The 27th Day story
Five scientists are transported to an alien spacecraft in Earth orbit. There, they are met by a humanoid referring to himself only as "The Alien", who explains that he is the representative of a world orbiting a sun about to go nova. Needing a new world to inhabit within the next 35 days, yet prohibited by their moral code from killing intelligent life, The Alien provides each of the five with sets of three capsules in a clear, round, hand-held case. Each capsule is capable of destroying all human life within a 3,000-mile diameter, with the expectation that humanity will use all the capsules, obliterating itself, leaving the Earth free for alien colonization. The capsules' clear containers can only be opened by the thought waves of the person to whom they were given. Once out in the open, the capsules inside can then be used by anyone, but only during the next 27 days, after which they become inert.
16 total · 5 major · 11 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| annihilation by a planet busting device | major | The Alien gave a personalized doomsday device, capable of eliminating all Human life on Earth while leaving everything else in tact, to each of five abductees. |
| attack from outer space by a powerful conquering enemy | major | The Alien tried to get Humans to destroy themselves so that The Alien's people could colonize Earth. |
| science for war or peace | major | At the conclusion of the film Professor Klaus Bechner explained how the doomsday device, like other energy sources such as fire and electricity and nuclear fission, could be used for evil or for peace and it was up to them to choose. |
| transnational institution for peace | major | After the "enemies of human freedom" were all killed, the remaining people of the world came together under the United Nations extends an invitation to The Alien and his people to coexist peacefully. It turns out that the preceding events had actually been a test of character, a way for The Alien to judge mankind's true nature. The Alien accepts, and a new day like no other dawns for humanity. |
| war due to diplomatic miscalculation | major | Mutual fear among the Soviets and Americans resulted in a first strike dynamic that nearly lead to a nuclear war. |
| alien abduction | minor | The Alien abducted five people and supplied the each with a doomsday device. |
| coping with being tortured | minor | Soviet soldier Ivan Godofsky was tortured mercilessly by Soviet officials who were looking for information about the doomsday device he was given. |
| facing organized pursuit | minor | Johathan Clark was pursued by the government authorities for having disobeyed an order to appear before a Congressional committee. |
| flying saucer | minor | An alien in a flying saucer abducteed five people and gave them personalized doomsday devices. |
| flying saucer theory of UFOs | minor | An alien in a flying saucer abducteed five people and gave them personalized doomsday devices. |