Question by Doubting Thomas: In the movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” what, exactly, does the phrase “Klaatu barada nikto” mean?
Patricia Neal is told to say these words to Gort the robot if anything happens to Klaatu (Michael Rennie) to prevent him from doing something. (Klaatu does indicate he’s “worried” and warns that Gort could potentially destroy the entire planet.)
Best answer:
Answer by Maria
It means “Klaatu’s just gone to have a nosh. Chill out.”
What do you think? Answer below!
its fake!
In the native tongue, it asks for the robot to stand down, ordered by Klaatu.
(According to tales, Patricia blew a lot of takes as she could not take the film nor the dialogue seriously, and would giggle uncontrollably)
I believe that was a robot command to stop his mission if I remember correctly.
If you watched the movie you should be able to figure it out. I would think it would mean do not retalliate and I am in need of help. Klaatu was the name of Michael Rennie I think. Haven’t seen the movie in a few years. Thats my best guess anyway???
It was a command to Gort telling him the Klaatu says to not destroy the earth. The exact meaning of the words is not given in the movie.
I belive that this is just a made up phrase, designed to sound ominous. You can assume, based on what Gort decides after the phrase is spoken, that it must have told Gort to NOT destroy the people who shot Klaatu.
The phrase “Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!” was used to stop Gort, the robot in the film, from destroying the world.
There is no known translation for the phrase, although “Klaatu” is the name of the humanoid alien protagonist in the film.
it’s martian for, “I’m gonna get a blow torch and a pair of pliers and get medievel on your a$$”.
It isn’t revealed what the phrase means, just that it will stop the robot.
I think the rough translation is: “Gort, if someone speaks the secret phrase to you, it probably means that the ignorant earthlings have killed me. Now, be a good robot, and DON’T destroy their planet, okay?”