Forbidden Planet

( 19 )

Overview

MGM's first big-budget science fiction film, Forbidden Planet, combined state-of-the-art special effects with a storyline based on Shakespeare's The Tempest. In the 23rd century, Cmdr. J.J. Adams Leslie Nielsen guides United Planets cruiser C-57-D on a rescue mission to faraway planet Altair-4. Twenty years earlier, Earth ship Bellerophon disappeared while en route to Altair-4. Only the ship's philologist, Dr. Morbius Walter Pidgeon, survived; in the intervening decades, Morbius has created an Edenlike world of ...
See more details below
This VHS (Remastered) is Not Available through BN.com
See All Options

More About This Product

Overview

MGM's first big-budget science fiction film, Forbidden Planet, combined state-of-the-art special effects with a storyline based on Shakespeare's The Tempest. In the 23rd century, Cmdr. J.J. Adams Leslie Nielsen guides United Planets cruiser C-57-D on a rescue mission to faraway planet Altair-4. Twenty years earlier, Earth ship Bellerophon disappeared while en route to Altair-4. Only the ship's philologist, Dr. Morbius Walter Pidgeon, survived; in the intervening decades, Morbius has created an Edenlike world of his own, for the benefit of himself and his nubile young daughter, Altaira Anne Francis. His private paradise is zealously guarded by Robby the Robot, a piece of technology far in advance of anything on Earth. When Adams and his crew land on Altair-4, Morbius announces that he has no intention of being rescued and returned to Earth. When Adams attempts to contact home base, he finds that his radio equipment has been smashed by some unseen force. Holding Morbius responsible, Adams confronts the scientist, who decides to tell all. At one time, according to Morbius, Altair-4 was populated by the Krel, a wise, intellectually superior race. Using leftover Krel technology, Morbius has doubled his intellect and gained the ability to shape a new world to his own specifications. Forbidden Planet was a big influence on future sci-fi outer-space efforts, especially Star Trek.
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse
You remember this one: Intrepid astronauts led by Commander John J. Adams Leslie Nielsen visit the far-off planet known as Altair-4, where the seemingly idyllic lifestyle enjoyed by reclusive scientist Dr. Edward Morbius Walter Pidgeon and his futuristic glam-girl daughter, Altaira Morbius Anne Francis, is suddenly threatened by the inexplicable rampages of an invisible monster. Few science-fiction films from the '50s remain as popular as this space-opera adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest, although we're not sure we agree with the assertion made in one of this deluxe edition’s new documentaries, claiming that Forbidden Planet was the genre's most important pre-Star Wars movie. That appraisal comes from one of the many influential filmmakers who sing Planet's praises in "Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet." They include directors Joe Dante, John Landis, and John Carpenter, who are joined by special-effects wizards John Dykstra and Dennis Muren, several film historians, and surviving cast members Leslie Nielsen, Anne Francis, Earl Holliman, and Warren Stevens. Warner excels in the production of special features, and the studio has pulled out all the stops once again, coming up with material that was either believed lost or was just plain forgotten, including test footage from special-effects sequences and lighting comparisons of the various sets. Other featurettes include "Watch the Skies," a Turner Classic Movies documentary on sci-fi films of the '50s, and "Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon." Robby stars as well in two 1958 extras: "The Invisible Boy," a feature; and "Robot Client," an episode from the Thin Man TV series.
All Movie Guide - Bruce Eder
At the time Forbidden Planet came along, science fiction hadn't existed for all that long as a movie genre, having really only established itself after World War II as distinct from horror films and movie serials. And there had been some serious science fiction films made up to that time -- most notably, Robert Wise's The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). But science fiction was still considered primarily a genre that appealed to children, centered on action and adventure, without undue plot complexities or character relationships. Forbidden Planet changed all that, without sacrificing a genuine sense of wonder and other elements that juvenile audiences could enjoy. At the time, people mostly noticed the special effects, perhaps the best ever done up to that time and for many years beyond; it was the first movie that could convince viewers, moment to moment, that they were out in space or on some alien planet. Forbidden Planet's real importance, however, lay in respecting its audience, including the kids, enough to steep its plot in psychology and to make some statements about human nature that were pretty strong stuff in the midst of the Cold War, with both sides detonating H-bomb tests on a regular basis. The movie walks an even more precarious tightrope with its subplot about nubile Anne Francis' relationship with her father and the officers of the starship that has just landed in their two-person paradise. The plot was adapted from William Shakespeare's The Tempest, which flabbergasted (and distressed) some critics but helped draw a new, more serious viewer to this kind of movie. Forbidden Planet was so good, in fact, that it proved an impossible act to follow, and no one tried for almost a decade. But its influence trails out for a half-century beyond: Gene Roddenberry drew most of his ideas about the crew, officers (and their personal relationships), and setting of Star Trek from Forbidden Planet's script and set designs, and George Lucas' funny androids (not to mention Lost in Space's helpful robot servant) have their origins in Forbidden Planet's Robby the Robot. And one can only guess at what luck Stanley Kubrick might've had getting financing for 2001: A Space Odyssey, especially out of MGM, had it not been for the precedent of Forbidden Planet.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/18/2000
  • UPC: 012569505933
  • Original Release: 1956

