Earth Day

.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle .thumbcaption{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow>.thumbcaption{text-align:center}}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner .thumbimage{background-color:inherit}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner .thumbimage:not([style*="background-color"]) span:not(.skin-invert-image):not(.skin-invert):not(.bg-transparent) img,html.skin-theme-clientpref-day .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner .thumbimage:not([style*="background-color"]) span:not(.bg-transparent) img{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner .thumbimage:not([style*="background-color"]) span:not(.skin-invert-image):not(.skin-invert):not(.bg-transparent) img{background-color:white}}Michael Rennie as KlaatuPatricia Neal as Helen BensonBilly Gray as Bobby BensonSam Jaffe as Professor Jacob BarnhardtHugh Marlowe as Tom StevensLock Martin as Gort After a flying saucer lands in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States Army surrounds it with soldiers and tanks. A humanoid in a spacesuit emerges, announcing that he comes "in peace and with good will". While the alien is opening a small metallic device, he is shot and wounded by a nervous soldier. A large robot emerges from the saucer and disintegrates the soldiers' weapons, including tanks. The alien, Klaatu, orders the robot, Gort, to desist. Klaatu explains that the now-broken device was a gift for the President of the United States "to study life on the other planets". Klaatu is taken to Walter Reed Army Hospital for surgery, after which he uses a salve to heal his wound quickly. The Army is unable to open or blast into the saucer. Gort stands outside, silent and unmoving. The President's secretary, Mr. Harley, visits Klaatu, who states that his message must be delivered to all world leaders simultaneously. Harley says this is impossible in the current situation. When Klaatu proposes spending time among ordinary humans to understand better their "unreasoning suspicions and attitudes", Harley rejects the proposal, and Klaatu remains locked in his room. Klaatu escapes and acquires a suit; the laundry ticket on the jacket sleeve says "Maj. Carpenter". He rents a room at a boarding house under that last name. Among the residents are a young widow named Helen Benson and her son Bobby. Helen's boyfriend Tom Stevens becomes jealous of the stranger. Bobby takes Klaatu on a tour of the city, including the Lincoln Memorial and a visit to his father's grave in Arlington National Cemetery. Klaatu learns that most of the dead are soldiers killed in wars. When Klaatu asks Bobby "Who is the greatest living person?", Bobby suggests Professor Barnhardt. They go to his home, but he is away. Peering through a window, Klaatu sees that Barnhardt’s blackboard is covered with equations (an attempt to solve the three-body problem). To "leave a calling card", Klaatu enters and writes the solution on the board, then gives his contact information to the housekeeper. That evening, a government agent escorts Klaatu to Barnhardt. Klaatu tells Barnhardt the people of other planets are concerned about Earth's aggressiveness now that humanity has developed rudimentary atomic power and that if Klaatu's message is ignored, Earth could be "eliminated". Barnhardt agrees to gather scientists from around the world at the saucer; he suggests that Klaatu provide a demonstration of his power beforehand. Unaware that Bobby is following, Klaatu returns to his spaceship. Bobby watches as Gort knocks out two soldiers so Klaatu can reenter the saucer. After running home, Bobby tells Helen, who does not believe him, but Tom is suspicious. The next day, all electrical equipment on Earth ceases to function for 30 minutes, except for essential services. Learning that Bobby followed him the previous night, Klaatu visits Helen at work, reveals his mission, and asks that she not…