It's the 1951 classic, The Day The Earth Stood Still, and I really, really hope there isn't some subconscious reason for its recent (and frequent) appearances on my cinematic mind. It's on NETFLIX INSTANT (along with a summary that amuses me greatly):
An envoy from another world warns Earth's people to cease their violent behavior. But panic erupts when a nervous soldier shoots the messenger.
Well-played, Plot Synopsis Guy; well-played. (Also, a related point: Michael Rennie is a fascinating-looking guy, and a huge part of why this film is so successful/eerie. The Scott Derrickson-helmed remake from 2008 -- which I enjoyed a lot more than most -- featured Keanu Reeves in the messenger role. And while that seems like an excellent decision on paper, Reeves is simply not as intrinsically interesting/unusual as Rennie.)
The Day The Earth Stood Still depicts the arrival of an alien dignitary, Klaatu (Michael Rennie), who has come to earth with his deadly robot, Gort (Lock Martin), to deliver the message that earthlings must stop warring among themselves--or else. After being shot at by military guards, Klaatu is brought to a Washington, D.C.
Attribution(s): All posters, publicity images, and stills are the property of 20th Century Fox and other respective production studios and distributors.