This week we look at a science fiction classic and a big influence on the development of Star Trek. We’re talking about the movie Forbidden Planet.
It’s the story of a United Planets cruiser following up on a lost colony expedition to a far away world. There the young captain is faced with a mystery. The leader of the lost expedition very much wants to be left alone.
This is not the plot to the “Man Trap,” “Requiem for Methuselah” or even “This Side of Paradise.” It is actually the plot to the 1956 film Forbidden Planet. This was one of Gene Roddenberry’s favorite films and is a major influence on the creation of Star Trek.
The Actors of Forbidden Planet
Let’s start with the actor who played Morbius, Walter Pidgeon. His credits go back to 1926 and he worked through 1978. He’s best known for his role in How Green was My Valley in 1941 and Mrs. Miniver the following year.
Classic TV fans should recognize Jack Kelly. He played Lt. Farman but is better known for his co-starring role with James Garner in the show Maverick. He played Bart, and Garner played his cousin Brett from 1957 to 1962. Kelly worked in TV through 1991.
There’s a couple of other familiar faces for 70s TV fans. The first is Earl Holliman who played Cookie. Holliman would appear in Giant later in 1956 with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean and Dennis Hopper.
But TV fans know him as Lt. Bill Crowley in Police Woman with Angie Dickinson. His last acting credit was in 2000.
There’s also a famous actor who co-starred in a 70s Sci-Fi show that was a huge hit. Richard Anderson played Oscar Goldman in the Six Million Dollar Man for five seasons. But in 1956, he played communications Chief Quinn in Forbidden Planet.
Of course, we can’t forget Leslie Nielsen who played Commander Adam, the ship’s captain. He’s best known for his role as Lt. Frank Drummond in Police Squad and the Naked Gun movies. But it was as Dr. Rumack in Airplane that his comedic career really began in 1980. His career experienced a rebirth with that movie. He had been trying to have a serious acting career since 1950 when he decided to do comedy and appear in Airplane. It was a natural for his comedic talents.
Finally, one of the actors from Forbidden Planet has a direct tie with Star Trek. Warren Stevens played Lt. Ostrow, or Doc Ostrow. But 12 years later in 1968, Stevens played Rojan in the episode “By any Other Name.”
The Story
The United Planets Cruiser C57D is ordered to investigate an earlier expedition that had landed on Altair 4. When they arrive in orbit, Dr. Morbius, the last survivor of that expedition, tries to warn them away. Commander Adam, following orders, takes the ship down to the surface.
There they are greeted by a robot, Robbie, who takes them to see Morbius. Morbius eventually admits to them that he has been studying an ancient race called the Krell. That race had constructed an incredibly huge power generation system that would do away with the need of any kind of machines or devices. The Krell simply thought it, and what they wanted would appear.
We also learn there is some kind of invisible, energy monster that has killed several crew members. Years ago, this same monster had killed all the members of the first expedition except Morbius. When the captain and Morbius’ daughter admit they are in love, the monster comes after them while at Morbius’ home.
Commander Adam puts the puzzle pieces together and realizes that the monster is really the subconscious of Morbius, come to life by the ancient Krell power system. Knowing this, they are able to end the monster’s reign of terror, but Morbius will die because of it. Commander Adam and Morbius’ daughter escape along with the rest of the crew of Cruiser C57D.
The last shot of the film shows the ship passing the camera and growing smaller as it heads to its next mission.
As you watch Forbidden Planet today, it feels like Star Trek. The young captain, the girl with whom he falls in love, and a mystery that only he can solve. With the last shot of the film being the cruiser heading out into space for more adventures, the influence of this film is clear. After all, that’s how the majority of Trek episodes ended.
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