Oakland: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Wednesday, August 9 at 7:30 pm
THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Presented by David Oertel
The Fellowship of Humanity
510-393-5685

In this groundbreaking science fiction film of 1951, Klaatu, an extra-terrestrial ambassador on a peace mission, and his robot, Gort, land in Washington D.C. in their flying saucer. In a panic, troops are sent to the spot and Klaatu is wounded by a nervous soldier. Gort emerges and uses his laserbeam “eye” to melt the weapons right out of soldiers’ hands and to melt even a tank. Klaatu’s arm is treated at Walter Reed hospital. In talks with Earth people, Klaatu dismisses the Cold War that’s consuming Earth as a “petty squabble” but fears its capacity for triggering mass destruction. He explains that politicians, soldiers, and the media are the enemy, squared off against the sane influences of women, children and an Einstein-like scientist. He tries to arrange a meeting with the leaders of the world but they cannot agree on a meeting place, letting pettiness and pride rule them. Klaatu exclaims: “I’m impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it.” This film is a classic because it creates for the first time images that have passed into our national culture.
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/4400/gort/

Before and after the film, everyone’s invited to indulge in our Humanist Coffee House

$5 donations are accepted