Remake of 'The Day The Earth Stood Still'

[Rennie]

Cheating here a bit: (US movie, and Britmovie), but it has a sorta link with Michael Rennie, who was British by birth!!



I have seen a trailer of the remake which looks like yet another computer enhanced waste of time. Gort, however, looks interesting.



I thought I had heard a rumour that the original film's soundtrack music was going to be incorporated. Can anyone enlighten me, because sure to hell it doesn't sound like it?



Moderators: Why can we edit the thread title?

*EARTH

[GRAEME]

name='Rennie']Cheating here a bit: (US movie, and Britmovie), but it has a sorta link with Michael Rennie, who was British by birth!!



I have seen a trailer of the remake which looks like yet another computer enhanced waste of time. Gort, however, looks interesting.



I thought I had heard a rumour that the original film's soundtrack music was going to be incorporated. Can anyone enlighten me, because sure to hell it doesn't sound like it?



Moderators: Why can we edit the thread title?

*EARTH

He wasn't just British by birth! That would suggest that in some way he became American at some point. Or that he spent most of his life in the States and was more or less really American - like Bob Hope, for example. On the contrary, he was British born and bred (he even died here, albeit on a visit from his retirement in Switzerland) - began his acting career in England and most of his earlier films are British. He became a Hollywood star after the war - but making films in Hollywood doesn't make him any the less British.



Michael Caine, Sean Connery, et al are still Brits. He did not, as far as I am aware, ever become a US citizen - as "Sir" Anthony Hopkins has.



Excuse me if I am misreading you.

[Rennie]

name='GRAEME']He wasn't just British by birth! That would suggest that in some way he became American at some point. Or that he spent most of his life in the States and was more or less really American - like Bob Hope, for example. On the contrary, he was British born and bred (he even died here, albeit on a visit from his retirement in Switzerland) - began his acting career in England and most of his earlier films are British. He became a Hollywood star after the war - but making films in Hollywood doesn't make him any the less British.



Michael Caine, Sean Connery, et al are still Brits. He did not, as far as I am aware, ever become a US citizen - as "Sir" Anthony Hopkins has.



Excuse me if I am misreading you.

Simple answer, yes, you did misread me.



For starters, the main reason for my question, was to discuss the soundtrack of a US movie, TDTESS Mk 2, and my reference to MR's birth was simply an excuse for posting the a question on a discussion board devoted to British actors and films. Why, oh why, you took such umbrage at my saying he was British by birth is beyond me, as that exactly was what he was. The phraseology was not in anyway meant to be deogratory about an actor whom I regard as being one of the finest Britain has ever produced. Where may I ask did I infer that 'Hollywood did not make him any the less British'



You are actually totally incorrect about Rennie, as he did become a US citizen, and had a US passport. The only reason he died in the UK was because he had come over to the UK to visit his mum, to help supervise the funeral arrangements for his brother who had died a few weeks himself.



PS: I never did get an answer about the music!

[wearysloth]

name='Rennie']



I thought I had heard a rumour that the original film's soundtrack music was going to be incorporated. Can anyone enlighten me, because sure to hell it doesn't sound like it?

In theory composer Tyler Bates re-used the original score. Could have fooled me though I didn't notice any similarity. By no means a bad score but a long, long way from Bernard Herrmann's.



The film, by-the-way, is a bit of a disaster as predicted although I liked the plot twist and Cleese shines albeit briefly.



(and the original had faults too, like leaving two disinterested GI's to guard Gort, not once but twice!)

[valerie 2509]

Michael rennie was indeed british he had a english mother and a scottish father he was born in idle bradford on august25th 1909 his mother was also born in idle his father int arves aberdeen

he went to the u,s,a in 1951 not until 1960 did he take american citizanship from 1962 to 1968 he went back wards and forwards to the states never happy in hollywood really he finally left in september 1968 he had a flat in chelsea london and spent sometime in switzerland his chest troubles were bad by then and he thought the air there might help as it did back in 1944 when he had t,b but it did,nt he died in harrogate at 1a otley road his mother,s home and he is buried in harlow hill cemetery also on otley road his mother often chided him for talking too much like a american but if you listen youn can still hear a little yorkshire he never forgot how to do that in spite of his quote mid atlantic accent which he thought helped to play other roles besides english but in his words if they want a english lord they think rennie can do that or a hard done to husband rennie knows how to do that god bless dearest mike you were not only a fine actor but a fine man

[Bernardo]

Did anyone see the original during the pre-Easter retro sci-fi mini season on Channel 4? One of the films I do take off the shelf occasionally and was lucky enough to see it on it's release. Films had a greater effect on the young in those days for when Gort is at the door of the spaceship with Michael Rennie in front I see a whole playground full of children in pairs one behind the other, the rear one, who is the taller, walking stiff legged. Ah those were the days and what a lovely film for a boy to see.

[cassidy]

Loved Michael Rennie in The Day the Earth Stood Still, also in "Hotel" and he even made a western "Ride Beyond Venegance". As has already been stated he was a fine actor.

[Gerald Lovell]

I like Michael Rennie, though IMHO he can can rather "flat", which ironically suited his characterisation in The Day the Earth Stood Still, which is one of my favourite films.
As to the music for the original version, which is tremendous, I can hear no similarilty in the score in the dire remake. The original score was so demanding, it appears to have needed the combined talents of Bernard Herrmann, Alfred Newman and Lionel Newman to conduct it.