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Long before Star Trek and Star Wars, the 1950’s produced an array of science fiction classics that would define the genre and help it become one of the most enduring types of storytelling. And of these, 1956's Forbidden Planet was one of the most important early science fiction films, whose influence would be felt in sci-fi movies up to the present day.

 

With a premise borrowed from William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Forbidden Planet begins on a expedition ship helmed by Commander John J. Adams. The ship is on it’s way to Altair-4, a distant planet where a group of colonists were sent over twenty years ago. Adams and his crew discover all but two of the colonists have been killed in a deadly monster attack. Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira are the only survivors.

 

It’s Adams’ mission to take Dr. Morbius and Altaira home, but Morbius isn’t keen on leaving. He’s discovered amazing new technology left behind on the planet by the previous inhabitants, the Krell, who lived on Altair-4 thousands of years ago. The Krell had mysteriously destroyed themselves overnight, but not before creating a powerful computer that can increase a man’s brain ability to unforeseen heights. Morbius has already used this machine to create a computerized servant for himself, Robby the Robot.

 

But Adams insists they leave immediately, and Morbius is angry that their presence there will anger the monster that killed the other colonists. In addition, Altaira, who’s never met other humans before, falls in love with Commander Adams. When a crew member is mysteriously killed by an unknown creature, Adams discovers the terrible secret of Altair-4, and embarks on a thrilling escape.

 

Forbidden Planet’s high-tech special effects made it a landmark film against which other films of it’s genre were later to be judged. It was the first big budget science fiction movie, and MGM spent an amazing two years in production, and borrowed special effects gurus from Disney to help create the film’s unique look. The excellent script combined thrills, wonder, and a sense of humor in spades, and the “crew on a mission” storyline would influence other films and franchises like Star Trek for years to come. The music score was unique as well – composed by Louis and Bebe Barron, it took a full year to write, and was the first ever all-electronic soundtrack.

 

The film also boasted a talented cast. Walter Pidgeon, the character actor who appeared in films like How Green Was My Valley, was the brilliant but menacing Morbius. His daughter was played by the lovely Anne Francis, who would later become TV’s Honey West. Before he became known as the guy from the Naked Gun movies, Leslie Nielsen portrayed leading man Adams, and Richard Anderson, later to become Oscar Goldman on The Six Million Dollar Man, was a member of the crew. And Robby the Robot would become a star in his own right, subsequently appearing in The Invisible Boy and two episodes of The Twilight Zone.

 

Forbidden Planet became a big hit, and earned an Oscar nomination for special effects. As it was reissued over the years, it became a regular feature of children’s matinees and late night television. It’s influence continues to be felt in modern sci-fi movies like Alien and Event Horizon, where the crew is always going back to find out just what happened on that mysterious planet.