What Happened to FORBIDDEN PLANET?

This and Disney's 1954 "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" are my two "go to" popcorn movies I watch on Saturday nights.

Saw this movie in a theater in Norfolk VA called the Granby. They were a revival art cinema, and they took requests for movies. I put Forbidden Planet, and a month later they showed it! You must see it on the large screen.

I saw Forbidden Planet in 1956 when I was 10 years old. It so moved me that Sci-Fi has been my favorite genre for the rest of my life.

Best insight you gave was that the plot came from the Tempest. Even as a kid watching it with my brothers back in the 60s on Saturday creature features, we realized that the story was a few notches above the usual rubber monster genre. We didn't get a color TV until 1969 and then we could really appreciate it. I would pay money to see this is a big screen theater with decent sound if the opportunity was afforded. Nice backstory you gave here.

Dan, This is one of your best video essays to date. It's obvious how much you love this movie even to the point of throwing shade at a Harryhausen movie like Earth Vs the Flying Saucers. You had some incredible background in this one for sure. And starting by casually dropping that Cinefantastique is coming back!!!! How Cool Is That!

I saw (again) Forbidden Planet at a retro movie theater (gimungous screen, concert volume speakers) during the 1980s and was blown away that it was made the year I was born. The ventilation shaft scene on that huge screen literally made me gasp. I can hardly express how much I love this film, so thank you so much for this vid, Dan.

Dore Schary was the head of MGM Studios at the time Forbidden Planet was made. He really liked the screen play and as the saying goes green lit the picture. When the cost of building sets was exceeding the budget Schary okayed extra funding. He would take time during the day to go and observe the work being done.

How could anyone not love this movie! Way ahead of its time. Robbie told the cart riders to fasten their seat belts. How many cars had seatbelts in those days? Anne Francis' mini-skirts before they were even a thing. Special force fields to handle accelerations and decelerations to and from faster than light speed. The idea of a super-civilization with tremendous power that destroyed itself with a fatal flaw.

You've heard the term "comfort food?" This movie is the equivalent of that. A true classic that never gets old.Thank you Dan!

Truly one of the few movies of that time that would still hold up today

Loved the movie, while released in March of 1956, I was living in Australia and I'm not sure when it was shown here, but I was perhaps 10 or 11 at the time. Watching it today through the eyes of an adult makes it seem like I saw a different movie way back then. My cousin played the part of Gloria in an English production of Return to Forbidden Planet sometime in the 1990's, I was lucky enough to get a VHS copy of it from my Aunt.

I can't believe it's been sixty years since I first saw this film! I was a sci-fi fan at 14 and still rank this movie at number one!

Thank you for doing a “What Happened to…” on Forbidden Planet. Forbidden Planet is one of, if not the best, science fiction movies ever made. I had to honor of meeting Richard Anderson a number of years ago. It was at a nostalgia con in Maryland. Most people were there to see him because of The Six Million Dollar Man. Mr. Anderson was overwhelmed when I asked him to sign my Forbidden Plant poster. I don’t think he was expecting anyone to recognize him for his part in the film. Mr. Anderson talked to me at length about his memories and experiences in making Forbidden Planet. We were talking for so long that his assistants had to interrupt and remind Mr. Anderson that there was a lengthy line. Great memories.

I wish I could give this five thumbs up! Thanks for the news of Cinefantastique and a 4K release of the movie. I first bought this in an anniversary tin on DVD and then blu-ray. Would have loved to have had Criterions' version. The 4K should be incredible if done right!

So much awesomeness about this movie. I always thought that the basic look of the Monster of the Id was a clue as to what the Krell looked like.

Saw the original showing in 1956 as a 6 yr old. Needless to say, it had a really big impact on me! At the time, a cereal maker had a promotional movie ticket on the back of the box. I bugged my mom to go until she finally gave in. Imagine sending your 6 yr old alone to this movie. Don't think my Mom would have appreciated the movie - Ha.

I have the Criterion laserdisc but I also own something I think is rarer - an LP vinyl of the soundtrack autographed by Louis and Bebe Barron. It was offered in limited numbers in the late 70s. The release of the soundtrack was delayed for over 20 years by copyright and definition issues (was it music or not). I also have built an illuminated model of the C57D and several Robbys.

Enjoyed? This review was an outstanding tribute to my fav Sci-Fi epic! I thought I knew Forbidden Planet till I watched this, thank you. A couple of things..being born in 1955 Australia I was too young to see the first cinema release, but did catch it on Sunday afternoon TV in my youth where the Krell monster appearance in the beams was cut (too horrific?). Around 1985 a special cinema showing was the first time I saw the Krell beam scene complete...amazing! Great news on Cinefantastic..I have the first Forbidden Planet edition, never knew that there was a part 2😣, but I did buy "The Saucer Fleet" by Jack Hagerty and Jon Rogers which has some amazing plans and production information you didn't cover. My only criticism of the film was the bad editing and cuts in parts. Why did they remove the scene where the Chiefs personal effects are put into the envelope by Cmdr Adams, yet this led directly into the scene of the Id foot cast which remained in the film and I always wondered (before the book) what happened prior the cast scene due to the bad edit. It also covers unused dialogue in the Krell "furnace" scene, where Morbius can't explain why the machine was built (after talking about the ship coming from deep space), which would have enhanced the film story. Never noticed the Krell monster having Morbius" goatee however, could the rest of the Id form be based on the Krell physical appearance, considering the monster was created by the Krell tech and initial thoughts? Was there any conception art done of the Krell appearance for the film, as was done for the Cruiser, Robey etc? One last thing you omitted was the props that were recycled for the the Eloi Museum (?) in Pal's "The Time Machine". When Rod Taylor walks in there are a couple of recognisable items stored there. Finally, you included a few production stills of the wedding scene, which were never in the completed film, a good decision. Thanks again for this review.

Besides robbie, the animated monster and the cinematography were the outstanding things about this film. It's still great. Good job Dan❤

“When you see the invisible monster, blast it!” “Surely Captain, you can’t be serious.” “I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley!”