Forbidden Planet: This is What We Humans Call … KISSING!

25th September, 2009.

You know, every so often — more and more frequently, it seems, recently — I’ll have a quietly potless Friday, where I have to stay in. And if there’s nowt on telly, I’ll quietly dig up something from my DVD collection.

I’m glad I did, actually.

~≈†≈~

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the influential 1956 film, Forbidden Planet.

Maybe ‘influential’ isn’t the word: although, saying that, I do know that that Gene Roddenberry cited Forbidden Planet as a key influence on the original series of Star Trek.

Beyond that … ?

Hmmm …

I do know that Forbidden Planet generally considered iconic.

After all, Robby the Robot is still the exemplar of robot behaviour, many years after the films original release; as is the flying saucer used by the crew.

You know, it suddenly occurs, I’m just wondering whether James Cameron, director of Aliens, had seen this.

I mean, hideous monsters, a friendly robot, a bunch of gung-ho interstellar soldiers …

I think he might have done.

I’m blowed if I’ll ever find out, though, unless he decides to leave a comment!

But one thing I’m told, though, is that Forbidden Planet is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Although I must admit, the only version of the latter that I’ve seen is Peter Greenaway’s Prospero’s Books. Which is a feast for the eyes, certainly, but does make the Bard’s most complex work tricky to follow.

But even I can spot the parallels, I think.

Prospero is replaced by Morbius, Commander Adams — about the only time I can recall seeing Leslie Nielsen in a straight rôle — is the Forbidden Planet parallel to Prospero’s brother.

Altaira/Miranda; yeah, didn’t see that … !

And whilst I don’t know that the monstrous Caliburn is a close match to the Id Monster, the iconic Robby is a straight SF interpretation of Arial.

Girdles around the world, an’ all that!

Now I think about it I am also thinking that the Krell machinery is a very nice combination of Prospero’s magical powers and Sycorax, the one unseen character in The Tempest, and mother to the malevolent Caliburn*.

There’s probably more in there, that — with my limited knowledge of Shakespeare — wouldn’t be able to spot or tell you about: but I would encourage you to have a quiet word with an old friend of mine, Sean, who’s over on Facebook.   And far more clued up on the Bard than I ever was.

~≈†≈~

Now, I’m not going to start telling you Forbidden Planet is a ‘must seen’ film.

I do think that those of us with a taste for science fiction should see it.

I think Forbidden Planet stands the test of time, shows us how the genre used to be done, before Star Wars turned up.   And how space opera can teach about Shakespeare … AND reinterpret the Bard’s word for today.

Even if Forbidden Planet is some fifty or more years old.

It’s still worth watching.

And makes me wonder if any planned remake will be able to match the icon that it is.

I doubt it, somehow.

Forbidden Planet.
★★★★

*  Remember I mentioned the Peter Greenaway take on The Tempest? His version of Caliburn is … striking.   And horribly deformed …