Originally unleashed on the general public in 1951, Robert Wise's sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still was certainly a product of its time. As the Atomic Age was beginning, so was a fervent level of paranoia among the general public---and with the Cold War already in full swing, nuclear-fueled conflict between nations seemed more likely than ever. Adapted from Harry Bates' short story "Farewell to the Master", screenwriter Edmund North teamed with Wise and company to create a substantially more down-to-earth sci-fi story than ever before. For the most part, they succeeded on every level...but it's the simple premise that makes this film so enduring and accessible. After all, what better way to fully illustrate global danger than with a visit from an unknown race?

The alien representative is Klaatu (Michael Rennie), a tall and imposing figure with an undoubtedly human appearance. Emerging from his ship as nervous onlookers and armed soldiers stand by, he delivers a message of hope and goodwill. The paranoid public isn't so easily persuaded: Klaatu is shot by a soldier after producing a spiky, hand-held device, but his robotic companion Gort (Lock Martin) quickly disarms the military with a beam-like weapon. After being taken to Walter Reed Army Hospital for recovery and questioning, Klaatu escapes and assumes the alias of "Mr. Carpenter", taking shelter at a local boarding house. Here, he encounters Helen Benson (Patricia Neal) and her son Bobby (Billy Gray), eventually developing something of a friendship with the fatherless family. As the manhunt for Klaatu intensifies, he continues to profess interest in addressing world leaders---but all the military sees is a threat that must be stopped.

Filmed in part to resemble a documentary, the "down-to-earth" appearance of The Day the Earth Stood Still is perhaps its greatest asset. Director Robert Wise wanted to emphasize the story's potential realism; current events being what they were, it couldn't have been difficult for most viewers to make the connection. Peppered with groundbreaking visual effects and a fantastic, theremin-infused score by Bernard Herrmann, there's no doubt that this sci-fi classic boasts a formidable atmosphere. Bold uses of montage give The Day the Earth Stood Still a truly global scope, even though it's more of an insular character study than a sprawling epic.

Despite the obvious biblical parallels to another carpenter, Klaatu is an unique figure indeed: his commanding presence is only intensified by an genuinely optimistic outlook. This thin layer of symbolism makes The Day the Earth Stood Still somewhat heavy-handed at times, but it's an unavoidable problem---and if 1950s audiences can appreciate The Day the Earth Stood Still for its simple strengths, so can new viewers. Today's more cynical culture may attempt to reject such optimism (which may or may not be present in the upcoming remake), but it's hard not to be moved by the film's unwavering climax: Klaatu departs disappointedly, though he's still not ready to give up on the ever-growing human race. This ends The Day the Earth Stood Still on a truly high note: it was undoubtedly a refreshing change of pace for 1950s audiences, and the film's hopeful demeanor still swims against the current today.

Originally released on DVD in 2002 as part of Fox Home Entertainment's "Studio Classics" line, The Day the Earth Stood Still has finally received an upgrade. Though the 2002 release was hardly disappointing---due to a solid technical presentation and a handful of great bonus features---this 2-Disc Special Edition trumps or equals it in just about every department. Arriving in stores just in time for the big-budget remake of the same name, this is anything but a quick cash grab or a shameless double-dip. Simply put, it's a high-quality package with a rock-bottom retail price, easily standing alongside some of the best classic DVD releases of 2008.

Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, The Day the Earth Stood Still looks excellent for its age. The black-and-white image is rich in detail and contrast, boasting deep blacks and natural contrast. Hints of dirt and debris can be seen on occasion, but it's almost impossible to complain overall. The original Fox release was quite good on its own terms; this may be an identical transfer or a minor upgrade at most. If you're really looking for an upgrade, of course, you'll probably opt for the Blu-Ray release.

Though the original Mono track is on board for purists (along with French and Spanish dubs), perhaps this release's most intriguing addition is a new 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix. Overall, it's a fairly tasteful and unobtrusive effort, boasting occasional rear channel activity and a more refined atmosphere. The film's memorable score benefits the most from this "upgrade", as the majority of dialogue is still anchored squarely up front. Optional English and Spanish subtitles, as well as Closed Captions, have been included during the main feature...but none of the bonus material, unfortunately.

NOTE: The "new" Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix from the 2002 Fox release has not been carried over.

