'From Out Of Space...
A Warning And An Ultimatum'

An alien (Klaatu) with his mighty robot (Gort) land their spacecraft on cold war Earth just after the end of World War II. They bring an important message for the planet which Klaatu wishes to tell to representatives of all nations. However, communication turns out to be difficult so, after learning something of the natives, Klaatu decides on an alternative approach...

Herrmann is probably best known for his collaborations with directors Orson Wells ("Citizen Kane", "The Magnificent Ambersons") and Alfred Hitchcock ("Psycho", "North by Northwest", "Vertigo").

Herrmann believed that there was no particular reason a film composer should have to stick to a conventional orchestra. For "The Day The Earth Stood Still," he collected together a truly strange ensemble, including four pianos, four harps, brass, an electric violin, electric bass, and two high and low theremins. The unearthly whine of the theremin ensures that this music still sounds creepy today, four decades after it was written. This score is perhaps one of the pinnacles of '50's sci-fi music.

Herrman enlisted two thereminists for this project - Dr. Samuel Hoffman, and Paul Shure.

The Day The Earth Stood Still - 1951

Day the Earth Stood Still, The - 1951 Produced by Julian Blaustein .... producer Original music by Bernard Herrmann Cinematography by Leo Tover Film Editing by William Reynolds (II) Runtime: 92 Country: USA Language: English Color: Black and White Sound Mix: Western Electric Sound System Certification: Finland:K-12 / USA:G Directed by Robert Wise Writing credits Harry Bates (story Farewell to the Master) Edmund H. North Cast (in credits order) Michael Rennie .... Klaatu Patricia Neal .... Helen Benson Hugh Marlowe .... Tom Stevens Sam Jaffe (I) .... Professor Jacob Barnhardt Billy Gray (I) .... Bobby Benson Frances Bavier .... Mrs. Barley Lock Martin .... Gort Other crew Dr. Samuel Herrick .... technical advisor (uncredited) Dr. Samuel Hoffman .... musician: theremin Charles Le Maire .... wardrobe director Bert Leeds .... second unit direction (uncredited) Paul Shure .... musician: theremin (uncredited) The Day The Earth Stood Still: 20th Century Fox Film Scores - The Classic Series [SOUNDTRACK] Bernard Herrmann, CD released November 9, 1993 Buy on Amazon Theatrical Release Date: September 28, 1951 Black & White Buy on Amazon FIND OUT MORE Theatrical Release Date: September 28, 1951 Edition Details: • Region 1 encoding (US and Canada only) DVD not currently available

Recommended

Last Modified:2004-06-09 1708 Reads