Review of The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) by Mike M — 09 Jul 2014

An intelligent, sombre science fiction film focusing on the waning days of planet Earth that - thanks to atomic weapons altering its orbit - is now hurtling directly toward the sun. Plague, drought, riots: all the usual end-of-times fence posts are here yet, this time, it isn't played for needless action or adventure sequences, rather, reported on dutifully by the film's central protagonist, a British newspaper reporter, determined to go down with the figurative ship (if need be) all the while recording things for future generations .

. . if they ever come. Black and white, save for some artistic red tinting at the beginning and end (signifying the heat of the approaching star) and brilliantly directed on a small budget by Val Guest, this film plays like a feature length Twilight Zone - with all that that implies.