THE
DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE (Blu-ray Review)
Starring
Edward Judd, Janet Munro, Leo McKern. Directed by Val Guest. (1961/99
min)
FROM
KINO LORBER
Review
by Mr. Paws🙀
What's
ultimately terrifying about The Day the Earth Caught Fire is
that its depiction of an impending apocalypse is probably the most
plausible. Worse yet, it's arguably the most timely. In fact, it's
entirely possible we're in the midst of such a scenario right now.
Cheery
thought, isn't it?
Not
that multiple atomic explosions will send Earth spinning toward the
sun anytime soon. Like most doomsday films back then, The Day the
Earth Caught Fire was simply exploiting society's fears of
all-things-nuclear. If people were just as globally terrified of
Elvis' corrupting influence on our youth, we might see Earth knocked
off its axis from millions of synchronized pelvic thrusts. The real
horror of the film lies in how humankind responds...or doesn't
respond.
As
the film begins, there are already ominous signs that all is not
right with the world...floods, torrential downpours, heatwaves,
interference of radio communication. These newsworthy events are all
investigated and reported by London's Daily Express, as are recent
nuclear tests by the United States and Russia. I don't know if it's
because everyone is unflappably English, but not-only does everyone
try to go about their daily business, most simply seem inconvenienced
by the sudden climate changes. In fact, alcoholic reporter Peter
Stenning (Edward Judd) resents being ordered by his editor to
research sunspots (initially thought to be the cause of the
phenomena), preferring to try and get Meteorological Office operator
Jeannie Craig (Janet Munro) between the sheets.
 |
| Stenning suddenly realizes the "i before e except after c" rule simply isn't true. |
It's
only after crippling fog, fires, droughts and cyclones wreak havoc on
several major cities that Stenning and his colleagues begin to
suspect everything is connected to the nuclear tests. Jeannie's news
from the Meteorological Office confirms that the tests not-only
shifted the tilt of the Earth, it is now heading toward the sun. Only
then does the government finally inform the world they're all screwed
(though it's suggested they've known for some time). This realization
happens very late in the movie, after it's essentially too late to do
anything but put their hopes on a last-ditch plan to right Earth's orbit with more
nuclear explosions. However, it's obvious nobody really
thinks it'll work, and in the film's most chilling scene - aside from
the final shot - most of London's young people collectively throw in
the towel and party like it's 1999, cheerfully wasting precious water
everyone's been ordered to ration.
Granted,
it's doubtful that any human intervention could prevent such a
catastrophe and The Day the Earth Caught Fire doesn't let the
viewer off the hook with reassurance things will be hunky-dory
tomorrow. Furthermore, its overall contempt for human arrogance –
that Earth is ours to abuse as we wish without repercussion – is
abundantly clear. We are ultimately responsible for our own doom,
whether we choose to see the signs or not.
 |
| The Day Stenning's Pants Caught Fire. |
But
what makes the movie disturbing even today is you could easily
swap-out its sci-fi aspects for something more immediate -
like climate change or a global pandemic - leave the rest of the
story intact, and still have a scathing commentary on people's
inability or unwillingness to acknowledge the trigger effect of human
carelessness, despite such ominous signs as melting ice caps or
spikes in COVID-19 cases in states where thousands of jackasses
flocked to the beach and partied on Memorial Day (mostly
young people, just like those in the movie).
But
despite its pessimistic view of human nature and open-ended
conclusion, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is an entertaining
film. It's even quite funny, at times, especially the antagonistic
banter in the newsroom, as well as Stenning and Jeannie's playful
verbal sparring. While the budget-conscious use of stock footage is
painfully obvious, meticulously-crafted matte paintings
effectively convey the aftermath of widespread disaster. It's
enjoyable freezing the picture now and then just to take-in the
details, which look wonderful on this nicely remastered, long-overdue
Blu-ray release. The Day the Earth Caught Fire remains a
smart, gripping and dark disaster thriller that transcends its decade
with timely relevance.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
AUDIO
COMMENTARIES – 1) By writer/director Val Guest; 2) By historian
Richard Harland Smith
TV
& RADIO SPOTS
THEATRICAL
TRAILER
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS.
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