the planet's ancient native civilization, now buried deep underground, is well-explored through the plot and some fantastic visuals. The story ultimately comes down to a psychological drama that points out the limits of human evolution and the consistency (in good and bad ways) of the human condition. Characters show pride, naivety, and compassion throughout the movie. Enough comedy is thrown in to lighten the serious ideas being explored.

Highly recommended.