Lost in Space, Vol. 9 - WAR OF THE ROBOTS (1965)

The "Lost in Space" Robot vs. Robby the Robot to the death!

The original "Lost in Space" set of videotapes provided nine episodes from the first season of the show (1965-66) when it was in black & white. Out of the nine episodes selected only one of them is less than stellar, and "War of the Robots" would not be that one. That is because this episode is based on the brilliant idea of having the two most famous robots in pop culture history meet, namely the Robot from "Lost in Space" and Robby the Robot from "Forbidden Planet."

Episode 20, "War of the Robots" (Written by Barney Slater, First aired February 9, 1966), begins with Dr. Smith (Jonathan Harris) and Will Robinson (Billy Mumy) finding an alien robot that the whiz kid quickly puts back in working order. Robotoid (Robby the Robot) proves to be superior to their own Robot (Bob May), who would be jealous if that were not a human emotion. However, Robotoid is just trying to get in good with the Robinsons so that he can take them to his home planet to be slaves (although having puny human slaves versus superior robots does not sound exactly logical). If you do not know who is going to have to save the day at the end of this one, then you were obviously weaned on something other than science fiction as a child.

It has been pointed out by those more knowledgeable than myself that Robby the Robot underwent some significant alterations before appearing on "Lost in Space" in 1966: a new dome (with a single keyhole-shaped gasket added behind the ear piece and cooling rings), new arms (at least seven rings rather than three), and a new chest box (the script required it to open). Robbie would be back on "Lost in Space" in 1967 on the episode "Condemned of Space," where he had some yellow stripes added. Robby was designed by Robert Kinoshita, and built in mid-1955 by the MGM prop department, at a reported cost of $125,000.00. After playing a pivotal role in "Forbidden Planet," where he was played by Frankie Darro and voiced by announcer Marvin Miller, he was in a B-movie, "The Invisible Boy."

Before "Lost in Space" the 7' 6" Robby also appeared on television on "The Thin Man," "The Gale Storm Show," "Hazel," and two episodes of "The Twilight Zone" ("Uncle Simon" and "The Brain Center at Whipple's). In between the two "LIS" appearance he was on "The Addams Family," and then appeared on "Ark II" and "Mork & Mindy" (as Chuck the Robot). There were also uncredited appearances in the films "Uchu Kaisoku-sen," "The Lathe of Heaven," "Gremlins," and "Earth Girls Are Easy." Of course, I had not seen "Forbidden Planet" when I first saw "War of the Robots," so I was rooting from the Robot over Robbie from the start. I am sure I was not alone in terms of fans of the show who had anthropomorphize the Robot before the Robinsons decided to get with the program. March 22, 2005

War of the robots

Will finds robot {robby} fixs him,- helps robinsons with' chores -- /

robot programed to have a will of its own- robot plots evil task, of scraping the b9 - - - - oh the pain ,the pain October 26, 2000

Doctor Smith gets into trouble again

This is a typical lost in space epic in which Dr. Smith eats fuit which is unsafe.As a result,he turns into a giant. Not a bad episode but certainly not one of the best. The camera work is pretty well done that shows a 20 ft tall mift Dr. Smith. April 22, 1999

More reviews at Amazon.com ...