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The 1950s, as a decade, was tumultuous in its own way, and that never appeared in cinema more strongly than in the science fiction and horror films of that time! With that in mind, we offer, for your listening pleasure, a pairing of films from those years which are more than they seem! First up, from 1951, a film that speaks to American's concern about the impact of the growing reliance on atomic power, both as an energy source and in our weapons. Directed by Robert Wise, in 1951's "The Day the Earth Stood Still," a visitor from outer space descends on Washington DC, and from it steps a figure who identifies himself as Klaatu (Michael Rennie). He is accompanied by a giant robot named Gort (Lock Martin), and informs those gathered that he will speak his mission only to the assembled leaders of all the nations of earth. After a misunderstanding which results in Klaatu being shot and captured, he escapes to wander among the people of the city. He meets Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) and her son Bobby (Billy Gray), and Helen's boyfriend Tom Stevens (Hugh Marlowe), and takes a room in their boarding house. After he and Bobby try to get in to see noted scientis Professor Jacob Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), Klaatu reveals himself to Helen and the two of them go on-the-run to try to return Klaatu to his ship before Gort destroys the earth! A film with societal angst fairly seeping through every line, it sends a message of worry for the future of humanity through an entertaining look at first contact!
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