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Half sheet movie poster for the 1956 science fiction classic
Forbidden Planet, a landmark film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Directed by Fred M. Wilcox, the movie is famously recognized as a loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Tempest set in outer space.
Movie Plot and Cast
The story follows Commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen) and his crew as they travel to the distant planet Altair IV in the 23rd century. Their mission is to investigate the fate of an expedition that vanished 20 years earlier. Upon arrival, they find only two survivors: the reclusive scientist Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his daughter, Altaira (Anne Francis). As the crew stays on the planet, they encounter a terrifying "invisible monster" that is linked to the advanced technology of a lost alien civilization known as the Krell.
Robby the Robot
The poster prominently features Robby the Robot, one of the most iconic characters in science fiction history.
Design: Robby was designed by Robert Kinoshita and built by the MGM prop department at a then-enormous cost of approximately $125,000.
Personality: Unlike many earlier movie robots, Robby was a fully realized character with a distinct, often dry-witted personality and followed programming similar to Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics.
Poster vs. Film: Interestingly, the poster's depiction of Robby as a menacing creature carrying an unconscious woman is considered highly misleading; in the film, he is a benevolent and helpful assistant who never performs such an act.
Performance: The physical suit was operated by uncredited stuntman Frankie Darro, while his voice was provided by Marvin Miller.
Cinematic Legacy
Firsts: It was the first science fiction film to depict humans traveling in a faster-than-light starship of their own creation and the first to be set entirely on another planet far from Earth.
Music: The film featured the first-ever entirely electronic musical score, composed by Bebe and Louis Barron.
Awards: The special effects team was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
Preservation: In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry for its cultural and historical significance. |
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