In September 1951, 20th Century-Fox‘s sci-fi drama The Day the Earth Stood rolled out in theaters following its premiere opening on Sept. 18 at New York’s Mayfair Theatre (where it grossed $6,500 that day). At the beginning of the month, the film screened at the World Science Fiction Convention in New Orleans, where 250 attendees “universally acclaimed the picture.”

The 92-minute feature, directed by Robert Wise, was released as Cold War fears were at the top of the headlines and was intended as a cautionary tale (decades later, the studio remade the film with Keanu Reeves and an aughts sheen in 2008). The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:

In The Day the Earth Stood still, producer Julian Blaustein and director Robert Wise have a highly exploitable, suspensefully entertaining drama that will ride the crest of the current cycle of science films with the ease of a space ship.

Adapted from a story by Henry Bates, the drama is an intriguing science fantasy, made believable by touches of genuine humor and the faint suggestion of a romance between a pretty American widow and a mysterious visitor from another planet. The overtones of social significance are adroitly handled and make real sense in an era of tragic international quarrels.

Physically, the production is all science saga should be — Blaustein supervises the special effects with telling results; the Washington locale is excellently fulfilled; and the thoughtful choice of actors accounts for convincing performances throughout. Wise’s direction imbues the narrative with the compelling atmosphere of the documentary; he creates an illusion of presenting the real thing rather than a fictional motion picture. Inevitably, the Wise technique heightens suspense values and writes terrific punch into the action scenes involving a powerful robot who accompanies the human visitor to the U.S.

Michael Rennie is the visitor, a man who whirls into the center of Washington in a space ship accompanied by his robot. His mission is one of peace — he wants to talk to the President. An hysterical soldier shoots him, Rennie is carried to Walter Reed Hospital. Here, by administering medicine brought from his outer-planet home, Rennie recovers. He tells the President’s secretary that he wishes to speak to representatives of all nations on earth. The secretary informs him this is impossible. Rennie casually leaves the hospital, takes a room in a boarding house where he meets Patricia Neal and her young son, Billy Gray. His adventures with the lad are amusing; one includes a visit to Sam Jaffe’s home where, by working an intricate scientific problem within seconds, he identifies himself as a super-intellect. Jaffe agrees to bring men of science from the four corners of the globe to hear him speak.

Meanwhile the police are searching frantically for him. Though wounded again, he escapes to his ship and before flying off tells those who hear him that the world must solve its petty political problems; otherwise, action by other planets in the universe will destroy the world.

Rennie’s quiet dignity in the part of the space visitor brings conviction to the interesting role. Miss Neal is vibrant and lovely as the young widow, and Hugh Marlowe is vigorous as her ambitious suitor. Jaffe’s scientist is portrayed with the actor’s usual resourcefulness. Gray is fine as the youth. Supporting players include some of Hollywood’s best character actors. Commentators Drew Pearson, Gabriel Heatter, H.V. Kaltenborn and Elmer Davis are on deck to implement the air of authenticity.

Leo Tover’s work in the trick photographic department is exceptional. Lyle Wheeler and Addison Hehr, allowing imagination to run wild, perform a superb job of art direction. Bernard Herrman’s eerie score and the editing of William Reynolds are other outstanding contributions to the success of the production. — Staff byline, originally published on Sept. 4, 1951.

In a year in which the Best International Feature category has become even more expansive, a new country is submitting their first film for consideration in the prestigious Oscar category.

IndieWire can exclusively reveal that Cyprus is submitting Myrsini Aristidou’s “Hold Onto Me,” an award winner at Sundance 2026, as the inaugural film to represent the small Mediterranean island in Best International Feature at the 99th Academy Awards.

Aristidou’s feature debut premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival this year; it tells the story of a young girl named Iris who comes back into contact with her estranged father Aris shortly after running amok in her hometown, alongside her older friend Danae.

“From winning the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance to becoming Cyprus’s historic first official entry for the Academy Awards, this film has truly persevered against all odds,” said Aristidou via statement. “While the picture follows a young girl seeking out a father figure, its heartbeat is a universal reminder that in an increasingly fractured world, we ought to remember to hold onto each other.”

Prior to “Hold Onto Me,” Aristidou directed the short “Semele,” which won the Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival, and “Aria,” which was made with the support of Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee, and premiered at the 2017 Venice Film Festival. The Cypriot director is also an alum of programs like the Cannes Cinéfondation Residence and the TIFF Talent Lab, and won the Spiegel Lab’s Emerging Filmmaker Prize.

Aristidou added, “I am deeply grateful and honored to represent my country with such an intimate story, a debut feature that took many years to realize. We know we enter this race as an underdog, but we have made it this far because of the profound connection and warmth we’ve received from international audiences. We will keep aiming high, giving it all we’ve got, and trusting the film to continue finding its way into people’s hearts.”

Countries have until Wednesday, September 30, 2026 to make their submissions for Best International Feature. Preliminary voting for the 10 shortlisted Oscars categories will occur from December 7 through 11. The following week, on Tuesday, December 15, the Academy will announce its Oscars shortlists, and voters will later choose the five Best International Feature nominees from a list of the 15 submissions that received the most votes.

The 2027 Oscar nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 21, and the 99th Academy Awards will occur on Sunday, March 14, 2027.