Gort (The Day the Earth Stood Still)

Gort is a fictional humanoid robot in the 1951 movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still". The giant metal robot accompanies Klaatu, a visitor to Earth from a distant planet, aboard a flying saucer. He does not speak, but uses a beam weapon projected from beneath a visor to vaporize weapons and obstacles. Klaatu described him as being part of an interstellar police force. He claims that the people of the universe constructed numerous robots like Gort and gave them irrevocable powers to respond to violent actions in order to "preserve the peace." He further claims that "There's no limit to what [Gort] could do. He could destroy the Earth." [cite web | url=http://www.scifiscripts.com/scripts/TheDayTheEarthStoodSTill.html | title="The Day the Earth Stood Still" | first=Edmund H. | last=North | date=1951-02-21 | work=Original Script | publisher=ScifiScripts.com | accessdate=2007-08-15]

The character was based loosely on Gnut, a giant green robot from outer space in "Farewell to the Master", a 1940 short story by Harry Bates which was used as the basis for Edmund H. North's screenplay. In the story, Gnut is believed to be the servant of his humanoid companion, but reveals himself, at the end, to have been the master.

On screen Gort is a large "seamless" robot that appears to be constructed from a single piece of "flexible metal". He was portrayed by 7'-7" (231 cm)-tall actor Lock Martin wearing a thick foam-rubber suit designed and built by Addison Hehr. Two suits were created, fastened alternately from the front or back so that the robot could appear seamless depending on the camera angle. Another fiberglass statue of Gort was used for close-ups of him firing his beam weapon or when the scene did not call for him to move. In order to maximize the height of the robot, the costume was made with lifts in the boots and was designed so that the figure's helmet stands nearly a foot above the top of Martin's head. Prisms were employed so that Martin could see through the costume's visor and air holes were provided under the robot's chin.

During most of the film, Gort remains motionless in front of the saucer, which rests on the National Mall in central Washington D. C. while scientists and military researchers examine him. At one point Klaatu communicates with him using signals from a flashlight. He also responds to spoken commands, including the famous line "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!", spoken by Patricia Neal's character at the film's climax.

A life size replica of Gort is on display at the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. [cite web | url=http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=2877
title="The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame" | first=Gary | last=Mitchel | date=2005-10-18 | work= | publisher=RevolutionSF.com | accessdate=2008-07-27 ]

Gort can be seen briefly near the end of the trailer for the 2008 remake of the film.

ee also

*List of fictional robots and androids

ources