Inspired by Shakespeare's “The Tempest,” this mid-50s sci-fi thriller was highly influential. It was the first big-budget science fiction film (back when $1.9 million was a big budget), helping to legitimize what had previously been strictly a B-movie genre. You can also see this film's DNA all over the original Star Trek, and Gene Roddenberry has acknowledged the inspiration.
Leslie Nielsen plays the square-jawed Commander Adams, whose spaceship and crew are dispatched to the distant planet Altair IV to find a missing science expedition. On the foreboding, desert planet, they discover the one remaining member of the team, Dr. Morbius, who lives with his planet-born daughter, Altaira, and Robby the Robot. It sounds campy as hell, but they play it straight, and by the time Adams and his crew discover Dr. Morbius's secrets and solve the mystery of the planet's menace, we are treated to some fairly high-concept science-fiction.
“Forbidden Planet” really captures the spirit of the 1950's, selling sex while promoting regressive attitudes towards it. Altaira is a gorgeous 19-year-old who has never seen a man other than her father before. She is naturally interested in all these male visitors, and the feeling is mutual. Commander Adams, by virtue of his superior position, superior height, and superior jawline, forces the other crew members to step aside so he can woo the girl. Altaira runs around in the skimpiest mini-skirts imaginable, but when Adams chastises her for showing off her body, she makes herself some longer, more modest clothes. Fifties audiences got to come away from this film feeling that good, traditional morals were being promoted, after feasting their eyes on Anne Francis's gorgeous legs.
Regressive themes notwithstanding, “Forbidden Planet” is an important film in the science-fiction cannon, and an enjoyable one. It's just campy enough to be fun without undermining the story, and you can see this movie's fingerprints on the genre for decades afterwards. Plus, Anne Francis looks fabulous in those mini-skirts!
3.5 stars out of 5
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