Forbidden Planet

Usually, on these twenty-first century trips to distant planets, there is one guy who can account for everything up to a certain point. Then when even he becomes amazed the picture ends. "I don't believe it," he mutters, "it must be some strange force, probably..."On the Forbidden Planet, this character is Walter Pidgeon (Dr. Morbius), but the reason he, too, succumbs to fantasy is an understandable one: he simply cannot believe any Freudian theory.

From the moment the Earth's inverted flying lamp-shade lands on this planet, Altair 4, and its crew have settled themselves ("Wotta place! Just another one of those new planets--no beer, no women, no pool parlor"), Dr. Morbius, a twenty-year resident, begins his fatal battle of the Super Ego versus Id. Although he professes to be a gallant humanitarian at the outset, by the end of the picture we are convinced that he is a person just like ourselves: an intelligent egomaniac who wants only one thing in life--to have his own little planet.

Meanwhile, to delay the audience's realization of this main plot and to create the feeling of outer outer space, there are stereophonic sound effects to echo the dialogue. It usually sounds as though the man behind you is whistling in your ear. By far the most believable of unbelievable settings treats any physics major's imagination, and Robbie the Robot, who can produce 60 gallons of Kansas City Bourbon in one sitting, amuses everyone with his radio announcer's accent.

Also included are: one invisible fiery monster whose footprints are "incredibly large," the usual green sky, two moons, and the beautiful craggy countryside. In the big love affair between the space ship's captain and the scientis's daughter, Anne Francis is successfully taught the secret of the Earth people's popularity: they kiss well. Thus the picture again proves the tale of outer space: the forbidden planet is Hollywood.