as far as I'm concerned, this scene kicks the crap out of most of the modern CGI, over-produced, sci-fi flix.
I agree 100%!! That's one of my favorite movies (and I'm not a big Particia Neal fan.) "Klaatu barada nikto!" Damn right!!! (I remember when a woman I worked for muttered that under her breath as we exited some dysfunctional meeting. I cracked up. Gotta maintain your sanity.) I've said before that this is all the special effects you need: It's amazing what these pre-CGI actors and actresses could convey with facial expressions and body language. It's not corny...it's acting. The way it's been done for centuries...or longer.
Neal did more great acting, in that one scene, than today's flash-in-the-pan actresses do in a whole CGI type, sci-fi, action flick.
I agree. You watch the "Director's Cut" stuff at the end of modern DVDs, and you realize that your dog could do it. 3 seconds of action, then "Cut!", then off to be spliced, and add the sound track for continuity. The sad thing is these idiots really believe they got talent. Lots of parallels in lots of arenas of modern life.