A relief ship lands on a colony planet, but only finds a scientist, his daughter, a robot, and the dark secrets of the FORBIDDEN PLANET, landing on 4kUHD & Blu-ray via Arrow this Month.
The Film
Anne Francis stars in… Forbidden Planet! As a Rocky Horror devotee, I had to (RIP Tim Curry). Richard O’Brien’s use of 1956’s Forbidden Planet, directed by Fred M. Wilcox, at the end of the chorus of Rocky Horror’s opening number, Science Fiction Double Feature, is fitting. As that show, and specifically that song, is a love letter to the sci-fi O’Brien grew up with: the first big round of the genre, wowing kids of the 50s (and adults) with fancy new mind-blowing special effects, show what the genre can be capable of. Like any other genre, many were cheapie B-pictures, but a special selection was something truly different, reflecting the scientific advancements and the fears of the day. This Island Earth, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Day the Earth Stood Still (also name-checked by O’Brien), War of the Worlds, and today’s feature, Forbidden Planet, immediately set a precedent for a burgeoning genre as just as thrilling but also smartly written and magnificently designed as the established genre. One can argue these set the standard, not only in creating the bar to be raised as the genre continued to evolve with the times, but also by setting the parody in stone, the reference for later generations. What a great film for Cinema Crazed’s Sci-Fi September, although funny enough, Graylan covered it during last year’s Sci-Fi month! Who will do it next year?
Seventy years later, Forbidden Planet stands the test of time. It legitimately holds up as a thrilling picture, engaging and beautiful, with its use of flashy, bright Eastman Color and Cinemascope (presented here in the correct ratio for the first time on home video). Forbidden Planet shows its power in just how believable and engaging it is, even in what’s clearly artificial. Sure, the sets are clearly in a studio. Yes, the Id monster is obviously animated (with artists borrowed from Disney), Robby the Robot is a guy in a suit, and the labyrinthine underbelly of the planet, designed by long-dead aliens, is a series of beautiful matte paintings. This is not a backhanded compliment but one of love and awe. But dammit, it still doesn’t wow. Robby moves with an ease and utter coolness; one believes he’s the real deal (and seeing him pop up in other sci-fi pictures, including cameo appearances in various Joe Dante flicks, is always a smile). The sense of wonder within the characters translates to the audience.
Forbidden Planet works magnificently because it’s far more than pew pew wars on the stars. It’s a thoughtful meditation on personal power, unchecked choices we make, and all backed by deep sci-fi goodness: levels of scientific jargon that sound plausible, all the bells, whistles, switches, and those ubiquitous flashing console lights. Its’ more thoughtful and fantastical than forces fighting. Credited to Cyril Hume from a story by Irvine Block & Allen Adler, there is one writer left off the credits: William Shakespeare for The Tempest. As strange as Julie Tambor’s take on the title is (or Troma’s #Shakespeare’s Shitstorm), Forbidden Planet does something truly special with how it shifts the Bard’s tale for the science fiction concepts. That basic plot, three pagagraphs in: the crew of a relief ship led by Strong Chinned Leading Man Leslie Neilson, arrive at Altair IV, where another ship landed 20 years ago to create a colony (side note: Forbidden Planet is the first sci-fi to take place solely in space). They’re warned not to land by the sole survivor of the first crew, Dr. Morbius, as played by Walter Pidgeon with a weary humanity, for it is dangerous. They land anyway, meet Dr. Morbius and his daughter, Altaira, played with total sweetness by Anne Francis, and their servant, Robby, The Robot. As the crew begins to be killed by an invisible monster, Dr. Morbius reveals the planet’s secrets. It’s wonderful how Hume shifts the magical and fantastical of The Tempest to the mechanical and scientific of Forbidden Planet.
Heck, it even slides into a horror level, looking at the technical terrors and the possibilities of what might happen with unchecked power. Seen in the dead Krell’s (smartly never seen, just what was left from an unseeable race… is Forbidden Planet a Lovecraft picture?) world and designs, a race dead from their own hubris affecting Dr. Morbius, sliding into his own terrors. And the monster eating the crew.
Those visuals and just the right level of knowing acting come together with a film sense of pacing and power, backed by a truly astounding and different score. By Bebe and Louis Barron and credited by the studio as “electrical tonality,” it’s fully synthetic, the first of its type and astounding, setting a perfect tone.
Forbidden Planet is probably a film you’ve seen at some point if you’re a reader of the site. Preaching to the robotic choir on its greatness. If somehow has missed you, land on it now!
The Packaging
Arrow presents Forbidden Planet in both 4k UHD and Blu-ray, with a second Blu-ray disc in each edition. The disc images feature the iconic background, one with the ship and one with Robby. Both discs fit within the case, matching the choice, with the booklet and a double-sided poster. The poster has the same options as the reversible sleeve: two of the original posters. It has a sleeve with the iconic (and not in the film) art of Robby carrying Anne Francis.
