Planet Krel

Lore & Background

The source describes the Krell as a highly advanced race that mysteriously perished in a single night 200,000 years before the events of Forbidden Planet. Their underground machine, an 8,000-cubic-mile (33,000 km3) facility powered by 9,208 thermonuclear reactors, could create anything by mere thought. The Krell forgot one thing: 'Monsters from the id.' Their own subconscious desires, given free rein with unlimited power, caused their extinction. Dr. Edward Morbius studied Krell artifacts on the planet Altair IV, using an intellect-enhancing device that doubled his mental capacity but barely survived the process.

In Their Own Story

In the 23rd century, the United Planets starship C-57D arrives at the distant planet Altair IV. Dr. Edward Morbius, a survivor of an earlier expedition, warns Commander John J. Adams not to land. Adams ignores the warning. Morbius explains that all other expedition members were killed by an unseen 'planetary force,' with their ship Bellerophon vaporized as the last survivors tried to escape. Only Morbius, his wife (who later died of natural causes), and their daughter Altaira were immune. An invisible intruder later sabotages the starship's communications and murders crew members. The creature is revealed to be a manifestation of Morbius's subconscious, created by the Krell machine. Morbius finally accepts the truth and activates a planetary self-destruct system, obliterating Altair IV as the survivors escape.

Reader's Guide

The source provides no information about a planet named Krel. It focuses entirely on the planet Altair IV and the Krell civilization. For visitors to Altair IV, the source notes that the Krell underground machine is still functioning and can create anything by thought, but it is extremely dangerous. The only human survivors on the planet are Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira, who live in a residence served by Robby the Robot. The planet is destroyed at the film's conclusion via a self-destruct system.

Did You Know?

• Forbidden Planet was the first sci-fi film to depict humans traveling in a human-made, faster-than-light starship.
• The film was the first of any genre to use an entirely electronic musical score, courtesy of Bebe and Louis Barron.
• Robby the Robot cost roughly $125,000 to build, representing almost 7% of the film's $1.9 million budget.
• The Id Monster was created by veteran animator Joshua Meador, loaned to MGM by Walt Disney Productions.
• In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.'