Movie of the Week

 

The Day the Earth Stood Still, directed by Robert Wise. 1951

You might get the idea that every movie I like has to do with nuclear catastrophe. I do have a penchant for apocalyptic cinema, but the fact that this film is as much a product of Cold War paranoia as Kiss Me Deadly (last week's pick) is semi-coincidental.

Directed with flourish by Robert Wise -- the same guy who brought us The Sound of Music -- Earth is packed with incredible details, from fantastic warbly futuristic music, care of master composer Bernard Herrmann, to the aesthetic triumph of robot Gort (he's no Tin Man), to a young Patricia Neal in one of her earliest performances.

Yes, it's dated. Yes, it's preachy. But it also somehow seems relevant. Personally, I wouldn't mind an alien life form landing in Washington and knocking some sense into Dubya. Klaatu barada nikto to you! (If you want to know what that means, rent the movie.)