The Day the Earth Caught Fire (Original title)
Dates: 1961 (Copyright), 23 November 1961 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Val Guest
Synopsis: Nuclear testing by the Americans and Russians has tilted the Earth off its axis and sent it on a collision course with the sun. As a group of journalists at London's Daily Express report the unfolding events, the superpowers plan to explode two more bombs hoping to set the planet back on its original orbit.
Genre: Science Fiction
Subjects: Apocalypse, Earth (as astronomical body), Nuclear weapons, Weapons testing (weapon systems)
Releases
Date: 1961Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - Sound - MonoAspect ratio: 2.35:1Runtime: 98 mins Length: 8895 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Pax Films
Date: October 2013Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specifiedRuntime: 99 mins 30 secs - Distributor: BFIPlayer
Date: 2014Country: United KingdomRelease type: RestorationFormat: not specified - Colour and Black and White - Sound - MonoRuntime: 98 mins Dialogue (original): English
Dates: 1961 (Copyright), 23 November 1961 (Release)Country: United KingdomDirected by: Val Guest
Synopsis: Nuclear testing by the Americans and Russians has tilted the Earth off its axis and sent it on a collision course with the sun. As a group of journalists at London's Daily Express report the unfolding events, the superpowers plan to explode two more bombs hoping to set the planet back on its original orbit.
Genre: Science Fiction
Subjects: Apocalypse, Earth (as astronomical body), Nuclear weapons, Weapons testing (weapon systems)
Releases
Date: 1961Country: United KingdomRelease type: TheatricalFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - Sound - MonoAspect ratio: 2.35:1Runtime: 98 mins Length: 8895 FeetDialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: Pax Films
Date: October 2013Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specifiedRuntime: 99 mins 30 secs - Distributor: BFIPlayer
Date: 2014Country: United KingdomRelease type: RestorationFormat: not specified - Colour and Black and White - Sound - MonoRuntime: 98 mins Dialogue (original): English
Credits
(53)
©/Production Company: Melina Productions, Presents: Pax Films, A British Lion Release: British Lion Films, A release through: BLC, Produced by: Val Guest, Associate Producer: Frank Sherwin Green, Production Manager: Clifton Brandon, [Production Accountant]: Barry Davis, [Assistant Accountant]: Maureen Newman, [Production Secretary]: Jill Langley, [Producer's Secretary]: Terry Baldwin, Assistant Director: Philip Shipway, [Assistant Director (2nd)]: Terry Lens, [Assistant Director (3rd)]: Bernard Williams, Continuity: Pamela Carlton, Written for the screen by: Wolf Mankowitz, Val Guest, Director of Photography: Harry Waxman, Camera Operator: Moray Grant, [Focus Puller]: Wally Byatt, James Devis, [Clapper Loader]: Jimmy Stilwell, [Chargehand Electrician]: Bert Owen, [Stills]: John Jay, Special Effects: Les Bowie, Editor: Bill Lenny, [Assistant Editor (1st)]: Mike Round, [Assistant Editor (2nd)]: Gillian Scott, Art Director: Tony Masters, [Assistant Art Director]: Geoffrey Tozer, Set Decorator: Scott Slimon, [Draughtsman]: Martin Atkinson, Bill Bennison, [Scenic Artist]: Peter Melrose, [Property Buyer]: Harry Parr, [Chargehand Props]: E. Kell, [Standby Props]: A. Coates, Costume Designer: Beatrice Dawson, [Wardrobe Mistress]: Dulcie Midwinter, [Assistant Wardrobe]: Joyce Stoneman, Make-up: Tony Sforzini, [Make-up Assistant]: Robert Alexander, Hairdressing: Joyce James, Beatnik Music by: Monty Norman, Music Direction by: Stanley Black, Sound Recordist: Buster Ambler, Sound System: Westrex Recording System, [Boom Operator]: Peter Dukelow, Dubbing Editor: Chris Greenham, Technical Adviser: Arthur Christiansen, [Studio Publicity Director]: Dora Dobson, Made at: Shepperton Studios
Cast
(32)
Janet Munro (Jeannie Craig), Leo McKern (Bill Maguire), Edward Judd (Peter Stenning), Michael Goodliffe ('Jacko' Jackson, night editor), Bernard Braden (Davis, news editor), Reginald Beckwith (Harry), Gene Anderson (May), Renée Asherson (Angela), Arthur Christiansen ('Jeff' Jefferson, Daily Express editor), Austin Trevor ([Sir John Kelly]), Norman Chappell ([apartment block porter]), Peter Butterworth ([second sub-editor]), Charles Morgan ([foreign affairs editor]), Edward Underdown (['Sandy' Sanderson]), Ian Ellis ([Michael, Stenning's son]), Jane Aird ([nanny]), Robin Hawdon ([Ronnie]), John Barron ([first sub-editor]), Geoffrey Chater ([Pat Holroyd]), Verina Greenlaw ([Trixie, child lost in fog]), Michael Caine ([checkpoint policeman]), Pamela Green ([nurse at washing centre]), Marianne Stone ([Miss Evans, Jeff's secretary]), Reginald Marsh ([picture editor]), Peter Blythe ([copy desk]), Timothy Bateson ([print room]), George Merritt (['Smudge']), John Rae (['Sarge']), Fred Johnson ([Archie]), Carmel McSharry ([mother in Jeannie's apartment block]), Terence Soall ([uncredited]), Steven Counterman ([boy in water line queue])