The Day the Earth Caught Fire

The Day the Earth Caught Fire 1961

• Director: Val Guest
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Edward Judd, Janet Munro, Leo McKern
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Edward Judd – The Onedin Line, O Lucky Man
• Janet Munro – The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Third Man on the Mountain, Darby O’Gill and the Little People
• Leo McKern – King Lear, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, A Man for All Seasons, Help!
• Why? Part of a campaign offering British classic films
• Seen: 21 June 2019      

       It starts with stark sepia scenes from London. A lone man wanders down the street with St Paul’s in the background into an abandoned newspaper office, sweating in the sweltering heat. He’s a journalist. He wants to file a report. Thirty minutes have passed since the bombs were detonated, the bombs that are meant to nudge the Earth back into its proper orbit.

       Ninety days ago. A busy newsroom. The news – sunspots, H-bomb tests, protests, earth tremors, extreme weather.

       Pete Stenning (Judd) is an arrogant, pushy journalist who is divorced and an alcoholic in danger of losing his job.

       The Americans and Russians detonate one test bomb after another. In the middle of a Ban the Bomb demonstration there is an unexpected eclipse of the sun.

       This is fast paced, realistic and frightening film about the nuclear arms race and the end of the world. Seen through the eyes of Pete and several other individuals we see daily life go on as the horrible consequences of the test bombs become clear.

       The black and white filming of London in the 60’s is stunning as are the simple but impressive special effects.

       The cheeky bickering gender squabbles between Pete and state employee Jeanie (Munro) probably seemed modern and daring at the time but are now annoying. If you can bear with that the rest of the film is very powerful. Much of it is uncomfortably close to the news reports of today.

5- * of 5