Forbidden Planet

This one-sheet was created for MGM’s early 1970s re-release of Forbidden Planet, the landmark 1956 science-fiction film directed by Fred M. Wilcox. Issued as part of MGM’s Children’s Matinees program, the poster takes a much simpler approach than the famous 1956 campaign, replacing the original Robby the Robot imagery with a ringed planet against a deep blue field of stars. Forbidden Planet was a major step forward for science-fiction filmmaking. It was the first major Hollywood production set entirely on another planet, and its ambitious depiction of space exploration helped establish a visual and storytelling language later seen in Star Trek and countless other science-fiction films and television series. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the film also brought an unusual degree of literary and psychological depth to a genre still largely associated with lower-budget B movies. The film was equally groundbreaking behind the scenes. Louis and Bebe Barron created its entirely electronic soundtrack, credited as “electronic tonalities,” years before electronic music became commonplace in Hollywood. This poster comes from a later chapter in the film’s history. The G-rating box dates the release to after the introduction of the MPAA rating system in 1968, while the MGM Children’s Matinees banner reflects a period when studios regularly brought older films back to theaters for new generations of moviegoers. Before VHS and home video, theatrical re-releases were one of the primary ways audiences could rediscover classic films. Size: 41.0" x 27.0" Condition: Very Good, Age-appropriate wear, fading and toning. Original fold lines as issued. Wear along folds. Creasing near top of center fold. General border wear. Please use the photo zoom feature to get a better understanding of overall condition. *Additional photos available upon request.