"FORBIDDEN PLANET" ONE AND ONLY ROBBY THE ROBOT GOES TO AUCTION! HOW MANY MILLIONS WILL HE COMMAND?

Robby's ready to rock (Bonham's)

Just when I think I can't be surprised by my hobby, along comes an auction of one of the single greatest icons in all of science fiction – the original Robby the Robot from 1956's Forbidden Planet! Robby was made famous in that great classic film, but that was just the beginning of his
"career". Robby was such an amazingly well-made piece of movie magic that he would go on to appear in films and TV icludinng the original Lost in Space and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
His last appearance was as recent as an AT&T commercial in 2006.

What does Robby have to do with Star Trek? Plenty. In a letter written to Herb Solow in 1964 during Star Trek's original pre-production phase, Gene Roddenberry states:

"You may recall we saw MGM’s 'FORBIDDEN PLANET' with Oscar Katz some weeks ago."

He goes on to say that he thought the film could help generate ideas for Star Trek:

"But a detailed look at it again would do much to stimulate our own thinking."

The film featured an exploratory starship (not unlike the Enterprise) from an organization called the "United Planets", no doubt a close relative to Star Trek's "United Federation of Planets". The crew used a naval hierarchy that was also adopted by Star Trek.

Robby in a scene opposite Walter Pidgeon in "Forbidden Planet" (MGM)

The look and feel of Forbidden Planet was unlike anything that had ever come before it. The technology was realistically portrayed, one of the first times such a thing was done with what was usually considered to be "B"-grade entertainment. Almost ten years later, Star Trek would do the same thing yet again, presenting a new take on the future.



Robby is perhaps the epitome of that presentation of technology. Before him, robots were little more than tin cans with actors inside and featured crude details at best. But Robby was a revelation. Gone was the clumsily-designed robots of the past. Robby had a sleek sophistication in his design that is still unequaled to this day in this writer's opinion.

Robby meets the gang (MGM)

What is additionally amazing about the auction at-hand is not just the fact that Robby is up for bid, but it also includes the various accessories and spare parts created for Forbidden Planet, including the car in which Robby zips round Altair. An astounding extra!

Robby's original car is part of the auction (Bonham's).

Robby in his car with co-star Anne Francis (MGM)

This auction really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone with deep pockets. I think Robby will easily exceed a million dollars. Just how high could he go for? Who knows? Check out the Bonhams auction HERE.

So get ready to bid – and write a big check!

LLAP

Don