Review of The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) by Gordon C — 06 Apr 2008

This could be the earliest example of a phenomen which has become commonplace in recent sci-fi films: the idea that when something goes wrong with the world, the way to fix it is to drop bombs on it (see Deep Impact, Armageddon, The Core, Sunshine for example...).

The movie has a fine, pacy script and excellent acting, using cut-scenes from real life disasters to illustrate the ensuing calamity of the earth being shifted in its orbit to move closer to the sun. How likely this scenario actually is is questionable, but it's perhaps closer to the edge of plausibility than a lot of movies one could name.

Sadly, it ends with a shot of a church spire. What's the message here? That when science fails, prayer is a viable option? This kind of "nod to God" is all too common in sci-fi films. Although at least they don't try to pretend that God would (or could) actually do anything...