Rating: 
Summary: Quality Filmmaking Hides Small Budget
Review: Let's face it, most "end of the world" pictures are usually weak. This one is one of the most intelligent sci-fi films, in terms of dialogue and direction, ever made. The premise is a bit wacky: the earth is knocked off it's axis and hurling toward the sun. But it's handled with such care it becomes tolerable. The setting is a London newspaper. The story unfolds through the eyes of has been reporter Peter Stenning (played brilliantly by Edward Judd). He's an alcoholic getting his life together when he stumbles upon the story of a lifetime, with the help of a beautiful young lady he immediatley falls in love with (Janet Munro).
The acting, writing, direction are all superb. The films effects (provided by Les Bowie) are a bit obvious, but since they are NOT the focus of the film, you won't mind. A bit of trivia: JFK reportedly admired this film (released 1962).
There is speculation to this day about the film's end. Is the world saved or not? It is a bit ambiguous, and I won't spoil it for you here.
The film is beautifully restored for DVD. An orange tint is used at the beginning and end of the film to convey heat (as in the theatrical version). Val Guest's commentary is very interesting, and there's a photo gallery featuring Janet Munro's publicity shots. Fans of this talented actress (who tragicly died young in the early 70's) will especially appreciate this section.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Doomsday Thriller
Review: Nuclear explosions cause the earth's axis to tilt and start moving towards the sun. Naturally things heat up causing Mother Nature to wreck havoc on earth and it's inhabitants. This film is intelligently written, well acted, fast paced and frightening which is what every classic sci-fi movie should be. I have been wanting to see this movie for years but could never find it. Now it has a beautiful widescreen picture and my life is closer to being complete. Unfortunately , the sound leaves something to be desired. You can still hear the dialoge but it is a mirco second out of sync making it looked dubbed. If not for this problem (it could just be my copy) the DVD would have gotten 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: I've got the marshmellows...
Review: The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1962) has impressive credentials, given that it was co-written and directed by Val Guest, the man who brought to the screen such classic films as The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) and The Abominable Snowman (1957).Peter Stenning (Edward Judd) is a down on his luck newspaper man, struggling with the difficulties of his recent divorce, maintaining a relationship with his young son, and taking up the drink a bit more often than he probably should, all having a negative effect on his once upwardly mobile career and his life in general. To top things off, London begins suffering a heat wave like it's rarely seen before. Not only that, but it seems all around the world strange phenomena has been occurring from flooding, earthquakes, drought, freak snowstorms, typhoons, etc. All coming on the heels of news that within the past week the Soviets and the Americans both detonated atomic devices larger than had ever been seen before. Leo McKern plays Bill Maguire, an associate and close friend at the newspaper where Peter works, and begins to develop a theory about what's going on, but is not able to confirm anything as the government has kept a tight lid on what it knows, handing out canned responses to an ever questioning press and public. Peter, while trying to squeeze some information out of a government office, meets Jeannie Craig (Janet Munro), a worker within the office who sometimes operates the switchboard receiving calls. Peter starts putting the moves on her, but she isn't very responsive...at first. Soon the temperature starts rising, lakes and rivers start drying up, and government enforced water rationing measures are put into effect. Facts about the current condition are sketchy as the government is still not very forthcoming, but Jeannie overhears some startling information she is hesitant to share, but is unable to keep it to herself. She shares it with Peter, after making him promise that it would only be between them, to which quickly releases the information to his newspaper. One may think Peter quite the cad, but given the enormity of the information, he really had no choice. Jeannie finds herself in hot water as she is discovered as the 'leak', and Peter finds himself on the outs with Jeannie for the betrayal. What was this startling information? What is the government hiding? What's causing the all the natural catastrophes? It's not too difficult to figure out, but the film does offer a few surprises you may not see coming. Despite the low budget, director Guest does an amazing job creating a world on the verge of an apocalyptic nightmare. The focus on the newspaper and its' staff, working feverishly to uncover facts and report accurately while the world is falling apart around their ears gave a unique view into the genre. The main characters in the film were nicely developed, but not always likeable, adding a realistic sense. Also, the