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With its spectacular special effects, elaborate sets,
captivating matte paintings, all electronic music score and
Shakespearian-inspired characters, Forbidden
Planet (1956) is truly a
groundbreaking science fiction film. Borrowing elements from The
Tempest, the movie takes place far in the future on a
distant planet,
where the quest for knowledge becomes deadly.
Early
in the 23rd Century, United Planets Cruiser C-57D lands on the planet
Altair IV, 16 light-years from Earth. The crew's mission is to discover
what happened to the Bellerophon expedition, which was sent out two
decades earlier.
On Altair IV, they find the lone surviving member of
that expedition, Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), along with his
beautiful 19-year-old daughter Altaira (Ann e Francis), who was born on
the planet, and Robby the Robot (played by himself).
Morbius tells of an ancient race called the Krell, which
was wiped out eons ago by a mysterious force. They left behind an
incredible machine that is 400 square-miles in size and powered by
9,200 thermo-nuclear reactors.
Led my Commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen), the crew
explores the planet as they strive to unlock the secrets of the
super-sized energy generator along with a deadly mind-expanding
machine. But then a sinister monster starts killing the crewmembers,
and Dr. Morbius discovers the tragic truth that could destroy them all.
Catch a ride on the
flying saucer back
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