Original 'Day the Earth Stood Still' was UFO acclimation?
(This article originally appeared on the Joint Recon Study Group and Transcendent TV sites.)
The
original 1951 movie THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL was part of a public
acclimation program about UFOs and extraterrestrial visitation, with
involvement by the U.S. Air Force, according to an alleged transcript
of a 1981 intelligence briefing to former President Ronald Reagan.
The
transcript, reportedly provided by current and former members of the
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) through an intermediary, was posted
on the internet Oct. 30, 2007.
Reagan allegedly received the
briefing at Camp David, Maryland, between Friday and Sunday, March 6
and 8, 1981. Other top advisors to Reagan were also said to be present.
It
was claimed in the 2007 internet posting that the briefing was
presented by a CIA contract employee who worked within a group of
"caretakers" who reportedly safeguard records and resources about the
issue of extraterrestrial visitation to, and activities on Earth.
The
transcript includes discussion of U.S. Government efforts to both
deceive and inform the public about UFOs and extraterrestrial
visitation.
Subsequently, Reagan mentions stories from his days as a Hollywood actor.
"I
always knew there was some form of cooperation between our government
and the motion picture industry. I heard rumors over the years … even
during my acting days."
The CIA "caretaker" explains further to Reagan.
"Well,
Mr. President, the first cooperative venture was the movie, THE DAY THE
EARTH STOOD STILL. That was a cooperative venture with the United
States Air Force and the movie industry."
HOLLYWOOD AND UFOS
This account is not the first such report of U.S. Government relationships with Hollywood about the topic of UFOs.
Many
credible reports allege that Walt Disney was approached in 1957 by the
Air Force to produce a documentary film that would inform and educate
the public about extraterrestrial visitation to Earth. However, after
work on the project was begun, the Air Force reportedly cancelled it.
The
1977 Steven Spielberg movie CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND was also
reported to have had technical advisors who had specific knowledge of
the UFO situation.
Early in the film, the police chase involving
several officers in pursuit of UFOs in Ohio is reportedly based on a
real incident.
It has also been claimed that the special
12-person team that mysteriously appears in several scenes, including
the climax involving the departure of the extraterrestrial spaceship,
is based on a real classified mission.
In fact, in the alleged
briefing to Reagan, the president follows up on the briefer�s reference
to The Day the Earth Stood Still.
"That movie, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, was that one of them?" asks Reagan.
"Yes, Mr. President, we provided the basic subject matter for that movie," the briefer answers.
Reagan: "Was it based on a real incident?"
In
the alleged transcript, the "caretaker" briefing the president answers
with an overview U.S. Government activities following the "Roswell
incident" and in the following years. The explanation is an answer in
the affirmative to Reagan's question.
Reagan: "OK, this is just
amazing! I can see, about that movie. The movie was based on a real
event. I saw that movie. Twelve men left, along with Richard Dreyfuss."
Then-CIA
director William Casey tells Reagan, "Mr. President, yes, the movie was
similar to the real event, at least the last part of the movie."
FACT AND FICTION
Creative
works such as films, TV, books, articles and other media are often
presented as non-fiction or fiction. However, the lines between these
two categories are often blurry.
Documentary or non-fiction works might sometimes have inaccuracies or misrepresentations, both precise and more subtle.
Fictional works can contain much truth and be a representation of real events, with some details changed.
There can be many kinds of blending of fact and fiction.
Based
on current public knowledge, it is unclear if the original THE DAY THE
EARTH STOOD STILL was, in fact, partially based on real events or that
the Air Force was involved in the movie's content.
Likewise, the
2008 version starring Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly may or may not
include elements based on input from insiders who may know more about
the topics in the film.
The alleged 1981 briefing to Ronald
Reagan that included references to the movie and to Spielberg's CLOSE
ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND may or may not be real. Or, the briefing
could also be a blend of fact and fiction.
In fact, the series
of UFO-related information releases of which the Reagan UFO briefing
was a part have been considered by some observers to possibly contain
certain facts and truths wrapped in inaccurate information.
The
blending of truth and deception is a method often used in
disinformation, psychological operations and similar types of
intelligence activities involving public perception management. So, it
is possible that some accounts, reports, information releases, rumors
and tales about the UFO situation could contain truths buried within
creative and fictional contexts.
Our understanding of, and
adjustment to surprising situations regarding these kinds of unusual
topics seemingly could be helped by movies, TV shows, books and other
works that address these subjects in useful ways.
They can open our minds to possibilities and possible realities.
