FORBIDDEN PLANET (1956) Id's out to get you

The ship's crew, gadgets and overall look and feel of FORBIDDEN PLANET may remind you of "Star Trek" in the '60s. This ground, er, space-breaking film is based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” – with a mad (as in pissed off) scientist, his virginal daughter, a robot, and an “ID Monster” standing in for Prospero, Miranda, Arial and Caliban, respectively. A "United Earth" spaceship lands on a planet populated by only two humans, Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon) and his hormone-eous daughter Altaira (Ann Frances). Much action ensues, and finally, in a rush of either paternal protectiveness or incestuous jealousy, Morbius lets loose his primal ID rage in the form of a huge, roaring cartoony lion thing to exterminate the visitors – in particular, the ship’s captain (Leslie Neilsen). Seems he's developed a big thing for daddy’s little girl, and pop is none too happy about it. Pretty racy stuff for the ‘50s, but the film’s sci-fi-ness provided a bit of censorship proofing, as it did later for "Star Trek." The acting in FORBIDDEN PLANET is scene chewing, but the special effects (except for the "Id Beast" are fine, and the action is never dull.