I can well remember when I was first beginning to assemble something akin to a VHS collection of classic sci-fi movies, one that was difficult to locate was Forbidden Planet. This atmospheric taught jewel of the movie was not found cheaply in the early 80's by any means. I had a mail-order catalog once which priced a single VHS copy of the film at fifty bucks. That's in 80's dollars no less. So needless to say it wasn't until many years later when I found a copy for a mere twenty bucks that I landed one.
Much of the movie seems quaint today, but it's somber tone and complete atmosphere of weird alienation make it a keeper. And of course there is Robby the Robot, arguably the absolute icon of 50's sci-fi.
Here we see a version of Robby by Bill Woggon for the final issue of Katy Keene. It's not really Robby of course, but it's so very very close that we all get the idea. Speaking of Robby check out this link to get your very own Robby for a cool $32,000 no less.
Innovation Comics adapted Forbidden planet in the 90's and this lovely cover by Daerick Gross Sr. captures the essence of the original poster exceedingly well.
This later rendering by an unknown artist is less effective overall, but still quite fetching. A strong image will win out.
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Forbidden Planet is a real sci-fi classic and I love the scene where we see the ancient alien machinery going miles down below the surface, the special effects hold up quite well I think. I haven't seen it for quite a while but I don't remember Robby holding any girl like that - it makes him look quite menacing and gives a false impression of the movie. I'm surprised he wasn't shown on the rampage and firing lasers from his eyes like Gort on the movie poster of The Day The Earth Stood Still. In the UK we've got a chain of specialist comics shops called Forbidden Planet named in honour of this classic movie.
ReplyDeleteI visit the Forbidden Planet store website all the time. FP is a movie which has a wonderful sci-fi veneer to it, classic space fantasy.
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To be fair, Gort does fire a laser several times from his visor...at troops, and the wall of the jail where Klattu's body was placed.
ReplyDeleteThe only person Robbie carries in FP is Doc Ostrow...and he's not as cute as Altaira!
Altaira is exceedingly cute! That she is.
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True. Just watched my copy last night. My favorite science fiction movie that I remember scaring the crap out of me when I saw it first on late night TV on New Years Eve when I was oh 11. That invisible monster from the Id...brrrr.
ReplyDeleteI never saw until I was older, so I lack the potent emotional connection. That can make a movie work better than the sum of its parts.
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