Gort (The Day the Earth Stood Still)
| Gort | |
|---|---|
| The Day the Earth Stood Still character | |
 Gort firing beam weapon. | |
| First appearance | "Farewell to the Master" |
| Portrayed by | Lock Martin (1951) Computer Animated Character (CAC) (2008) |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Humanoid Robot |
Gort is a fictional humanoid robot in the 1951 American science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still and its 2008 remake.
In the original short story "Farewell to the Master", on which the two films are based, the character was called Gnut.
1951 depiction
The eight-foot metal robot accompanies Klaatu, a visitor to Earth from a distant planet, aboard a flying saucer. He does not speak, but uses a laserlike weapon projected from beneath a visor to vaporize weapons and obstacles. Klaatu describes him as oneof an interstellar police force, holding irrevocable powers to "preserve the peace" by destroying any aggressor. [1]
The character was based loosely on Gnut, of "Farewell to the Master", a 1940 short story by Harry Bates, used as the basis for Edmund H. North's screenplay, in which Gnut is an animated green statue apparently attendant upon Klaatu, but identified, in the terminus of the story, as the eponymous 'master'.
On screen Gort is a large "seamless" robot apparently constructed from a single piece of "flexible metal". He was portrayed by 7'-7" (231 cm)-tall actor Lock Martin wearing a thick foam-rubber suit designed and built by Addison Hehr. Two suits were created, fastened alternately from the front or back so that the robot could appear seamless on either side. Another fiberglass statue of Gort was used for close-ups of him firing his beam weapon or when the scene did not call for him to move. To maximize the height of the robot, the costume was made with lifts in the boots and designed so that the figure's helmet stands nearly a foot above Martin's head. Prisms were employed so that Martin could see through the costume's visor, and air holes were provided under the robot's chin.
During most of the film, Gort remains motionless in front of the saucer, which rests on the National Mall in central Washington D. C., while scientists and military researchers examine him. At one point Klaatu communicates with him using signals from a flashlight. He also responds to spoken commands, including the famous line "Klaatu barada nikto", spoken by Patricia Neal's character toward the end of the film.
2008 depiction
Gort is an all-CGI effect in the remake. Like the earlier version, he does not speak and shoots deadly beams from his single eye. He is significantly taller in this version: about twenty-eight feet. The name is only used once, as an acronym for "Genetically Organized Robotic Technology", assigned to the robot by the military and scientists.
In this rendition, GORT is a vast swarm of "microscopic insect-like devices that self-replicate through the consumption of matter and energy, capable of disintegrating any substance they touch. In addition to this mode of attack, GORT still possesses his trademark eye-beam to destroy obstacles, and can also manipulate attacking fighter drones by hacking into their electronic systems. He is neutralized by Klaatu at the end of the film with a massive EMP that also shuts down all of humanity's electrical technology.
Unlike the 1951 version, the newer GORT robot has 5 digits on each hand, instead of the mitten-style hands of the earlier figure. His feet, however, have no digits. Features such as the cuffs, belt, visor, and boots are gone and this version of GORT has a more simplistic surface design, though this appears to "move" in close-up due to his composition.
Comparing 1951 and 2008 performances
Owen Gleiberman writes that "Gort isn't so lovey-dovey" in the remake; rather, "he's like a super-tall, obsidian Oscar statue wreaking havoc."[2] At the insistence of Keanu Reeves,[3] the phrase "Klaatu barada nikto" was included in the remake (Keanu says the words when Gort reacts to his shooting, though the words are very distorted).
Cultural references
- A life size replica of the 1951 Gort is on display at the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle.[4]
- A photo of Gort, with Ringo Starr (as Klaatu), appears on the cover of Starr's 1974 Goodnight Vienna album.
- In episode 3 of Freaks and Geeks, Sam dresses as Gort for Halloween.
- In Futurama season 6 episode 9 Professor Farnsworth is tried in the 'Superior Gort' for 'crimes against science'.
- On The Simpsons season 8 episode The Springfield Files, Gort appears in an FBI lineup along with other famous movie/T.V aliens, which also included Marvin the Martian, Alf, Chewbacca and either Kang or Kodos.
- Experimental pop artist Eric Millikin created a large mosaic portrait of Billy out of Halloween candy and spiders as part of his "Totally Sweet" series in 2013.[5][6]
See also
Sources
- ^ North, Edmund H. (1951-02-21). "The Day the Earth Stood Still". Original Script. ScifiScripts.com. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (2008-12-10). "Review of 'The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Cindy White (November 17, 2008). "On Set: Day The Earth Stood Still". Sci Fi Wire. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
- ^ Mitchel, Gary (2005-10-18). "The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame". RevolutionSF.com. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
- ^ Burkart, Gregory. "Get a Taste of Eric Millikin's Totally Sweet Candy Monster Mosaics". FEARnet. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ Millikin, Eric. "Eric Millikin's totally sweet Halloween candy monster portraits". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 9 November 2013.