The Day The Earth Stood Still (DVD)

Despite being made in the 1950s the quality of the photography overcomes what can only be described as pre-historic SFX capability of the times. The setting is Washington during post war tensions between the USA & USSR a theme which is made apparent in the movie. Michael Rennie is wholly convincing as the Alien being of superior moral values sent to convince the people of Earth to stop spreading their internal planetary conflicts.The Aliens fear that our wars may not be contained on Earth. The alien planetary union have created a all powerful robot army to police their Planets. Their awesome power can reduce Earth to ashes. Klaatu arrives in Peace but immediately the fear-ridden yanks can not help themselves and shoot him. Automatically the robot Gort takes action.Klaatu still concious tells Gort to stop and the drama unfolds. Klaatu surprisingly recovers speedily from the gun shot wound and escapes the Military Hospital. Being disappointed with the multi national political response to his invitation to talk, he needed to see for himself whether the Human race was worth salvaging and so takes up residence in a rented room living amongst ordinary suburban people. There he befriends a young boy and his mother. The boy is quite intelligent and shows Klaatu the monuments of Washington and Arlington Cemetery where the boys father was laid to rest.
Klaatu decides to try another tack, to contact the intellects of the planet and give them the altimatum. The boy knows of Professor Barnard who would have the respect and capabitiy to assemble the worlds great intellects without the hurdle of international politics to overcome.
Right thats enough - see the film for yourselves.