Forbidden Planet’s Enduring Impact Part 2

In case we haven’t already convinced you of Forbidden Planet’s enduring legacy, the team here are Lightins is back with more! This is the second part of a two part post, so be sure to read the previous post so that you don’t miss out on all the interesting facts! Moving right along, let’s talk about Forbidden Planet’s cast.

While Walter Pidgeon was Academy Award Nominated and Anne Francis later won a Golden Globe, we thought we’d highlight the fact that Forbidden Planet marked only the second film appearance for future comedy legend Leslie Nielsen! Nielsen himself once summed up Forbidden Planet’s legacy quite well:

"Supposedly a science-fiction version of Shakespeare's The Tempest, it was all about the id, or something like that. Who knows? The Trekkies today regard it as the forerunner of Star Trek. I just had to wear a tight uniform and make eyes at Anne Francis. I was pretty thin back then.”

But of course, Nielsen didn’t carry the film on his own, and it’s well worth mentioning another one of his co-stars, Robby the Robot. Yes, Forbidden Planet was one of the first to portray a robot as more than just a tin can on legs. Robbie himself made numerous appearances on other films and shows, and he’s been used as an archetype of sorts for countless other robots.

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Forbidden Planet’s Enduring Impact

You may not think much of 1950s sci-fi films. The effects were laughable by today’s standards, the budgets of the time were chump change compared to most major box office breakouts of the modern day, and oftentimes even the acting left much to be desired. But this wasn’t always the case, especially when it comes to the 1956 film Forbidden Planet. Rather than bring you a Lightins review, however, the team thought we’d highlight just a few aspects of the film’s enduring legacy. This is part one of a two part post, so be sure to read the follow up!

First and foremost, it’s worth mentioning the film’s unofficial legacy. While Forbidden Planet was profitable, and relatively well received by critics, nobody ever expected it to turn into a cultural phenomenon, and it didn’t. That said, through the lens of time, Forbidden Planet has come to be considered as one of the greatest science fiction films of the 1950s, and is considered by many as the precursor of modern sci-fi, particularly in relation to such shows as Star Trek.

Also notable, but not official, is the fact that many consider Forbidden Planet to be a successful sci-fi adaptation of Shakespeare. In fact, Forbidden Planet shares many similarities to the play’s storyline, characters, and isolated setting.

Still not convinced? Don’t worry, we’ll have more to wow you with next time.

Looking for the galaxy’s #1 library? Look no further! Visit our online library at Lightins for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.