The Presentation
Arrow provides a 4k restoration from the original 35mm negative. For the first time, it’s in the correct aspect ratio in CinemaScope. MMMMM what a look. Filmed to have a beautiful design, even in clear setness, with bright colors, gorgeous matte paintings, and a hell of a visual style. It pops in a way I’ve never seen before, and I’ve seen this film a great deal. Looks as fresh as new, sharp and bright.
Audio sounds wonderful too; as the soundtrack detail would note, it’s an aurally impressive film, and that transfers to this release. Arrow offers the original mono, a restored Perspecta stereo, and 5.1 options. It’s in English with English subtitles available.
The Features
Arrow puts together a nice set of new features – a commentary and interview – to build upon the previous editions, which were pretty darned solid (time for me to retire my DVD; or the 2010 Blu-ray if you had that).
Disc 1: (4k or Blu-ray)
Commentary by Kim Newman and Barry
Newman is always a treat to listen to. And for something like Forbidden Planet, even more so. Energetic with childlike enthusiasm, fitting as they talk to remember watching it as a kid, and I think of others as kids, and they tap into it. But also get into all the creative juice between it, the who’s of the script and the development as the first big-budget sci-fi. Informative, packed, and highly entertaining.
Disc 2 (Blu-Ray)
Unearthly aura (new)
Historian and composer Neil Brand discusses the astounding processes the Barrons employed to create the unique score. Wonderful (24m)
Watch the skies!Science fiction, 1950s, and Us! (archival)
Albeit a bit cheesy (fitting), a look at, as the title shows, sci-fi and the 50s. Talks about all the great films that came out and the whys behind them (nuclear and soviet fears mainly). Mixed in and lending strong credence to what would come from their work are George Lucas, Steven Speilberg, Ridley Scott, and more, including Mark Hamill as narrator. An incredibly informative and engaging piece. (55m)
Amazing! Exploring the far reaches of Forbidden Planet (archival)
The above is more general; though it discussed Forbidden Planet, this set is more specific to the film’s creation and legacy. Nice to hear from Leslie Nielsen, Anne Francis, and Earl Holliman, as well as Joe Dante, William Malone, John Carpenter, and Dennis Muren! Awesome. (27m)
Robby the Robot; Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon (archival)
The same folks as above, but now focused fully on Robby and his “career”. He’s a damned good prop, and I love to see more of him. (14m)
Deleted scenes (archival)
Presented from the workprint (so a little wonky visually), but gives further context in film and appreciated the producers of the features for giving the context in film. (13m)
Lost footage (archival)
Test footage of effects and sets (9m)
Invisible Boy (1957)
A full second film, included in every disc release. The second Robby the Robot movie, thus its inclusion, is a merely okay cheapie. It does feature an early example of Murder Computer. Written by Forbidden Planet’s writer Cyril Hume, and directed by Bad Day at Black Rock’s Herman Hoffman, it’s a silly but fun flick. A boy gets orders from an evil computer his dad works with to create a Robby the Robot, and they become friends, get into antics, and even go to space! And stop the computer, eventually. (89m)
Robot Client, an episode of The Thin Man TV show (1958)
Nick, Nora, and Asta spend the night with a friend who has a new creation. One that might be destructive! An alright diversion. (24m)
MGM Parade Clips (archival)
Two short clips, featuring Walter Pidgeon, advertising Forbidden Planet with a serial presentation. (7m)
Trailers
Forbidden Planet (3.5m)
Invisible Boy (2m)
Image Galleries
Script
112 pages – Awesome! I didn’t read it, but still awesome!
Posers and lobby cards
51, Along with the standard advertisements, it’s interesting how other cultures take the already wrong image from the famous poster and go even wronger.
Black and white promo stills
173, including an awesome look at the costume designs
Color promo stills
17 stills
Booklet
The 44-page bound booklet contains the normal and the following: 1) Planets Fatal, and Forbidden: Shakespeare, Freud, and Cybernetic Music by Frank Collins is a lengthy and highly researched comment on the penth of influences upon the fil,m along with how the script shifted over time; 2) It Promotes Rust: the Making of Forbidden Planet by Johnny Mains is just that, very detailed and fascinating, getting into details the video features did not; 3) Facts about Stereophonic Sounds by Bob Furmanek is a collection of contemporary articles and notes of the sound process. A nice look back.
Final Thoughts
Forbidden Planet was awesome and awe inspiring in 1956. Seventy years later, it’s still awesome and awe inspiring. A sharp script, awesome sci-fi sensibilites, and iconic from start to finish, Forbidden Planet remains an early high bar for Sci-fi on film. Arrow gives a eye-popping transfer, and all the old features and some new ones. You are not forbidden to land at our local physical media store to great this 4k (or Blu-ray).