Altair IV

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For the real star, see Altair.
Altair IV
The structure in the middle is Dr. Morbius's Home.
Region Milkyway - Orion Arm
System Alpha Aquilae
Number of suns 1
Number of moons 2
Population 2
Points of Interest Dr. Morbius's Home,
The underground Krell Laboratory,
The gigantic power plant
The Krell Lab below Altair IV.

Altair IV, is a fictional planet featured in the 1956 MGM classic science fiction film Forbidden Planet. This fourth planet orbiting the star Altair - 16.7 light-years distance (98 trillion miles) away from our Sun, is a rocky, terrestrial world. It supports earth-like life due to its oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere and an approximate Earth gravity field. The planet is home to Doctor Edward Morbius Ph.D. philologist (Walter Pidgeon), the final survivor of the ill-fated Bellerophon Expedition of some 20 years prior, and his daughter Altaira (Anne Francis). The one other inhabitant is the "Remarkable Gentleman" Robby the Robot.

Per Dr Morbius, Altair IV was once home to a highly technolology-advanced non-human civilization, the Krell, before they suddenly annihilated themselves 2000 centuries ago. It was visited by the United Planets Cruiser C-57D, captained by Cmdr J.J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen), with Exec Officer Lt J.P. Farman (Jack Kelly) & ship's physician Dr C.X. Ostrow (Warren Stevens), with a crew of sixteen. The ship was dispatched to the fourth planet in the star-system Alpha Aquilae, as a relief mission to search for survivors of the lost Bellerophon Expedition.

Unlike the novel version (mentioned below), the 1956 Forbidden Planet movie version did not mention the 'time-squeeze' effect in the C-57D's journey, with its flight requiring only about 1 year on board ship (as stated in its dialogue: " 378 days in hyperspace "). Altair IV is: 16.7 light years / Light travels in 1 year 670.6 million MPH. The movie version did not specify event dates beyond 2200 A.D.

Contents

[edit] The Novel

  • The novel by W.J. Stuart is based on the film, and approaches the story as chapter narrations, from the viewpoints of each of the main characters: Cmdr Adams, Dr Morbius, & ship's medical officer Dr Ostrow.
  • In the story, the saucer-shaped C-57D Cruiser was launched in 2371 on its 10 year voyage (one year ship-time, due to ' time-squeeze ' effect of its quantum-gravitetic drive). Traveling at " 670 million MPH - more than the speed of light! " in the flight to the Altair star system, the ship arrived in 2381.
  • Prior to landing, preliminary findings revealed the gravity to be .897 of Earth's, with the oxygen level 4.7 richer. On the ground, ship's engineer Chief Alonzo Quinn notes that broken pieces from nearby blue-gray stalagmite rocks were lighter than pumice, but harder than granite. The planet's soft, heady atmosphere, lit by turquoise sunlight, is described as being so full of oxygen, a breeze would be felt, even when there wasn't one. Areas of the desert ground around Morbius' home are covered by a gold-hued grass, and there are green-gray mountains & deep blue water rivers in the distance. Nearby trees & plants appeared somewhat Earth-like, except for color, shape & foliage. At night, the planet's two moons reflect turquoise light onto the distant mountains, giving them a copper color.
  • The UP Cruiser returned to Earth in 2391, and told of its remarkable story - and Robby the Robot.

[edit] Other References to 'Altair IV '

[edit] Subject References

  • The movie images and subtitles from 1999 and 2006 Forbidden Planet movie DVD releases.
  • http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049223/ Internet Movie Database.
  • 1979 CINEFANTASTIQUE Magazine Double-Issue (Volume 8 - Number 2 & Volume 8 - Number 3) - Article: "MAKING FORBIDDEN PLANET" by Frederick S. Clarke and Steve Rubin.
  • Forbidden Planet Screenplay Draft - May 14, 1955.
  • 1956 Forbidden Planet novel by W. J. Stuart (published by Bantam Books)

[edit] External links