Forbidden Planet, released in 1956, is a landmark science fiction film that helped define the genre and inspired countless movies and TV shows in the decades that followed. Directed by Fred M. Wilcox and starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, and Leslie Nielsen, the movie tells the story of a starship crew investigating the disappearance of a colony on a distant planet. What they discover is a world of advanced alien technology, a brilliant but troubled scientist, his innocent daughter, and an invisible monster born from the darkest depths of the human psyche.
The Plot
The movie opens in the 23rd century, as the United Planets Cruiser C-57D arrives at the planet Altair IV to investigate the fate of an expedition sent there 20 years earlier. The crew, led by Commander John J. Adams (Nielsen), is warned away from landing by Dr. Edward Morbius (Pidgeon), the sole survivor of the original mission. Morbius lives on the planet with his daughter Altaira (Francis) and their remarkable robot servant Robby.
Undeterred, Adams and his men land and begin to unravel the planet’s mysteries. Morbius reveals that the rest of the expedition was killed by an unknown force, and shows the Earthmen the vast underground machine complex left behind by the planet’s long-dead inhabitants, the Krell. The Krell had reached a level of technological and intellectual development far beyond humanity’s, but were destroyed in a single night, seemingly by their own advanced technology.
As Adams and Altaira begin to fall in love, the invisible force that destroyed the Krell and the original expedition returns, attacking the ship and killing several crewmen. In the climax, it’s revealed that the monster is actually a physical manifestation of Morbius’ own long-repressed anger and jealousy, brought to life by the Krell technology. Morbius sacrifices himself to destroy the planetary machines, and the crew escapes back to Earth.
Groundbreaking Special Effects
Forbidden Planet featured cutting-edge special effects that were unparalleled at the time. The movie’s iconic flying saucer, the C-57D, was a highly detailed and believable miniature created by MGM’s effects team. The massive Krell underground complex and its flashing lights and spinning gauges set a new standard for futuristic sets.
Most memorably, the movie introduced Robby the Robot, a 7-foot-tall suit with moving parts, flashing lights, and a distinct personality. Robby, with his lumbering gait and sly wit, was an instant hit with audiences and became an iconic symbol of 1950s science fiction. The movie’s invisible monster was also brought to life through innovative animation effects, with Disney artist Joshua Meador creating the shimmering outlines that suggested the creature’s form.
An Electronic Soundscape
Forbidden Planet was the first mainstream film to feature an entirely electronic soundtrack. Composers Louis and Bebe Barron created unearthly tonalities and soundscapes using electronic circuits and tape manipulation, marking a radical departure from traditional orchestral scores. Although the Barrons were credited with “electronic tonalities” rather than music due to union rules at the time, their landmark score paved the way for later electronic music and remains chillingly effective today.
Shakespearean Roots
The movie’s screenplay, by Cyril Hume, was a futuristic adaptation of Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. Many of the film’s characters have direct analogues in Shakespeare: the exiled Dr. Morbius as Prospero, his innocent daughter Altaira as Miranda, the helpful Robby as the sprite Ariel, and the monster of the id as the brutish Caliban. Commander Adams and his crew parallel the shipwrecked sailors in the play. These Shakespearean underpinnings lend the film a literary heft unusual for 1950s science fiction.
Psychological Depth
Beyond its sci-fi trappings, Forbidden Planet was one of the first genre films to grapple seriously with Freudian psychology. The movie’s “monsters from the id” concept posits that the Krell were destroyed by their own base subconscious desires, given form and destructive power by their technology. Morbius, the Prospero-like genius, similarly dooms himself by intellectual overreach, inadvertently summoning his own darkest impulses in the form of the deadly creature.
This cautionary theme, of reason and technology undone by primal human nature, resonated with contemporary audiences living under the shadow of nuclear annihilation. It has remained a relevant warning even as our technological prowess grows. The movie’s psychological subtext adds a layer of depth and universality to its fantastical plot.
A Lasting Legacy
Forbidden Planet’s imaginative sci-fi concepts, intelligent script, and serious tone set it apart from the monster movies and alien invasion films that dominated the genre in the 1950s. It pioneered ideas like human space exploration, faster-than-light travel, advanced robotics, and alien civilizations that would become staples of the genre.
The movie’s look and feel, from its sleek hardware to its eerie planetary vistas, influenced the design of countless later sci-fi films and TV shows. Gene Roddenberry cited the film as a major inspiration for Star Trek, and Robby the Robot himself cameoed in many movies and shows over the decades. Modern filmmakers like George Lucas, James Cameron, and J.J. Abrams have all acknowledged their debt to Forbidden Planet.
Summary
Over six decades after its release, Forbidden Planet remains a classic of science fiction cinema. Its groundbreaking effects, electronic score, and serious tone elevated the genre and created a template for adult science fiction that endures to this day. But beyond its technical and artistic innovations, the film is a compelling character study and morality tale, warning us of the dangers posed by our own inner demons in a world of ever-advancing technology. Forbidden Planet is a landmark movie that still has the power to thrill and provoke audiences in the 21st century.
