70s Trek: Star Trek In The 1970s

Gene Roddenberry was a science fiction fan.  He loved reading the books of H.G. Wells growing up.  As an adult, he also appreciated films in the genre that made you think.  One of his favorites was 1951's The Day the Earth Stood Still. The film follows Klaatu, an alien who has landed on Earth with an important message for Earth's leaders, but he can't seem to get any help to deliver it.  The message is that Earth, after discovering the powers of the atom, is now a threat to other worlds. The people of our world were put on notice by Klaatu: Do want you want to do here, but don't threaten to extend your violent ways to other worlds, or the Earth will be destroyed. The director of Earth was Robert Wise who would go on to direct Star Trek: The Motion Picture.  Was he picked to direct TMP because of the job he did on The Day the Earth Stood Still?  Probably. It is thoughtful science fiction with some concepts that became part of Star Trek.  For kids who grew up in the 1970s, there is also a tie to that other sic-