We were thinking at the time that Blaustein would be the producer and Eddie North the writer and Claude Raines as the man to play the part of Klaatu. And fortunately for us, as it turns out, he was tied up in a play in New York, not available. And I've signed him to a contract, I think you should see him as a possibility for the lead in your picture. It turned out to be Michael Rennie, who was just marvelous for us of course, having somebody brand new to the screen, never been seen in a picture before so much more believable as the man from outer space. And of course also he was tall and thin.
Some people read a religious connotation into the thing, the resurrection and all.
If you want to put a beard on Rennie and all he could be a Christ figure. So that's one of those lucky breaks that happened, so much better for us than having a known actor like Claude Raines. I don't see why it wouldn't have been. It seems to me that underlying almost everything is a universal desire for peace, it doesn't matter which country. I imagine even Saddam Hussein, at some place along the line, would like to have peace and stop warring.