Day the Earth Stood Still, The (DVD)

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Audio:

Two English audio soundtracks are provided for "The Day the Earth Stood Still" as well as some foreign language support. The original English mono mix is included in the form of a Dolby Digital 1.0 soundtrack and a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is thrown in for good measure. The new multi-channel surround mix does provide a little bleed to the rear channels for the early show of military power and for the musical score that is highlighted with the Theremin. The .1 LFE channel is typically silent throughout the film and is not too heavily used. High ends tend to be a little shrill, but are clean. For a film where the big moment is comprised of the world´s electricity being turned off, there is not much beyond music and dialogue for the soundtracks to reproduce. Thankfully, dialogue is very clear. Spanish and French mono mixes are also included as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.

Extras:

The first disc contains a number of bonus features. Upon booting the disc, a Sneak Preview of the New Film (7:49) is a long trailer for the forthcoming Keanu Reeves remake of this classic. I still shudder at the thought of the remake, but as I stated in my review of this original film, Reeves might be a good pick for the lead role. I´ll wait to see it before final judgment. There were things I both liked and did not like during the preview. Aside from the preview, the disc contains one stand alone feature on the first menu page. The Making of The Day the Earth Stood Still (23:52) features film historians and others talking about the legacy of the film and what went into bringing the short story to the big screen. This is a nice little retrospective look at the film and its legacy.

Selecting "more" delivers up seven more bonus items for your viewing pleasure. The Mysterious Melodious Theremin (5:40) looks at the early electronic musical device that creates the spooky music heard throughout the film. This was interesting and I´ve always wondered about that style of music. I want one. The Day the Earth Stood Still Main Title Live Performance by Peter Pringle (2:17) shows Pringle use the Theremin he talked about in the previous feature. Farewell to the Master: A Reading by Jameson K. Price (41:29) is an audio reading of the short story in which the film was based. It is broken into three chapters and is a unique and interesting supplement. Fox Movietonews (1951) (6:22) is a news clip that would have been shown in theaters during the time when "The Day the Earth Stood Still" was shown in theaters. I´d love to have a DVD of these news clips. The film´s Teaser Trailer, Theatrical Trailer and The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) Trailer closes out the special features on the first DVD.

The alternate audio tracks are contained on the disc. The first is a Commentary by Director Robert Wise & Nicholas Meyer Meyer is the director of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and serves as an interviewer as he leads Robert Wise through the commentary with some very good questions. As Wise died three years ago, this is not a new commentary, but recorded from an interview some time ago. It is still a very nice listen and Wise has a lot to say about his film and his own theories on film. The Commentary by Film & Music Historians John Morgan, Steven Smith, William Stromberg & Nick Redman is the second commentary track was recorded for this release and has four men sitting down together talking about the film, what they know about the production of the picture and the legacy of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." This is a detail heavy commentary that is for those that truly love the picture and I guarantee you´ll take something from this commentary after listening to it. The Isolated Score Track featuring Bernard Herrmann´s music is also included.

The second DVD of the 2-disc set features a collection of all new materials. The boot menu of the disc allows the viewer to select either Featurettes or Galleries. Six Galleries are contained on this disc. The Interactive Pressbook, Advertising Gallery, Behind-the-Scenes Gallery, Portrait Gallery, Production Gallery, Spaceship Construction Blueprints and the Shooting Script can be navigated using the remote. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the shooting script. The Decoding "Klaatu Barada Niktu": Science Fiction as Metaphor (16:14) looks at the political tensions of the times and the relations between Russia and the United States and how this related to the themes in "The Day the Earth Stood Still." This is a nice statement about the film and reminds me of what it was like to grow up during the Cold War. A Brief History of Flying Saucers (34:02) should excite those who believe in UFOs and any fans of the "X-Files" with some very good information on purported UFO sightings. Whether or not you believe aliens have visited us, this is an interesting feature.

After the features surrounding themes of the film, the second disc focuses on the writers behind the story. The Astounding Harry Bates (11:03) is a brief look at the author whose short story became "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Edmund North: The Man Who Made the Earth Stand Still (14:44) moves past the author of the short story and looks at the person responsible for the film´s screenplay. Finally, Race to Oblivion: A Documentary Short Written & Produced by Edmund North (25:42) is a public service announcement about nuclear disarmament created by the director and starring Burt Lancaster. This is very vintage and roughly preserved, but is a true artifact of the Cold War and provides more hints at the anti-war nature of the film´s screenwriter.

Closing:

I admit to having never seen "The Day the Earth Stood Still" before reviewing this 2-Disc DVD release. My interest in the classic film was sparked by a theatrical trailer for the forthcoming Keanu Reeves remake that tackles global warming instead of global war. The jury has yet to be chosen for that remake, but after watching and greatly enjoying the Robert Wise directed original, I have some anticipation for the new film and think that Reeves could work in the lead role. The new DVD release contains many hours of bonus materials and some commentary tracks that are worth listening to. The video and audio are pretty good, but they are limited by the fact this is a 1951 film that was originally shot in 1.33:1 black and white and recorded with a mono soundtrack. This is a very quality DVD release for such a classic film and worth investing in before heading out to see the new version of this science fiction landmark film. I really should have made a concerted effort to see this film years ago, but I am happy that I have finally done so.

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