Tobor the Great

TOBOR is one of the handful of familiar 50s sci-fi titles I had never seen. Didn't seem to get much airplay for whatever reason.

The film has an interesting angle with the discussion of whether the space exploration should begin with manned missions or not. And, here the concept of going with a robot is pretty forward looking, to boot. Of course, much of the deeper exploration of this theme is brushed aside once it becomes apparent that this is kiddie matinee stuff featuring a boy and his 'bot (foreshadowing THE INVISIBLE BOY by three years).

The design of Tobor is pretty cool. A definite step up from the usual Tin Man approach with some sleek lines and other interesting design elements. For some reason, they had to add in a form of ESP into its operating system (COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK went one step further and even made that 'bot psychic!). I guess one could be charitable and consider it an early A.I. form of machine learning. Not much really happens once Tobor is introduced, and the main conflict revolves around the old commie spies routine. The elderly scientist's (Taylor Holmes) security is so tight that he can't remember if he invited 12 people or 13 to the unveiling! Thank god for the kid, Brian (Billy Chapin) - aka Gadget - and his gun! The nefarious Russkies are then scared off by a sound effects record! Once the spies are introduced, it's pretty clear what the climax will be, although the sight of Tobor in a jeep and then applying a knuckle sandwich to one of the baddies are pretty amusing. It's also a tad surprising that for a juvenile oriented film that the kid has shirt torn off and threatened with a blow torch.

Veteran writer Philip MacDonald (REBECCA, THE BODY SNATCHER) keeps the plot moving within the confines of the story (Carl Dudley). Lee 'Roll 'Em' Sholem's direction is plain and straightforward. The art direction by Gabriel Scognamillo (also credited with Tobor's basic design) is good for the budget. Howard Jackson's score is standard stuff and falls prey to the old 'lite-hearted' sit-com like backing when the kid is introduced.

TOBOR is average 50s fodder, but, it does have an intriguing notion or two. And, the ending is really fantastic and lifts the whole film up a notch. Tobor into the great beyond!

"Tobor the Great" is lightly amusing, engaging sci-fi, which could well be described as the tale of "a boy and his robot". People such as Dr. Ralph Harrison (Charles Drake, "It Came from Outer Space") and the eminent Professor Arnold Nordstrom (Taylor Holmes, "Kiss of Death" '47) don't believe that human beings should be subjected to the unknown perils of space travel. So Nordstrom has hit upon the answer: the title robot, which has been designed to be a sentient being which people can communicate with telepathically. When enemy agents kidnap Nordstrom and his grandson "Gadge" (Billy Chapin, "The Night of the Hunter"), to force the old man to divulge his secrets, Tobor swings (so to speak) into action.

There's a lot of set-up to get to the pay-off in this minor but diverting, and mostly harmless, story. Tobor may be no Robby the Robot, but "he" is a fairly cool character nonetheless. The movie is always fun when Tobor is stomping around, breaking things, offering a hand in friendship, foiling the bad guys...and, in the movies' most priceless sequence, driving a jeep.

Some of the human characters take some time getting used to. Harrison comes off as a volatile jerk at first, and "Gadge" is the perfect stereotype of a kid of that era, given to proclamations such as "Gosh!" and "Gee willikers!" But the cast delivers amiable performances (they're NOT terrible). Also co-starring are Karin Booth ("Jungle Man-Eaters"), Steven Geray ("Spellbound"), Hal Baylor ("A Boy and His Dog"), Peter Brocco ("Johnny Got His Gun"), Alan Reynolds ("Cape Fear" '62), William Schallert ('The Patty Duke Show'), Robert Shayne ('Adventures of Superman'), and Lyle Talbot ("Plan 9 from Outer Space"). Holmes has a warm, wise presence as the egghead who sets the story in motion.

As was said, it's not completely harmless. People may wince at the fact that the bad guys are prepared to torture young Gadge to get the old man to spill the beans.

Fortunately, "Tobor the Great" never dwells too long on unpleasantness, and heads towards a rousing conclusion where our hero robot saves the day. Fans of 1950s sci-fi may find it charming.

Six out of 10.

To be honest, the only reason I'm commenting is because I remember seeing this film in the theater when I was six years old, and it made quite an impression on me. I was fascinated with robots (to an unhealthy degree!), and the "robot spelled backwards" really stuck with me.

I would love to see it again. It could be one of those "so bad it's funny" movies, the kind that were perfect for Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Having a robot who could think and had emotions is a pretty advanced concept for the age.

I was a little girl when this came out. I saw it in the theater and was spellbound. I only saw it once, but remembered it all my life. I just bought it and could not be happier. It is very much for children, but I will always hold it dear. I think the plot is fun. The robot is great and the people are funny, but all in all this is a film I would take any one to see, big or small. It just makes you feel good to watch it. I wish that there were more movies made this wholesome. The title is wonderful too. Robot spelled backwards. You just can't lose with a movie like this. I would give it a big thumbs up!!!!

First, let me say that I am very, very sorry if this movie is not up to some reviewers' standards for 50-year-old movies. I don't really think we need to compare this to "Bicentennial Man" (what a hunk of junk and an embarrassment for Robin Williams!) or "The Iron Giant" (an animated film made 45 years later with the aid of computer graphics).

Second, let me say that I'm also sorry that this film may occasionally give the impression that there might be some negative or dangerous aspects to space travel or the space program. Other than three Apollo crew members perishing in a fire on the pad, and the near-tragedy of Apollo 13, and two space shuttle crews...but I digress.

This movie is about a robot and some bad guys. There's a kid, too. The bad guys lose and the kid and robot win. Plus, the robot has a neat name.

The end.

(BTW, this movie has what is by far my favorite "robot driving a jeep" scene of all time. This is not quite as impressive as a mad snowman driving a car, but it's pretty darn close.) Enjoy it!