A flying saucer lands in Washington D.C. From it emerges a giant robot and Michael Rennie. He wishes to speak with the leaders of the earth, all of them, but that is impossible, So he escapes and makes his way to a boarding house, where he can learn about humans.

It's a great cast, including Patricia Neal and Sam Jaffe as the smartest man in the world Like all serious science fiction movies, it has an Important Message. Unlike many of them, it never disguises that this movie is about its message, about the need to learn to live together in peace. Robert Wise, that great generalist of a director, does his usual impeccable job. While seventy years later it may seem stentorian and naive, it is those two two qualities that make it still worth watching.

After seeing the horrendous remake of this film, it made me go back to the original. This is a movie with a great message, and while it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, it has a human message. What makes it differ is that perhaps the response to power as significant as this first wave force may be tempered by a hesitation to destroy. Also, the aliens are benevolent and confident. Klatu is there to save the Earth and its people, not to make it a new central park for his future generations. Gort is an enforcer, but never acts unless provoked. It isn't that there is no cynicism in this film. Obviously, when threatened, the military types want to respond with carnage. Once it is established that this is of no use in a huge demonstration of power (done in the most "humanitarian" way. Michael Rennie has some personality, despite his bewilderment as a stranger in a strange land.. Patricia Neal is really caught in unfamiliar territory, but does a very good job in her role. This is an early treasure of the sci fi genre.

A very very small number of 50s sci-fi films are truly perfect films and this is one of them--along with INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS. Not only does this have wonderful production values and acting, but the story itself transcends the "bug-eyed monster" aspect of sci-fi and is metaphorical because it provides ample material we can apply to our own lives today. The aliens in this case are not mindless destroyers, beings intent on inseminating our women or out to do us serious harm--but they are also far from perfect themselves and I like this about the movie.

Michael Rennie ("Klaatu") lands on the Mall in Washington, DC. And, humans being distrustful and stupid, take a friendly gesture on his part as an act of aggression and shoot him! Later, after escaping and hiding out among the humans to recuperate, Klaatu returns to warn humans to shape up or face annihilation by his planet because they are afraid of how dangerous humans are now that we have the bomb! Frankly, I think the writers of the film have good points--people ARE stupid and we came pretty darn close to destroying ourselves in the 1950s. Insightful, intelligent and with lasting appeal.