The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961)
- Starring:
- Janet Munro, Leo McKern, (more)
- Director(s):
- Val Guest
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Despite its come-on title, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is an intelligent, disturbing piece of speculative fiction. Through the eyes of British reporter Peter Stenning (Edward Judd), we learn that both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. have simultaneously set off nuclear explosions to test their efficiency. The twin blasts have caused the Earth to go off its axis. The result is a disastrous upheaval in the balance of nature; floods and fires being the principal plagues. With the end of the world staring everyone in the face, chaos reigns. The only hope lies in another massive nuclear explosion, which will hopefully rebalance the Earth. The film ends ambiguously, with viewers allowed to decide for themselves whether or not the world has been saved. In the original prints of The Day the Earth Caught Fire, the opening and closing reels were tinted yellow, representing the scorching heat beating down on the frightened populace. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 99 mins
Complete Cast of The Day the Earth Caught Fire
- Janet Munro - Jeannie
- Edward Judd - Peter Stenning
- Michael Goodliffe - Night editor
- Peter Butterworth - 2nd Sub Editor
- Arthur Christiansen - Editor
- Renée Ashershon - Angela
- Edward Underdown - Sanderson
- Geoffrey Chater - Holroyd
- Jane Aird - Nanny
- Michael Caine - Policeman
- Leo McKern - Bill Maguire
- Bernard Braden - News editor
- Reginald Beckwith - Harry
- Gene Anderson - May
- Austin Trevor - Sir John Kelly
- Charles Morgan - Foreign Editor
- John Barron - Sub Editor
- Ian Ellis - Michael
- Robin Hawdon - Ronnie
- Marianne Stone - Miss Evans
- Director(s):
- Val Guest
- Writer(s):
- Wolf Mankowitz, Val Guest
- Producer(s):
- Val Guest
- Categories:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- 1961 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Screenplay
- 1961 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Screenplay
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