A few days ago, I watched the original "The Day The Earth Stood Still" released in 1951. It was quite different from the more recent version starring Keanu Reeves.
In the original, Earth was visited by Klaatu and Gort to tell us that our foray into atomic weapons was dangerous, to us, but will not be tolerated by the other species of the universe who fear we will expand our use of such weapons beyond our own planet.
In the remake, Klaatu fears that we are destroying our home planet, and that given Earth is relatively unique in the universe, it must be saved from us.
In both cases, humanity is threatened with destruction if we don't change our actions.
Interestingly, the original ends with Klaatu, having been killed by man yet revived by his robot, after issueing his warning that should we not change, we will be destroyed, flies off in his ship with that ominous warning ringing in the ears of all who were present.
It is a far less hopeful ending compared to the remake where Klaatu sacrifices himself once he is convinced that humanity is worth saving, is worth being given a second chance.
The other glaring difference in the versions is that the Earth actually stands still in the original. Klaatu is asked to perform some kind of miracle that will demonstrate his power, and he literally stops the flow of energy for thirty minutes. All cars and trains are immobile. Phones don't work. There is a scene where a secretary tells her boss that the phone is out, and he tells her to call the phone company to get if fixed. Not sure if that levity is supposed to indicate the lack of reasoning that humanity has shown to Klaatu, or just the typical attitude of a male boss who expects his woman secretary to provide him with what he requires to conduct business, but regardless, it is a scene of levity that stood out to me, considering the gravity of destruction that Klaatu was trying to convey.
Interestingly, the point is made that energy still flowed in hospitals so that real people did not suffer.
One similarity between the two versions is that in both, a woman is the first to understand the importance of Klaatu's message. I easily believe that this was purposeful in the remake, but have to wonder about the thinking behind those who made the 1951 version when women were not exactly valued for their logic and intelligence. Still, perhaps that was the point. That humanity needed a burst of understanding, perhaps empathy, to counter its headlong path down the sometimes sterile world of technology, and its advancements, for good and bad.
In some ways, I like the original better. We aren't left off the hook like in the remake. We are presented with the choice, and even though the choice is to change or die, it is our choice, and not the choice of Klaatu who stops the destruction of Earth.
Of course, were there any reality to the premise of the original, those who had sent Klaatu would have returned by now. Whether to reward us for not having sent any atomic weapons into space, or to punish us for continuing to build such destructive weapons, and for using the threat of their use against other citizens of our planet is certainly debatable.
I wrote my own version of this concept, a little over three years ago. Here is a link to that story.
https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-universal-guild.html
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By the way, if you google Klaatu, you will find a reference to a Canadian band specifically named after the lead character in "The Day..." Apparently for a hot minute there was speculation that the albums they released were actually recorded by the Beatles as the style was similar, at least to some. Of course, there were many who wished the Beatles would reunite, especially in the 1970's, so it is no wonder that so many fans would respond to rumors and innuendo. In fact, the promoters of the band did not deny such speculation, at least until it was definitely proven otherwise.
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