(1956) Classic if somewhat corny sci-fi cinema, directed by Fred McLeod Wilcox and screenplay of sci-Freudianism by Cyril Hume (from a story by Irving Block and Allen Adler), is a futuristic take on Shakespeare's The Tempest with the first-ever electronic-tonalities soundtrack by Bebe and Louis Barron.

In the 23rd century a spacecraft, under the command of J.J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen), on a mission from Earth to rescue the crew of the Belerephon, who have not been heard from in nearly 20 years, arrives on the fourth planet of the planetary system Altair. After being warned to turn back by Dr Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), a specialist in linguistics and the sole survivor of the Belerephon, the astronauts nevertheless land in their saucer-shaped ship to be welcomed by Robby the Robot, incapable of harming rational beings.

Taken to Dr Morbius's residence, Cmdr Adams, Lt Jerry Farman (Jack Kelly, who would become Bret's brother Bart in TV's Maverick), and Lt "Doc" Ostrow (Warren Stevens) also make acquaintance with the philologist's lovely daughter Altaira (Anne Francis), who has never before seen males other than her father.

Dr Morbius explains how an invisible, implacable force on the planet killed his fellow crewmen, leaving only himself and a woman who became his wife (later dying of natural causes); he says that he and Alta are immune, not having since been bothered by the terrible force since the extinction of the others.

Jerry's initial efforts at romancing Alta fall flat: she reports no feelings of stimulation from his kisses. Comically Cookie (Earl Holliman) gets Robby, who can analyze any substance - including food and clothing - to reproduce it through his synthesizer, to manufacture 60 gallons of bourbon.

Eventually Dr Morbius reveals to the three officers the secret behind his high-tech existence: the wonders - "Aladdin's lamp in a physics laboratory," as Doc describes what they witnesses - are intact remnants of an incredibly advanced civilization of the Krell, who lived on Altair-4 for 2,000 centuries before their annihilation 2,000 years ago. After demonstrating how he has doubled his brain power with a training device, Dr Morbius confesses he still has no comprehension of what power undermined the Krell.

When Cmdr Adams announces that the technology containing the Krell knowledge base, enclosed within a 20-mile-cube machine, must be appropriated by United Planet for the advancement of all humanity, Dr Morbius resists sacrificing his discovery, insisting that it must remain solely under his control, for he is answerable only to his own conscience and judgment. Suddenly - "It's started again," says Dr Morbius by premonition or ultimatum - the enormously powerful force returns, threatening everyone.

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Copyright © 2010 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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