Arrow Video are releasing, in limited edition 4K two disc sets (either one UHD and one Blu-ray or two Blu-rays) one of the all-time classics of science fiction. It’s a brand new 4K restoration from Arrow from the original 35mm negative and, according to the press release, is presented in its original 2.55:1 Cinemascope aspect ratio with its theatrical ‘Perspecta’ soundtrack for the ‘very first time’. The first disc has the film and a commentary while the second disc has a bunch of worthwhile extras, so let’s look at what we get:
Disc One - The Film
You probably know the plot, based loosely on Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It’s the 23rd century. On the planet Altair IV live Dr Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), his daughter Altaira (Anne Francis) and their robot Robby (“himself” and an icon to several generations of SF fans). To Altair IV comes Commander John Adams (Leslie Nielsen, who became such a comedy icon in later life new viewers may need a moment to realise he’s not going to do anything silly) and his United Planets team to determine what happened to an earlier expedition.
Morbius and Anne are the only survivors of that expedition, and as members of Adams’ own crew start to be bumped off by a huge invisible something, it transpires that they aren’t alone on the planet. Might it have anything to do with Altair IV’s now long-dead original inhabitants the Krell, that also mysteriously perished?
If you’ve never seen FORBIDDEN PLANET you’re in for a treat, especially if your idea of an alien planet is based on movies like Ridley Scott’s ALIEN (itself groundbreaking for all kinds of reasons). Here we have a world depicted in the brightest, most eye-popping colours possible, with shot after shot resembling SF magazine covers of the period brought to life. The music score is revolutionary, too - all atonal blips and bloops and ominous vibrations.
Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw are on hand to provide brand new commentary duties. Its always a pleasure to be in their company for 90 minutes or so and the track here doesn’t disappoint, kicking off with matching up the characters here with characters in The Tempest before going on to discuss other aspects of the production.
Disc Two - The Extras
New to this release is a piece by Neil Brand looking at Louis and Bebe Barron’s electronic score (23 minutes), how it was created and how they pitched their original ideas to the then head of MGM. You also get the shooting script. Otherwise it’s all archival material previously available on the previous Warners blu-ray released. First off we have THE INVISIBLE BOY (1957), Robby the Robot’s second film appearance and a film much harder to see back in the day (in the UK, anyway) than FORBIDDEN PLANET. Unlike that film this one is by no means a classic, telling the story of ten year old Timmie Merrinoe (Richard Eyer the year before THE SEVENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD) who ends up with enhanced intelligence which allows him to rebuild Robby who has been brought back from the 24th century. Together they embark on an adventure to defeat an evil supercomputer. One for completists but it’s nice to have it as an extra.
If you want more classic Robby there’s also an episode of late 1950s The Thin Man TV series (“Robot Client”) starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis HOUSE OF WAX Kirk and two excerpts from MGM Parade. You also get the documentary Watch the Skies!: SF, the 1950s and Us (56 minutes) two featurettes on the film (41 minutes in total), 13 minutes of deleted scenes, 9 minutes of lost scenes, plus trailer and image galleries. The set also comes with a booklet featuring new writing on the film from Johnny Mains and Frank Collins.
FORBIDDEN PLANET is out in 4K on a two disc release (either UHD and Blu-ray or two Blu-rays) from Arrow Video on Monday 28th September 2026
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