“Gort! Klaatu Barada Nikto!”

“Gort! Klaatu Barada Nikto!”

Just for fun, here is a rare production shot from the 1951 classic ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’. Peeking out of the forty pound Gort costume is 7′ 7″ Joseph “Lock” Martin. Before the film rolls, wardrobe will add his visor and gloves. Martin could only handle a half hour at a time in the suit because of it’s weight and inflexibility. There were two versions of it…the one he is wearing here has the lace up on the back for front shots, the other laced up the front for back shots.

Principal photography for the movie was done on the 20th Century Fox sound stages and on its studio backlot, with a second unit shooting background plates and other scenes in Washington DC and at Fort Meade in Maryland. The primary actors never traveled to Washington.

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9 Comments

  1. Terry Drymon June 25, 2014

    from Sarasota fl

  2. Bobby Reyes June 24, 2014

    …when Gort is carrying Patricia Neal to the space ship, you can see black wires holding her up !

  3. Ray Remillard ॐ June 24, 2014

    And he can be yours for just 7 to 10-thousand dollars: http://www.the-robotman.com/

  4. Leon Zetekoff June 23, 2014

    One of the classics

  5. Chuck Muziani June 23, 2014

    peek-a-byew

  6. Mike Clark June 23, 2014

    The five foot (diameter) miniature saucer is on display at Seattle’s Sci-Fi Museum. The black triangle is an access port never seen from the camera angle.

  7. James Clark June 23, 2014

    Pretty cool! Thanks Jay, see ya soon !

  8. Michael Hayne June 23, 2014

    yrs ago I found a color photo from DAY, rare indeed, and I asked Robert Wise if he would autograph it. He did, once he got over the astonishment at seeing the color. Will post it soon.