What a fine film, In the 70's used to be on all the time on local TV stations in America, so much so some would say, that again.But then like many films by the 80's it started to vanished slowly but surely from the airwaves. Cable has pretty much ignored it the past decade or so, whatever video release it might have gotten it was not that big, because in the 80's never saw it in video stores and i back then i visited thousands of video stores. i believe in the late 90's i saw it was going to be playing at a revival house in New york i was all ready to see it, when my boss asked me to work late, oh well, guess where i found it recently?, yes YOU TUBE, good print, but this film's little exposure over the years, is really a shame, i feel and other's do it is a Science Fiction classic. Any comments?
Good, glad to hear it, thanks, now when will TCM finally show it, like so many other old classics they don't show while they repeat clinkers[well to each one's own, sorry] but you know what i mean.
One of my favourite films - love the b/w photography, the atmosphere, the great depiction of journalism, McKern, Munro, Goodliffe. I pulled the DVD out only a few weeks ago for another watch.
There's a good R2 DVD by Network around with a Leo McKern interview and some other extras.
Bob DiMucci Did Stanley Black score this film? One source says that he provided an uncredited score. Another credits him as "Musical Director."
I don't know about the score but damnit, Bob, I wanted to be the one to upload poster.
I have the Anchor Bay DVD, which is an excellent transfer and package all around. Evidently it's hard to find now and I don't know if the burn-on-demand version includes the informative commentary by director Val Guest:
It has a brilliant script by Wolf Mankiewicz and director Val Guest. Superbly directed with understated, committed performances. The opticals and effects are simple but highly effective. One of the classic sci-fi films, and very entertaining. I consider it one of best sci-fi films ever made, and probably the best doomsday film ever made. Period.
I love this film, it's a very adult and smart film.
I want my NTSC BLU-RAY NOW!!!!
Ford A. Thaxton
Ha, remember HD isn't PAL or NTSC, but the BFI Blu-ray is probably region B locked (I hope it isn't). I still have my Network DVD, but will buy this Blu, great movie.
I love this film, it's a very adult and smart film.
I want my NTSC BLU-RAY NOW!!!!
Ford A. Thaxton
Ha, remember HD isn't PAL or NTSC, but the BFI Blu-ray is probably region B locked (I hope it isn't). I still have my Network DVD, but will buy this Blu, great movie.
Thanks for the link to the U.K. blu-ray, a B.F.I. release. The British Film Institute generally make outstanding transfers. The only time they ever screwed up, to my knowledge, was in Hammer's Dracula, and Warner Home Video was partly to blame for that.
Really looking forward to a B.F.I. transfer of THE DAY EARTH CAUGHT FIRE. I note that they're releasing Knigel Kneale's live teleplay 1984 on the same day. This adaptation of George Orwell's novel was very influential when it aired in 1953 and made Peter Cushing a household name across the pond. It's never had a home video release that I know of. So two important British sc-fi films coming out in hi-def November 17. Maybe they'll get here in time for Thanksgiving.
And, in the very beginning, Judd shows up at his office, sits down at his desk, and pulls his typewriter toward him, as the melting rubber supports for it smear across the surface of the desk.
It was filmed in a kind of ocher-and-white, an overall tone of darkened dirty yellow, to indicate the increasing heat.
Around the same time, there was an eerie "Twilight Zone" episode, about essentially the same thing, concerning 2 women dealing with the growing heat; one of them is an artist, and towards the end of the episode, her paintings melt and flow down off the walls. (Then she wakes up from the horrible dream, to be part of an even more horrible twist. Well, that's "The Twilight Zone" for you!)
The British Film Institute has officially announced and detailed its upcoming Dual Format Edition of Val Guest's The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), starring Edward Judd, Janet Munro, and Leo McKern. The release will be available for purchase on November 17th.
Newly remastered by the BFI National Archive, this definitive version of the classic British science fiction thriller will be released by the BFI on both DVD and Blu-ray on 17 November 2014 as part of Sci-Fi: Days of Fear and Wonder.
Both formats contain a host of extras, including a commentary with director Val Guest (the Quatermass films), a newly-created documentary, a selection of bomb-related archive films and much, much more.
When the USA and Russia simultaneously test nuclear bombs, the earth is knocked off its axis and set on a collision course with the sun. As the planet inexorably heats up and society slowly breaks down, Peter Stenning (Edward Judd), a washed-up Daily Express reporter, breaks the story and sets about investigating the government cover-up.
Made at a time when the nuclear threat of the Cold War loomed large, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is an expertly crafted sci-fi film that boasts a BAFTA-winning screenplay, gritty characters and a vision of end-of-days London that really burns. It also stars Leo McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey), Janet Munro, real-life reporter Bernard Braden and one-time Daily Express editor Arthur Christiansen. Many scenes were filmed on location at the former Daily Express HQ on Fleet Street and in the surrounding area.
Special Features: Brand new 4K transfer by the BFI National Archive Hot Off the Press: Revisiting the Day the Earth Caught Fire (John Kelly, 2014, 34 mins): a newly-created documentary with contributions from Kim Newman, Marcus Hearne and BFI Archive curators John Oliver and Jo Botting Audio commentary with Val Guest and Ted Newsom An Interview with Leo McKern (Paul Venezis, 2001, 9 mins) The Day the Earth Caught Fire: An Audio Appreciation by Graeme Hobbs (2014, 9 mins) Original trailer, TV spots and radio spots Stills and Collections Gallery Three nuclear films from the BFI National Archive: Operation Hurricane (Ronald Stark, 1952, 33 mins); The H-bomb (David Villiers, 1956, 22 mins); The Hole in the Ground (David Cobham, 1962, 30 mins) Think Bike (1978, 1 min): road safety film with actor Edward Judd Illustrated booklet with extensive credits and newly commissioned essays from John Oliver and Marcus Hearn The Guardian Lecture: Val Guest and his wife, actress Yolande Dolan are interviewed by David Meeker, filmed at the National Film Theatre (1998, 63 mins) (Blu-ray exclusive feature)
The Cohen Media Group has revealed that it is preparing a Blu-ray release of director Val Guest's classic film The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), starring Janet Munro, Leo McKern, Edward Judd, Michael Goodliffe, and Bernard Braden. The release is expected to arrive on the market early next year.
Synopsis: A London journalist (Edward Judd) investigates the world's increasingly ferocious weather conditions and discovers that the Earth has been knocked off its axis by extensive nuclear testing. Is the Earth doomed? Aided by a vivid depiction of the world of newspaper journalism, and extensive location shooting on the streets of London, director Val Guest delivers one of the best of all British sci-fi films and the chilling scenes of a deserted London rival those in 28 Days Later. NEW 2K RESTORATION
