Forbidden Planet

Work Title: Forbidden Planet
Medium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 1956
Writer(s): Allen Adler
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Cyril Hume
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

from imdb.com When Adams and his crew are sent to investigate the silence from a planet inhabited by scientists, he finds all but two have died. Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira have somehow survived a hideous monster which roams the planet. Unknown to Adams, Morbius has made a discovery, and has no intention of sharing it (or his daughter!) with anyone. Summary written by Rob Hartill

Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

Space travel is normal. there are colonies on planets other than earth.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Robby the Robot
  • Description of the technology: Robby is a smart servent and bodyguard robot. He is over 7 feet tall, walks on 2 legs, has features resembling those on a face. he is silver na dmade of a metal substance. He is clearly a robot, yet considered one of the family, sort of like a butler. He speaks in a monotone voice, very masculine. He asks questions and learns. He can replicate any food once he has analyzed it (tasted it). He is subservient and helpful. He exemplifies Isaac Asimov's 3 laws of robots.
  • Nature of task or activity: Robby is the household cook, seamstress, bodyguard, car, and general helper. People interact with him when they need him to perform a task.
  • Performance of the Technology: very well.
  • Description of creator(s): Dr. Morbius, a white scientists in his 60s. He is by training a lingust, very eccentric, claims to have an IQ over 180.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): as a household help.
  • Description of users of technology: Dr. Morbius and his beautiful, young, white daughter. The astronauts who come to investigate, who are all handsome white men, average age 24.6 years.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: social_presence
  • Description of presence experience: very nice. Robby will perform any task asked of him. Sometimes people are incredulous at how well he functions.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: yes.
  • Valence of experience: enjoy it.
  • Specific responses: sometimes people are afraid at first, but then they like robby. he helps people and provides information.
Long-term consequences:

its a bittersweet ending. Dr. Morbius and several crew members die, but the daughter winds up presumably marrying Leslie Nelison and escaping the planet. Robby never breaks and in fact, joins the crew in escaping the planet.

Other:

Robby has appeared in several films and tv episodes. He's famous.

Coder name: Amanda Scheiner
Coder email: amandags@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple Unversity