    • Rating:

  • Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
  • Presentation: Remastered
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Walter Pidgeon Dr. Edward Morbius
Anne Francis Alta Morbius
Leslie Nielsen Commander John J. Adams
Warren Stevens Lt. "Doc" Ostrow
Jack Kelly Lt. Farman
Richard Anderson Chief Quinn
Earl Holliman Cook
George Wallace Bosun
Bob Dix Grey
Jimmy Thompson Youngerford
James Drury Joe Strong
Harry Harvey Jr. Randall
Roger McGee Lindstrom
Peter Miller Moran
Morgan Jones Nichols
Richard Grant Silvers
James Best Crewman
William Boyett Crewman
Frankie Darro Robby the Robot
Marvin Miller Voice Only
Robby the Robot
Les Tremayne Voice Only
Technical Credits
Fred Wilcox Director
Allen Adler Original Story
Bebe Barron Score Composer
Louis Barron Score Composer
Irving A. Block Original Story
George Folsey Cinematographer
Cedric Gibbons Art Director
Arnold A. Gillespie Special Effects
Cyril Hume Screenwriter
Hugh Hunt Set Decoration/Design
Arthur Lonergan Art Director
Joshua Meador Special Effects
Nicholas Nayfack Producer
Warren Newcombe Special Effects
Walter Plunkett Costumes/Costume Designer
George Rhein Asst. Director
Irving G. Ries Special Effects
Helen Rose Costumes/Costume Designer
William J. Tuttle Makeup
Ferris Webster Editor
Edwin B. Willis Set Decoration/Design
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 19 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(14)

4 Star

(3)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(1)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 19 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A SCI-FI masterpiece

    This is clasic SCI-FI movie that all will love.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    What a movie!!!

    This movie is probably the best movie of its time. The music is very strange, but the acting and special efects were excelent for a movie from the mid 50s! I espicially loved the way they desinged the monster, it looked extremely menacing!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    50 YEARS OLD, AND STILL A CLASSIC

    A MUST SEE FOR SCI FI FANS. DONE BEFORE ALL THE 'SPECIAL EFFECTS' THAT MAKE TODAYS HO-HUM MOVIES ACCEPTABLE. THE STORY IS VERY GOOD, THE ACTORS, ACCEPTABLE, MADE BEFORE SPUTNIK, AND STILL AN ALL TIME FAVORITE

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    The best sci-fi movie...EVER.

    This movie was superbly done with great acting, story, and effects...(for it's time). This film won an Oscar for it's effects (and it deserved it.)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    THE sci-fi space classic

    Robbie was not rebuilt or altered for ''Lost In Space'' tv show as stated above. Afterwords, he was featured in the MGM movie ''The Invisible Boy'' and many tv shows that were shot on soundstages that MGM rented out, like ''Twilight Zone.'' He was sold to ''World of Wheels'' in the 60's. His lest featured apearence was in ''Gremlins'' where he can be heard reciting some lines from ''Forbidden Planet.''

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Sci Fi Classic

    By far the best movie of its type for the time. The robot is awesome. The sound effects still scare me 40 years after I first saw it. Intellectually stimulating. Movie story line is very well done. Good vs. evil epic. A real masterpiece.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Thinking Person's Science Fiction

    Beautifully-shot film with special effects and mattes by the Disney Studios (the Id Monster in particular is an incredible rendering). Forbidden Planet is also a film of many ''firsts:'' First time that electonic ''ray guns'' in movies used ''glowing plasma'' shots. First entirely- electronic movie sountrack - sounds were created on a Theremin (same instrument used to make the ''swoopy sounds'' in Beachboy's ''Good Vibrations.''). First time that Robbie the Robot appears in a movie; Robbie was later recycled for use in other sci-fi movies, and rebuilt/altered for use in the TV series, ''Lost in Space.'' Also, the controls used by Dr. Morbius to set-off the timed destruction of the planet must have influenced the designers of similar self- destruct controls in ''Silent Running,'' ''Alien,'' ''Star Trek'' and other movies. However, the most important thing is that the movie addressed serious themes; it was not just a special effects thriller. Not until ''2001 A Space Odyssey'' would science fiction filmaking again seek to explore intellectual themes.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Very Influential Movie

    Acting is below average, music is Terrible, BUT the special effects were very good for the time. Pre-empted Star Wars with prologue text disappearing upward into infinity. Costumes and spaceship interior must have influenced Star Trek and many other SF movies and TV series. Worth watching!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great movie don't miss it

    The scariest and best part is where the scientist is forced to confront and deal with the ''Id monster.'' Lot better than ''Spehere'' or ''Event Horizon''.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 29, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 29, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 10, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 26, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 8, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 2, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 4, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 3, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 5, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 30, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 19 Customer Reviews