The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) - Nov 17 2014

[James Luckard]

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-D...lu-ray/108745/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Day-the-.../dp/B00M2WZXG0

This is one of my favorite classic sci-fi films. It was clearly a big inspiration for the Tea Leoni plotline in the 1998 film Deep Impact, which also followed a journalist who learns that the government is keeping the secret that the world is about to end in a cataclysm. It's an extremely grounded drama, mostly dealing with the human impact of impending doom, like a British version of On The Beach.

I know this release has been mentioned in the BFI thread, but it should have its own thread as well. Unless you already know it's there, there'd be no way to know about it. I only learned about the release because I saw it along the top bar here of BDs on sale at Amazon.

I hope they get the rights to the excellent commentary by Val Guest from the American DVD that I have.

[Pecker]

The big difference being that Tea Leoni produced one of the worst acting performances in a Hollywood film, ever. And, to be fair, it's not like she's up against stiff competition.

Great film - day 1 purchase for me.

Steve W

[James Luckard]

I just read the BFI website link from the BFI thread here, looks like this will be a newly restored version of the film, which was shot in glorious black and white scope and is really visually striking:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/n...ys-fear-wonder

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Pecker

The big difference being that Tea Leoni produced one of the worst acting performances in a Hollywood film, ever. And, to be fair, it's not like she's up against stiff competition.

Great film - day 1 purchase for me.

Steve W

Aww, I like her in that movie. And Morgan Freeman is great as the President, while Maximilian Schell and Vanessa Redgrave bring a HUGE amount of depth to their underwritten roles as Tea's parents, I love the scene where

[Show spoiler]Maximilian Schell brings Tea a childhood photo of them together in happier times as he prepares for the end and says what he thinks is a final goodbye to her. And her reunion with him on the beach always gets me too.

The "teenagers in love" subplot isn't that great, admittedly, but the filmmakers realized this and it was hugely pared down in the finished film. I've also read that the space sequences were among the most technically accurate ever done up to that time.

I think the filmmakers just bit off more than they could chew, tackling so many themes dealing with the end of the world. They admitted that On The Beach, When Worlds Collide and the Arthur C. Clarke novel Hammer of God were all inspirations, they were genuinely grappling with moral themes about the end of humanity - the lottery for survival at the core of the film was dark and powerful. I have respect for a Hollywood film that tries to do that, especially since that summer offered the alternative, Armageddon, which had the same plot but without the complex tapestry of characters.

Deep Impact and The Day The Earth Caught Fire would make a great double feature.

[ste71]

I pre-ordered this when it was £19, this is my all-time favourite Sci-fi film. First saw it on TV during the Summer school holidays about 30 years ago. I was scared! Can't wait for this.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by ste71

I pre-ordered this when it was £19, this is my all-time favourite Sci-fi film. First saw it on TV during the Summer school holidays about 30 years ago. I was scared! Can't wait for this.

Glad so many other people like this film. And for those who have never seen it, don't be scared off by the label "sci-fi". It's really more a highly realistic romantic conspiracy thriller. There are no aliens or explosions or anything. On The Beach is definitely the film it's closest to in tone and style.

[CinemaScope]

A great movie. I still have the Network DVD, but will buy this (esp as it isn't £20 anymore). At the time it looked like Edward Judd & Janet Munro could be stars, but it seems booze got the best of both of them.

[ptb2010]

Makes me feel old as I saw this in the cinema, at the glorious Granada Tooting in South London. I did have to pretend I was 16 to get in, as it carried an A certificate, which was no under 16 unless with an adult, and my father couldn't take me. But they knew me at the Granada as I was so often there, and let me in!
A really good movie, apart from the real life editor of the Daily Telegraph I think it was, struggling to sound authentic when surrounded by actors. But that apart a terrific film.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by ptb2010

A really good movie, apart from the real life editor of the Daily Telegraph I think it was, struggling to sound authentic when surrounded by actors. But that apart a terrific film.

I think the title may be part of the problem, it sounds like schlocky genre fare, when it's actually a cool, measured drama.

[WilsonBros]

Reviewing at the moment. The transfer is outstanding, and the extras are perfectly fitting, from audio commentary to public information films about H-bombs and the prospect of a nuclear winter.

It is hard-coded region "B", if anyone is interested.

[rapta]

Gonna pick this up at some point for sure, but might wait to see if it falls to a slightly more sensible price! This is 1-disc right?

[the blob]

Originally Posted by rapta

Gonna pick this up at some point for sure, but might wait to see if it falls to a slightly more sensible price! This is 1-disc right?

I missed when it was around £12 and I'm waiting to see what price HMV have it for in store. They're sometimes good with BFI or Eureka on release.

Really glad to hear they've done a great job with it though.

[David M]

Originally Posted by rapta

Gonna pick this up at some point for sure, but might wait to see if it falls to a slightly more sensible price! This is 1-disc right?

1 disc with nearly 6 hours of video on there, yes.

[ptb2010]

Early reviews are all praising the transfer and generous extras. Can't wait to get my copy. Remember lying my way into see it when it came out, Probably had an X certificate in those 'enlightened times' just before the Beatles hit us!
Terrific movie as I remember it.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by the blob

I missed when it was around £12 and I'm waiting to see what price HMV have it for in store. They're sometimes good with BFI or Eureka on release.

Really glad to hear they've done a great job with it though.

Hmm that's true. I kinda do wish I'd pre-ordered early on just in case but for some stupid reason didn't! What have HMV's prices been like for BFI in the last couple of months? I haven't really taken notice...anyone know what the pre-order price for this and/or Eyes Without A Face is? I remember The Epic Of Everest and Classe Tous Risques only being £10.99 on release!

[the blob]

Classe Tous Risques was the last single release I remember looking at. The Herzog steelbooks were reasonable at £14.99 and the Herzog and Robbe-Grillet box sets weren't excessive either. Knowing HMV it'll either be £10.99 or £29.99!

[rapta]

Originally Posted by the blob

Classe Tous Risques was the last single release I remember looking at. The Herzog steelbooks were reasonable at £14.99 and the Herzog and Robbe-Grillet box sets weren't excessive either. Knowing HMV it'll either be £10.99 or £29.99!

I was working at HMV up until late Summer and I remember they would update the price roughly a week before release - so if anyone is looking to get a copy and lives nearby it'd be great to find out!

DVD Beaver review is up by the way...looks stunning: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-r...re_blu-ray.htm

[WilsonBros]

it does indeed look wonderful, as it should when subject to a 4K restoration. They even went and found the original gels used to tint the movie at both the start and the climax, looking totally different in colour to any other releases.

The extras are fittingly excellent, and have been a joy to work through. Will be posting detailed looks at them once the review is finished.

[Pecker]

Think once.

Think twice.

Think bike!

[*PREACHER*]

DVDBeaver review:

LINK