On to the new stuff: Disc 1 leads off with a second Audio Commentary, this time featuring music and film historians John Morgan, Steven Smith, William Stromberg and Nicholas Redman. It's a fairly dry session at first but picks up nicely, loaded with plenty of comments about the film's famous soundtrack and its many influences. These four participants obviously seem comfortable with one another and keep things moving quite well. On a related note is an Isolated Score Track, presented in its original mono, which focuses solely on Bernard Herrmann's contributions to the film.

The new extras continue on Disc 1 with a shorter Behind-the-Scenes Documentary (23:52) featuring comments from director Robert Wise, producer Julian Blaustein, actress Patricia Neal, actor Billy Gray and several historians, authors and relatives of Wise. Among other topics, this light but entertaining featurette touches upon the film's casting, production, themes, special effects, music and cultural impact. It's a decent substitute for the missing 80-minute documentary, but die-hard fans may want to keep their old DVDs for posterity.

Next up is "The Mysterious, Melodious Theremin" (5:40, below left), an enjoyable featurette hosted by musician Peter Pringle. The curious instrument's history and operation are briefly outlined and demonstrated, which should entertain even the most casual music fan. On a related note is a Title Performance (2:17) of the film's opening theme by Pringle, who plays the hypnotic song quite feverishly.

"Farewell to the Master" (3 sections, 96:59 total) is a full-length audio reading of Harry Bates' original short story by acclaimed voice actor Jamieson K. Price, divided into separate chapters for easy reference. Disc 1 winds down with the film's Teaser Trailer (1:01), as well as a Theatrical Trailer (1:48) and extended First Look (7:42) at the 2008 remake. The latter plays before the main menu and is not accessible from the list of bonus features.

Disc 2 is home to a number of all-new featurettes and galleries, and is divided as such. Leading things off is "Decoding Klaatu Barada Nikto: Science Fiction as Metaphor", which correctly emphasizes how The Day the Earth Stood Still was a product of its era. From the Red Scare to the Korean War to the relatively new advent of nuclear weapons, it's no wonder why the film preaches non-violence and acceptance of other cultures.

"A Brief History of Flying Saucers" (34:00, above center and right) is next, which provides just that through comments by various authors and historians in the field. Historical facts, footage and hoaxes are briefly touched upon, as well as the public's reaction to various claims over the years. This featurette is plagued by an annoying "transmission break" (meant to imply alien interference, one would assume) which gets old fairly quickly. Still, Roswell enthusiasts should enjoy the show.

Two character studies are also on board, the first of which is "The Astounding Harry Bates" (11:02). This short piece focuses on the author of "Farewell to the Master" and features plenty of comments from friends and colleagues. "Edmund North: The Man Who Made the Earth Stand Still" (14:43) pays tribute to the film's prolific screenwriter. Also included is "Race to Oblivion" (26:41), a documentary short written and produced by North in 1982. Hosted by Burt Lancaster, this call for nuclear disarmament includes several peace-minded speeches and an interview with a Hiroshima survivor. Aside from the headache-inducing opening song, this one's certainly worth a look.

A generous handful of production galleries are still on board from the 2002 release, though a brand-new Interactive Pressbook is new to the fold. It's very detailed and efficiently designed, serving up layers of promotional materials that fans will enjoy browsing.

All bonus features are presented in anamorphic widescreen when appropriate, while the galleries are framed somewhat awkwardly at 1.33:1. No optional subtitles or captions have been included here, unfortunately. In any case, this is a thoroughly exhaustive collection of supplements---and if the earlier documentary and restoration demo would've made the cut, we'd be looking at a perfect score.

Regardless of your feelings for the upcoming remake, there's hardly a sci-fi fan worth their salt who hasn't seen and enjoyed The Day the Earth Stood Still. The film's symbolism might feel quite heavy-handed, but the message it sends is a clear one: in desperate, fearful times, cooler heads should always prevail. Boasting solid performances, a relatively tight pace, groundbreaking special effects and memorable music, Robert Wise's classic still feels as relevant today as it must have 57 years ago. Fox's second DVD release offers improvements in just about every department, especially a handful of new and informative bonus features. With such a careful treatment and a rock-bottom retail price, this 2-Disc Special Edition of The Day the Earth Stood Still is a no-brainer. Highly Recommended.