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A lot of young science-fiction fans think that the genre began with Star Trek and Star Wars. However, the 1950’s produced a vast array of classics that defined the form and created the bedrock that all later efforts would build on. One of the most important sci-fi films to emerge from this era was 1956’s Forbidden Planet.

Forbidden Planet was a landmark film for many reasons. Not only was it the first big-budget science fiction film, but long before 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars, this was the yardstick that all cinematic science fiction was judged by. Its dazzling look and high-tech special effects were unprecedented for its time.

MGM pulled out all the stops for the film, allowing its film makers to spend two years in production and even borrowing visual effects specialists from Walt Disney to realize the film’s otherworldly look. The result was a film whose visuals defined the style of science fiction films for years to come.

The film also benefited from a tight script that balanced thrills, humor and a sense of wonder in equal measure. The film’s ‘crew-on-a-mission’ plot would be borrowed by other sci-fi films and television shows in the years since its release, especially Star Trek.

Another unique aspect of the film is the musical score, by Louis and Bebe Barron. Taking over a full year to compose, the Forbidden Planet soundtrack was the first-ever all-electronic film score. The appeal of Forbidden Planet was further sealed by the many familiar faces gracing its cast. Character actor Walter Pidgeon, a veteran of films like How Green Was My Valley, turned in a memorably menacing performance as the brilliant but driven Morbius. Anne Francis, who would later become known as television’s Honey West, lent the film a great deal of eye candy as alluring Altaira. Leslie Nielsen made a good square-jawed leading man in his pre-Naked Gun days, and his crew featured Richard Anderson, who would later become Oscar Goldman on The Six Million Dollar Man. The film also scored serious cool points for introducing sci-fi icon Robby the Robot, who would later appear in The Invisible Boy and two episodes of The Twilight Zone

Forbidden Planet became a big hit when it was released, making several million dollars and earning an Oscar nomination for its revolutionary special effects. It was also successfully reissued in later years, becoming a staple of children’s matinees and late-night television. Today, it is considered to be an enduring classic of science-fiction cinema whose influence remains as potent as ever. For proof of this, one need look no further than films like Star Wars, Alien and Event Horizon, all of which have borrowed story elements from Forbidden Planet. This enduring influence shows that the magic of Forbidden Planet will live on for many years to come.

This film mixed solid, science-inspired storytelling with mind-blowing, innovative visual effects to create a classic whose influence is still felt today. Forbidden Planet borrowed its premise from a classic source: William Shakespeare's"The Tempest."

"Forbidden Planet was the best Sci Fi movie of the 1950's and is still one of the best four or five Sci Fi moves ever made. It has inspired such movies as Star Trek, Star Wars and Alien. If there had been no Forbidden Planet, there may never have been Star Trek, Star Wars, Alien, Close Encounters, or 2001"-source of Quote unknown.

In my option Forbidden Planet is one the best Sci Fi movies ever. It ranks up there with and even surpasses War of The Worlds, The Day The Earth Stood Still and yes even Star Wars. As I said if you're really a Sci Fi buff this is a must have for your collection.

If you have never seen this movie, I hope after you explore my Web Site, you will rent a copy and see for yourself why I say it is the greatest Sci Fi Movie of all time. If you have seen it I hope you appreciate my attemps at doing this movie justice.