TOBOR THE GREAT
1954

"Tobor" is good, lighthearted sci-fi fun, and demonstrates that a film doesn't necessarily require the resources of an Industrial Light & Magic complex to fashion a memorable robotic character. Tobor might not be Robby (Robby the Robot, in 1956's "Forbidden Planet"), or R2-D2, but it sure is a good dude to have on your side when the chips are down!

As far as Tobor itself is concerned, comparisons to Robby the Robot, in 1956's "Forbidden Planet," are hard to avoid. Tobor might be a taller and thus more imposing creation, which is not to say cooler looking. And lacking the power of "speech," it doesn't quite have the personality of Robby.

PLOT:
Tobor ('robot' spelled backwards) is the invention of an elderly scientific genius who develops a robot to serve as the pilot for dangerous space flights in place of human astronauts. The inventor's grandson befriends the robot during the development of its complex brain and artificial personality. However, the professor and his 11-year-old grandson, Gadge, soon become the targets of foreign spies, so it's a good thing that Tobor is prepared to meet ALL emergency situations!

CAST:
Charles Drake ... Dr. Ralph Harrison
Karin Booth ... Janice Roberts
Billy Chapin ... Brian 'Gadge' Roberts
Taylor Holmes ... Prof. Arnold Nordstrom
Steven Geray ... The Foreign Spy-Chief
Henry Kulky ... Paul - Spy-Henchman
Franz Roehn ... Karl
Hal Baylor ... Max - Spy-Henchman

Director: Lee Sholem

RUNNING TIME: 77 MIN