documentarian style used in many of the scenes served nicely to give the viewer more of a sense of dread, as if this was something that could really happen, or was really happening. Shot primarily in black and white, there are a number of scenes at the beginning and the end in color, but use an orangish gel to create a creepy and oppressive effect. The effects are decent, but are used in a complementary effect, taking a back seat to the substantial, intelligent, sparkling and well thought out plot. The wide screen print provided by Anchor Bay Entertainment looks beautiful, and the audio is quite good. The listing of features on this site claims a full screen format is available here, too, but I didn't see it. Special features include a commentary by director Val Guest and journalist Ted Newsom, TV spots, a theatrical trailer, radio spots, a still gallery (with a couple of pretty racy photos of Janet Munro), and a biography of director Val Guest. If you're looking for big bang effects to cover an inconsequential plot, like the more recent films Independence Day (1996) or The Core (2003), then you'll be disappointed here. If you're looking for an effective, thought-provoking science fiction thriller with lots of meat and little filler, then this is a great choice. Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: HEAT INDEX
Review: THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE has always been a hard to find video, but now with the wide release of it on DVD, everyone will now have the chance to sample what is one of the best sci-fi/atomic cautionary tales ever made. And what's more, it's also one of the best newspaper films ever made to boot (right up there with THE FRONT PAGE and ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN). The plot is simple enough - twin nuclear explosions at the poles cause the Earth tilt, tip and send it closer and closer towards the sun. The closer they get - the hotter it becomes, and the better the film gets as it goes (and the effects really sell this - I still can't shake how creepy the idea behind the melting telephone is). Excellent script is balanced with perfect casting to make a chilling and all too real look into what could be our own fate - sans twin nuclear explosions - but keeping the heat, building on heat. This DVD edition is feature laden (something that the page listing for their EDITION DETAILS is missing). Commentary comes from Val Guest (Director/Writer) along with Ted Newson (Historian) - and is very entertaining, conversational and informative (and sometimes a bit odd - Newson laments several times that we never see enough of Janet Munro nude in the movie - and there is one very brief moment of partial nudity in the film - but he keeps on wishing there was so much more - he even sighs heavily each time). Film is presented in widescreen and the transfer is crisp and very sharp. Sound is solid, and the package is rounded out with trailer, TV spots, radio spots and still gallery - all of which is well pacakged, and presented in top notch form. The menus are also very well done - the only bad thing I can say about this film is, for all the effort that was put into making this a must own DVD for any collector, the image and font style for the front case cover makes this look like a direct to video movie easily ignored. Don't be fooled - beyond the box there is a fantastic film inside. Again - a must for fans of the genre, and a highly recommended by for the casual viewer.
Rating: 
Summary: Ambiguity Reigns Supreme
Review: There's an unquestionable elegance to any story that can be told without answering all of the questions that it raises. This is an even larger gamble, however, if the story in question is of the 'end of the world' variety. Stephen King's seminal work, THE STAND, takes the reader on a wild ride throughout Earth's demise, the battle between the forces of good and evil, and the inevitable question of survival, to which he has a central character answer simply (and brilliantly), "I don't know." THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE, filmed in 1961 during the dawn of the Cold War, paints a bleak picture indeed: the end result of the United States and the Soviet Union's nuclear testing program has not only tilted the Earth 11 degree of its axis but also has thrown the planet off its orbit onto a path gradually spiralling into the sun. Of course, much of this is learned in the latter half of the film, and the first portion focuses (as all good apocalyptic tales do) on hypnotizes the viewer with taunts and teases associated to living an ordinary life. Once the news breaks, massive social changes (water rationing, community shower facilities, etc.) wreak havoc on the lives of the principle characters -- a news reporter intent on telling the story of the world's demise and the woman he inadvertantly meets and falls in love with in the process. While the script allows for a reconciliation or conclusion to their relationship ... well, I don't want to give away the last five minutes, as the opening and concluding moments of EARTH CAUGHT FIRE are precisely what make the flick suitable Cold War viewing. All in all, a film that poses more questions than it answers, but isn't that the formula for apocalypse?
