History of Science Fiction Cinema: 1951: The Year Worlds Collided and the Earth Stood Still

A year after the decade that would become known as the heyday of sci-fi cinema, started out with a rocketing bang, moviehouses across the nation were spaceship happy.  But, unlike 1950, when the biggest sci-fi films of the year showcased we Earthlings heading for the stars, 1951 brought those aliens down to our planet - and not always in the "we come in peace" mode.

Two of my favourite sci-fi films of the decade, fit into this category- with only one of them being the aforementioned "we come in peace" variety.

Arguably the most famous of these alien films, is The Day the Earth Stood Still.


This classic of the genre was directed by Robert Wise and stars Michael Rennie as the alien missionary, Klaatu.  Any Rocky Horror fan worth their salt, surely knows the opening line "Michael Rennie was ill, the day the Earth stood still." 

Anyway, to swerve from one nerdy aside back to an equally nerdy main line, the story of The Day the Earth Stood Still, is simple.


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