Gort (The Day the Earth Stood Still)
Gort is a robot that features in The Day the Earth Stood Still.
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History
Gort was one of a series of highly advanced robots created by an extraterrestrial civilization. Long ago, their organization sought to protect their planets and completely eliminate aggression. Thus, they constructed a race of machines to serve as interstellar policemen that patrolled worlds on spaceships and preserved the peace.
He accompanied Klaatu on his mission to deliver an ultimatum to the people of Earth: the interplanetary confederation is not concerned with internal human politics; however, if humanity threatens to use atomic weapons against the other planets, the Earth will be destroyed to ensure the safety of the other planets.
Overview
In appearance, Gort appeared as 8-foot tall, seamless robot apparently constructed from a single piece of 'flexible metal'. He was one member of a 'race of robots' invented by an interplanetary confederation to protect their citizens against all aggression by destroying any aggressors. Klaatu describes "him" as one of an interstellar police force, holding irrevocable powers to "preserve the peace" by destroying any aggressor. The fear of provoking these robots acts as a deterrent against aggression.
Their creators gave them absolute power over their masters that could not be revoke. At the first sign of violence, Gort and his kind acted automatically against aggressors and ruthlessly performed its duty. It was believed that in such a system that the creators lived in peace without the need for arms or armies.
He did not speak, but could receive and follow verbal commands as well non-verbal commands: at one point, Klaatu communicates with him using reflected signals from a borrowed flashlight. This is not the end of his capability, though, as Gort is also shown acting entirely on his own, both to protect Klaatu from harm and to free himself from encasement in a block of plastic. Gort can also operate highly complex machinery, and is both the pilot and captain of the ship that delivers Klaatu to Earth – all of his "race" have similar ships that they use to patrol the planets.
Though seemingly unarmed, Gort was in fact armed with a laserlike weapon that is projected from beneath a visor on his head. While the weapon can apparently vaporize any physical object, its effect is variable at Gort's discretion, and is precise enough to destroy a single object without harming anything around it. In its first onscreen use, it vaporized several soldier's guns from their hands while not harming the soldiers at all, and seconds later was used to vaporize tanks and artillery without harming their occupants or any surrounding objects. Gort is also continually aware of Klaatu's physical condition and location without Klaatu needing to wear a tracking device of any sort. Gort is not known to be damageable by any means available to mankind, and can – despite resistance – destroy the Earth itself if he is sufficiently provoked.
Notes
- Gort was created by Edmund H. North where he was loosely based on the concept made by Harry Bates featured in the setting of The Day the Earth Stood Still universe.
- In the remake of The Da the Earth Stood Still, the character of Gort appeared though this was referred to as Genetically Organized Robotic Technology used by the unidentified alien creators.
Appearances
- The Day the Earth Stood Still:
External Links
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