FORBIDDEN PLANET

"... that is correct, sir... "

One of the most influencial Sci-Fi movies of USA American cinema history (as well as on my own life!), is the 1954 (1956 released) classic FORBIDDEN PLANET, starring Leslie Neilson.

The movie was one of the very first to be shot in colour, and using the widescreen shooting/presentation technique known as PANAVISION.

The premise is simple: on a routine reconnaissance mission, an American spacecraft (captained by Leslie Neilson playing Captain Adams), receives a disturbing hail from a long-forgotten planet, home of human colony long dead. Still wishing to land, at the warnings of lone survivor of Dr. Morbius, captain Adams and crew and greated by Robbie the robot. Soon they meet Dr. Morbius and his daughter, sole survivors of a disaster which occured many years ago, along with an invisible monster, which stalks and kills the members of captain Adams' crew...

Leslie Neilson as Captain Adams !!!

With a huge budget for 1954, MGM took a big chance on Forbidden Planet, and it paid off with much success, and favorable critics. Two elements which suprised and captivated the audience were the film's star, a mechanical robot named Robbie, and the odd musical score (electronic tones) by the duo of Bebe and Carlos Baron. Even with these unconventional elements in a 1950s USA ultra conservative America, FORBIDDEN PLANET went on to become a landmark in the way science fiction films were, and are, being made.

The star of F.P. : ROBBIE THE ROBBOT

ROBBIE arrives on the landing site, greets and invites captain Adams and crew members to meet the infamous Doctor Morbius

Robbie and Doctor Morbius

"The fool! The meddling idiot! ...as though his ape's brain could contain the secrets of the Krell!"

Dr. Morbius introduces Robot the robot.

Captain Adams and his crew are introduced to Dr. Morbius' lovely young daughter

Robbie the robot arrives on the landing scene

Inside the transporter, towards the Krell remains

The remains of the KRELL world...

Robbie and his... master...

Robbie and Dr. Morbius' daughter

MUSIC / ELECTRONIC TONES by CARLOS and BEBE BARON

The music / original soundtrack is what got me intrigued about FORBIDDEN PLANET. All I knew about the film at that point was that it was a 50s sci-fi with a robot that looked like the one in "Lost In Space" (the TV show).

Friends were telling me that I would love the soundtrack because it was so much like the album "Cricklewood" by David Christian.

(David Christian is one of my favorite canadian/quebecois electronic artists, but I had not even yet heard "Cricklewood"!)

Without knowing what each record sounded like, I was intrigued by the comments from people about the odd sounds. So one day I ordered the "FORBIDDEN PLANET" soundtrack on CD and I was instantly hooked! From the opening lion growls (from the MGM opening title sequence)

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