What Forbidden Planet prop replicas are out there?

[ReaverReject]

This movie hasn't gotten the attention I feel it deserves here. For its time, the production values and beautiful prop & set designs were absolutely cutting edge... well, except for the Tasmanian Devil look of the Id Monster! :lol

Speaking of which, here's one I'd love to see someone sculpt and offer fiberglass copies of:

The Id Monster's footprint "plastic" cast:

The Krell music player:

The Krell "plastic educator":

I'd love to have one that's USB powered that I could plug into my laptop and place it behind the monitor, so I can ejumukate myself while I'm surfing the RPF! :lol

I know Rich Coyle makes the blaster, and someone here did an awesome replica of the laser rifle, but what about the magnetic field posts and other props? The uniforms also rock - would love to see a really nice reproduction!

I'd be willing to commission any of the above portrayed 3 props if someone is willing to step up and make them. I'd provide the 3D designs of the music player and plastic educator.

Looking forward to see what you've got - including better screen caps, production photos, and pics of original props.

Thanks!

RR

 

[DS Operative]

I always really liked the retro look of their uniforms, and also liked the "communicator" with the retractable mic's on their belts.

 

[kdawg1]

There is also the Caller for Robby you wave your hand over it and he is summoned.

 

[RobertDay]

The Id Monster's footprint "plastic" cast; The Krell music player; The Krell "plastic educator"; the magnetic field posts and other props; the uniforms - RR

The plaster cast of the footprint would have to be made from existing photos and screen caps as the original was destroyed after filming.

The Krell music player is actually what was called a TV lamp in the 1950's. For viewing TVs you placed them on top of your set, turned them on and turned off the living room lights. It was supposed to give a feel of being in your own theater (as if it was an EXIT light). They just added the base and the 'recording cylinders'. Morbius didn't actually place one in the top — he used an old magician's trick to make it seem as if he did. The pulsing of the lamp was accomplished by just rewiring.


The "plastic educator" term came about by accident. About 5 months prior to shooting, Walt Pidgeon had back surgery. In order to function he was taking a mild solution of morphine under strict medical supervision. The final shooting script (a green page) clearly states "PLASMIC EDUCATOR" by poor Walt's speech and mental /verbal recognition patterns were being messed up. This is why he stutters so much in the film — and why he said "plastic educator" instead of "plasmic educator".

The 'magnetic field posts' are actually the easiest props to make. I made several many years ago. I have given them away though over the years.

On the other props: Over at the Robot Hut is a version of the caller/beamer that works, but the shape is wrong (a sphere instead of an ovoid; simple light without star-shaped cut-out pattern); several fence posts; Robby and his Space Car (that's what it's called in the studio information sheets); a C-57-D with working engine lights and landing gear and ramps.

I've seem several costume recreations but NONE have been accurate as to what the actors wore. The necessities of movie costume making are more geared to making them LOOK in a particular manner than as if they were real working uniforms and/or street wear. Any costume recreation has to take in the need for comfort. Actors can just suffer for the most part is the feelings of the studio. e.g.: Sascha Brastoff designed several pairs of samdles for Anne Francis to wear, which he made himself. But not being a footwear designer he couldn't make them comfortable for her. So she asked the cinematographer, George Folsey, to shoot her without showing her feet (he didn't) because she refused to wear them. That's why she was bare-foot in most of the scenes.

I am currently making a working replica of the communicator — and by working I mean that it will actually send voice & picture and receive voice!

I also have the plans for the blastercannon and hope to make a full size replica.

 

[phase pistol]

Awesome info RobertDay! :thumbsup

 

[Wes R]

Very cool. This is one of the higher end movies of the era up there with Time Machine, war of the worlds, and a few others. I always give them credit for having ships that don't wobble on the strings lol. That and they get credit for getting Disney to animate the creature. That and you can't go wrong with Leslie Neilson in one of his few memorable serious roles.

 

[Krel]

The Krell music player is actually what was called a TV lamp in the 1950's. For viewing TVs you placed them on top of your set, turned them on and turned off the living room lights. It was supposed to give a feel of being in your own theater (as if it was an EXIT light). They just added the base and the 'recording cylinders'. Morbius didn't actually place one in the top — he used an old magician's trick to make it seem as if he did. The pulsing of the lamp was accomplished by just rewiring.

Tv lamps were suppose to serve a practical purpose. It used to be thought that watching a tv in a dark room with no other light but the tv was bad for your eyes. So tv lamps were suppose to provide light so that the light from the tv wouldn't hurt your eyes. I miss when HGTV had good programs that gave you info like this. :lol

Looking at some of my photos from F.P., I noticed something about the Command mic, it is made from a plastic jewelry box. These boxes were usually black, or dark blue with a clear cover. The clasp and hinges were ball and socket types molded into the box and lid. You can see the clasp in the photos. There was a painted battery box behind the jewel box.

I also noticed that there is another box on the belt, on the holster side. It is made from the same type of jewelry box, and also had a battery box. I've often wondered what that prop was suppose to be for.

The tv series, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." was filmed at MGM, and used a few props from F.P.. The blaster rifle was used as an air defense laser in the first season episode "The Mad-Mad Tea Party Affair". The large communications device on the tripod with the large clear dish antenna was used in two episodes, "The Brain Killer Affair", and "The Cherry Blossom Affair". I have two wonder if that prop was made for F.P., or was build for another production. In the MFU episodes it is shown to have practical lighting.

I love this film, it is my favorite sf film.

David.

 

[dunion]

I created a forbidden planet costume for Halloween one year and put a bunch of work into it including getting
some help from someone with better sewing machine skills. The only part I didn't get to was the belt.

That wasn't so hard, cloth over foam then sewed in the right seams makes the chest part and I just used white iron-on stuff with colored marker for the logos
(recently I found a nice patch on-line and ordered it but I'm leaving my hat and shoulders the way they are). Belt is on the list of something to do in the future
probably with some black vinyl.

I recently ordered one of the prop gun replicas and plan to put some colored LED's and a laser in it. I hadn't thought yet of making the communicator but I will
have to look into that!

Awesome forum. Thanks.