Is this a b-film?

[flackbait]

just wondering what you guys/gals think.
And just for clarification I think this was to big of a production for it to achieve B-film status.

[Scott]

Thats a good question. I'd say "yes" because it just seems like most Sci-Fi back then was B-material. Except maybe THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL and INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS.

[flackbait]

But unlike most b-films the storyline was actually pretty serious and half way believeable. The effects could be considered laughable now but it was top notch then I think.

[Scott]

I'm sure your correct Flackbait that FORBIDDEN PLANET was a top notch Sci-Fi film. Guess we had to be there.

By the way welcome to the forum Flackbait.

[flackbait]

Thanks for the welcome, But I never saw this film in theateres I'm only 18. In fact my parents weren't even born when this came out.
But i'm 99.9% certain that these were the best special effects for 1956

[flackbait]

Just to add to my post. I looked at IMDb and this baby got an oscar nomination. So this might not be a b-film.

[Scott]

The production values were much better than most. Most here speak highly of FORBIDDEN PLANET. I just never got much out of this film. Nice sets.

[KYGOTC]

I would catogorize it as a "Si-fi cult classic". KInd of the same thing as the original War of the Worlds. Somewhat Lame quality for today, mucho awsome back then. But I think it can still be enjoyed as a b movie.

[Scott]

I wouldn't mind taking a look at this film again sometime.

[flackbait]

Ya might be able to catch it on Turner Classic movies. On rare occasions they show some 50-60s sci-fi flicks.

[Menard]

I would have difficulty quantifying Forbidden Planet as a b-movie. When it came out, it was an A-list film with high production values, which in and of itself some would say disqualifies it as a B-movie. Add to that, though, a serious storyline, quality acting, and a well crafted end result, and you have several elements which collectively fly in the face of being a B-movie.

Some may look upon some things in the film as perhaps silly by today's take on science-fiction, and even science, but it was a quality A-list film when it was released, and time does not change that.

[peter johnson]

Absolutely NOT in any way a "B" production --
Lots of money spent on effects, stars, film, etc.

I recently played Theremin for a presentation of Melies' "The Conquest of The Pole"
Afterwards, a man came up to me and introduced himself as the son of Louis and Bebe Barron, who did all the original electronics for the movie.
Apparently, in 1956, you weren't allowed to call an electronic music score "music", due to Union rules, so they're listed as "electronic sound effects" or some such, instead of brillian musicians.
He had never seen a Theremin before, despite my saying "Oh, I'm sure you've seen a lot of this!" -- Theremins were considered too primitive by 1956 to do credible electronic music(!!), so I was the first person he'd ever seen play one, despite the fact that his parents were Grand Pioneers of the genre.
Go figure . . .
No, "Forbidden Planet", aka Shakespeare's "The Tempest" In Outer Space, is a magnificent "A" picture for 1956 -- Nothing "B" in any way about it.
peter b/denny c

[Oldskool138]

I wouldn't mind taking a look at this film again sometime.

I've got the HD DVD version.  The colors leap off the screen and the special effects still hold up to this day.

****Spoiler*****(I guess)

I still get chills when the Id monster is trapped in the force field.  The sound effects and the buildup to that moment make the movie for me.

And the Krell power generators beneath the planet still look cool and also look like they might actually work.

****Spoilers End****

Check out the HD DVD or the recent DVD re-release!  Lots of cool extras and great picture quality.

[ulthar]

I watched FORBIDDEN PLANET a few months ago (Netflix DVD version) and have to agree with Oldskool.  I DO NOT think the fx have softened with time.  This is a solid film in everyway.  If I had to give it one bad mark by TODAY'S standards, it is slowly paced.  I think modern audiences born and bred on the MTV style would find it slow and boring.

One thing I really liked about it was the military dialog between Captain and crew.  Man, they hit the essence of Navy-talk right on, from what I could tell.

FP is sci-fi in the purest sense, not the facsimile of what passes for sci-fi these days.

[Oldskool138]

One thing I really liked about it was the military dialog between Captain and crew.  Man, they hit the essence of Navy-talk right on, from what I could tell.

FP is sci-fi in the purest sense, not the facsimile of what passes for sci-fi these days.

As a Navy vet, I can tell you that the faux-naval terminology is pretty spot on.  It sets the stage for Star Trek's use of that same type of language (Plus, the three main characters are the Captain, First Mate and Doctor...sound familiar?).  A Bo'sun is in usually third in command and runs a lot of the day-to-day shipboard operations...like setting rigging up or unloading equipment.  Even the NJP (or Captain's Mast as we called it) is pretty realistic.  Navy cooks even to this day are the people you go to for "contraband" like booze while underway or extra food.  If you want it a cook can usually get it.