Rating:
Summary: A science fiction film that broke the mould
Review: This 1961 Bafta award winning film is a rare example of a sci-fi story that concentrates more on characterisation than it does on special effects, and is all the better for it. Edward Judd's alcoholic journalist feels more than just his creative juices flowing again after a chance encounter with the delectable Janet Munro, and soon, after some witty repartee, the couple are very much in love. Unfortunately, at the same time, short-sighted scientists have set the world on a collision course with the sun by detonating two nuclear bombs at opposite ends of the globe. When Munro accidentally stumbles on the truth and Judd publishes it, the world has to come to terms with climate change, water rationing, Beatnik riots, and the very real possibility of the world coming to an end. And it is the exploration of those effects on the psyche of what seem like real people that makes the film so special. Using the usually immoral setting of a newspaper office, Val Guest brings these extraordinary events sharply into focus and creates an ethical forum into which every one of his characters throw their hat at some point. Judd's character becomes even more world-weary, Leo McKern's character puts the blame squarely on the heads of the politicians, and Janet Munro's naïve trust in authority is cruelly exposed. The film, shot in documentary style to make it as "real" as possible, questions the way the human race treats the world it lives in, and is still highly topical today. No doubt the planned Hollywood remake would improve on the original's perfectly adequate special effects but it would do well to remember the true spirit of the story. In particular, it would be worth bearing in mind that, with George W Bush's particular environmental policies, we are already heading towards the sort of climate changes Val Guest "prophesised" in this picture. The dialogue is also the one other stand-out feature of this film. Unlike many other sci-fi films of the era it is quick, witty, and extremely naturalistic - once again helping to keep the more "unlikely occurrences" of the plot as believable as possible. This is a truly British treat of a film that breaks the mould of all other sci-fi movies, and should be in everyone's video collection. The DVD itself is also excellent. Anchor Bay have learnt their lesson in terms of the commentary track, as this time the director is coupled with a probing journalist (Ted Newsom) who knows a fair share about the film himself. Not that Val Guest isn't a fine commentator, it's just that, with Newsom's help, he talks more specifically about the details the viewer would like to know. As a result, the commentary is a wholly enjoyable one that seems to fly by. All the trailers, tv and radio spots are here also, but particularly impressive is the stills gallery and Val Guest biography notes, which are both extremely comprehensive. The picture quality of the DVD is extremely good for a film of this age and, most importantly, the original tinted effect has been restored at the beginning and end of the picture (to indicate heat), making the DVD a must buy. The only negative is the sound quality, which is poor to say the least, but this does not spoil the overall viewing experience too much. Anyone interested in finding out more about Val Guest should read his autobiography "So you want to be in Pictures", which had its release celebrated at the Barbican Theatre, London, by the man himself. I attended the event, as well as a viewing of this film, and was particularly enthralled by the many poignant and witty anecdotes he had to tell about his illustrious career in movie making. In "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" he is at the peak of his skills in brilliant film making.
Rating:
Summary: A definite must-see!
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite films, available at long last in widescreen format on DVD! Intelligent and classy, The Day the Earth Caught Fire isn't my usual so-bad-it's-good fare, but a movie you'll actually enjoy watching. Reporter Edward Judd uncovers a nefarious cover-up on the part of the government: the Earth's been knocked out of orbit by atom bombs, but the powers that be want to keep the lid on the news to avoid mass panic...which of course happens anyway. Janet Munro sets the screen on fire as the sexy temp who spills the beans to Judd, doing her first nude scene after leaving Disney. Leo (Rumpole) McKern as Judd's fellow reporter is his excellent, lovably irascible self. Some very effective special effects The DVD includes commentary by producer/director/co-writer Val Guest, and features tinted opening and closing scenes as shown in some theaters. Very highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: This sucks.
Review: this is the dumest movie since I saw Barney {with my freinds child} it's so stupid and and dumb I think it's a piece of older brother Roger says "it's so stupid I could kill my self watching it it's a piece of ----, it's ------- dumb so kids never watch this it sucks" I think it's dumb enough to die.
Rating:
Summary: Early Sci-Fi At Its Best
Review: Unlike many examples of early sci-fi cinema, TDTECF combines a thought-provoking storyline with superb acting to create a very credible thriller about the countdown to Earth's destruction as a result of a decaying orbit brought on by nuclear testing. Edward Judd is excellent in the role of Peter Stenning, a cynical newspaper columnist who has fallen from the top of his profession into a whiskey bottle but rises to sobriety once again admist the crisis. Janet Munro is adorable as Jeanie Crane, the weather ministry worker who leaks the story of the ages to Judd and ends up falling in love with him in the process. Leo McKern, widely known for his later role as Rumpole of the Bailey, is simply superb as Bill McGuire, the paper's science expert and Stenning's best friend. His sharp wit and tongue make his character a joy to watch. Added into that mix is an amazingly authentic recreation of a newspaper work environment. I don't know the actor who plays Mr. Jefferson, the newpaper's editor, but he should have gotten an Oscar for his portrayal. I heard somewhere that he was a former newspaper editor--and it shows in his performance. The special effects are minimal and unsophisticated, but the tension in the story builds as the lethality of the crisis becomes apparent to everyone and mankind makes a frantic, last-second attempt to prevent its ultimate undoing. As far as the DVD goes, it is a very nice package. It includes commentary from Val Guest, the director; a nice set of production stills; and radio advertising spots for the movie. The audio sync does appear to be a hair off in some spots, but it wasn't all that noticeable. The picture quality is crisp and the audio is clear. I especially like the colorized (sort of) opening and closing sequences. Overall, a very nice packaging of a wonderful movie. One of the top sci-fi films of all time in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Hammer sometimes made good movies....
Review: Val Guest's script and direction are effectively handeled in this movie, that looks a bit more like an expanded Twilight Zone episode, rather then a movie, but the strength of the screenplay and cast make this a good movie to watch as the Earth's days are numbered in a story that is an effective protest against nuclear weapons testing.
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