Friday, June 23, 2023, 7:30 p.m., Dryden Theatre
Image
Forbidden Planet (1956)
(Fred M. Wilcox, US 1956, 98 min., 35mm)
In this loose sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero becomes Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), who rules the planet Altair IV along with his daughter, Altaira (Anne Francis), and their mechanical Caliban, Robby the Robot. When a United Planets rescue team lands, a battle of wits ensues between Morbius and the rescue team’s commander (a young, straight-faced Leslie Nielsen). The colorful CinemaScope landscapes and the electronic score of Bebe and Louis Barron make this a treat for the eyes and the ears.