Thank you for this! My Dad was Leo McKern and this film started my love of science fiction. It has become a cult classic according to Mark Kermode.

@TheUnapologeticGeek

3 жыл бұрын

Oh wow! Very cool to have his daughter in my comments. Thank you!

@garrywood5345

2 жыл бұрын

Excellent Film...The effects are Impressive for a Film over 60 years Old. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧❤

@garrywood5345

2 жыл бұрын

He was pretty Impressive in A man for all seasons.

@abigailmckernwalkingwithpo4582

2 жыл бұрын

@@garrywood5345 YES! I agree - I thought everyone was wonderful in that film - John Hurts first film I think? I remember my Dad saying "He'll go far!"

@t.p.mckenna

Жыл бұрын

This movie has always been a great favourite of mine. My dear dad, T.P. McKenna, got to work with yours on Rumpole a la Carte. I featured an extract in a recent tribute evening at the Cinema Museum, Dad playing a temperamental gourmet chef, Jean Pierre O'Higgins, riled by Rumpole's yearning for bangers and mash! Another Rumpole connection, of course, is a very young Peter Blythe as a despatch boy, the future Sam Ballard.

Haven't seen this one in decades, but I've never forgotten it. Underrated and overlooked. Thanks for putting it back out there.

This was my favourite of all the sci-fi movies from this period. It was more realistic. I loved the adult relationship being so open when movies at the time were generally a little more prudish. The DVD I have is good quality with the red at the opening and at the end. I saw an image of it in a blue ray edition. If it is available like that then I'll get that if it has been upgraded.

back in the day(late 70's-early 80's) well before streaming, video on demand, KZread. Before VCR's were widely owned. Before the Video cassette rental boom. Before many of us had cable tv and were reliant on the 3 local Network Affiliates, a PBS, and a couple of independently owned channels on UHF one was at the complete mercy of the programmers at those few channels when it came to what was available to watch and when it was available. The local affiliates back then would often fill non Network reserved hours(usually late at night and afternoons) with syndicated programing or theatrical movies. Usually that which was aired would not be of interest necessarily but you would watch anyway because there were so few options. Sometimes however, a film like The Day The Earth Caught Fire would air, and it would serve as a revelation. You would find yourself riveted, as a kid, late at night watching something that you had not before seen and did not even know existed. That was a really special feeling and experience back then. One that can not really be experienced now since everything thats ever been filmed is available to be streamed on demand and not having something of interest to watch is now never a concern or even a possibility

This is one of my all-time favorites... because it shows journalists dealing the the biggest story ever very realistically... and shows a man who has almost given up on life coming to terms with his personal challenges thanks to unexpectedly being handed this incredible story by fate / act of God. I also love that we don't know if the Earth's orbit will be corrected at the end... although I think it unlikely anything would get it back to where it originally was.

One of my favourite channels on KZread !!!..... you deserve far more subscribers . Keep up the good work it’s very much appreciated 👍

Leo McKern is as compelling as always in this one.

This may well be my favorite British sci-fi film. I have no criticisms. Leo McKern is amazing as always and the rest of the cast isn't far behind. Sober and subdued, this is a fantastic film...cinema at its finest. I had the DVD for years and it looked very good; the Blu Ray is astoundingly good and I love the BBFC card at the beginning. More people need to know about this film. Janet Munro was a tragic talent; I adored her in "The Trollenberg Terror".

Janet Munro passed away in 1972 at the age of 38 after a promising career start . She married actor Ian Hendry but their relationship didn't survive due to alcohol abuse - his and hers ! Very sad.

Always loved this movie.

The budget constraints on this movie make it so much better The fact its shot in B&W adds to the atmosphere and the use of the Daily Expresses actual offices adds to the realism Without doubt Leo McKern carries his film with fast punchy dialogue giving the film pace.. Like Get Carter it gets better with age.. Well worth a purchase

@TheUnapologeticGeek

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed!

@wirebrushofenlightenment1545

Жыл бұрын

Yes - in lieu of special effects we get an intelligent thoughtful adult script, played to perfection by a truly superb cast. One of my very favourite films.

@funksoulbrother3620

8 ай бұрын

And Michael Caine is in this one too

An interesting movie I first saw back in the late 70s...early 80s. I liked the storyline / premise in the early era of “The end of the world “ movies. Good acting & watchable.

I grew up in a small mining town in Australia, and due to my father being on night shift mum would let me stay up on Friday nights to watch old horror and sci fi movies. I can tell you they never once thought about ratings as I watched a lot of films not meant for children. But I will say a lot of the adult stuff did go over my head and I just enjoyed the films.

I'm planning to open my own channel, your style is truly inspirational. Cheers from italy 🇮🇹🇺🇸

@TheUnapologeticGeek

3 жыл бұрын

Best of luck!

Great Review Thank you. Another one of my favourite Sci Fi movies .

Storms are getting stronger, and it is very, very hot now in the Philippines (6/18/2021). This is the first time I've heard of this movie. With this heat, it really makes one think! And I just became a new subscriber!

Unique sci-fi story & interesting. Watchable. Somewhat underrated .

Excellent video. I’ve never seen this film but am a big Leo McKern fan and would love to see it. Thanks for your analysis.

A tragically underrated film.

It really is still bad 😂 Haven't seen "The Day the Earth Caught Fire", so this was enlightening as ever! Always been a fan of the Nicolas Myers TV film "The Day After" 😀...wonder why?

Loved this film and enjoyed your review

It's a long time since I've seen this film. Interesting about Richard Burton, because Judd always reminded me of him in this part. I suppose WWII was recent enough in terms of humanity finding inner resources to deal with immediate dark circumstances to ring through for audiences. The TV prints I've seen didn't have the red filter. Similar to 1940's 'The Sea Hawk' having prints without the sepia filter for Panama.

Haven't seen this flic in years... should dig it out & watch it again! & you are right about Mr. Judd! He was notoriously difficult to work with!

I'd put this film WAY up high on any list of top SF films of all time. Some of the sharpest dialogue, deepest developed characters and sense of believability are only some of its qualities. As far as "earlier" sf film goes, I'd put this above films like FORBIDDEN PLANET, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL and THE THING (which I've always thought a tad over-rated: I was always disappointed that the studio wouldn't allow for a truly strange, horrifying creature, as in the novella WHO GOES THERE.). Hard to believe EARTH CAUGHT FIRE was done for so little money. I am glad that Guest was able to get this film done for the big screen (wide screen, at that) instead of as the tv mini-series he had originally aimed for. But, then, I"m a huge fan of his 2 Quatermass films too, so...Guest is best...in my book. Thanks for this one. Again, great work...in spite of the "synopsis".

All this and the title of one of my favorite 70's rock albums.

OK, now I have to look for your video about "Wing Commander". It wasn't the worst movie ever made, but it was pretty bad. (spurts of smoke from interior torpedo hatches?) The best part about watching in the theater was the scene where the protagonist was told by a commander that he had the ability to navigate and help them find their way home, because it ran in his family. At that point someone in the audience yelled "use the Force, Luke!", to the enjoyment of everyone else.

I've only ever seen one film on acid. This was it. I REALLY got into it. Oh, and as a Londoner I've been to that pub off Fleet Street too. Not a Patreon but I'd say go for reviewing Phase IV.

@TheUnapologeticGeek

3 жыл бұрын

I'm ashamed to admit I'd never even heard of it until your comment. I've looked into it, and now it's definitely on my list!

@sbloocas2317

3 жыл бұрын

We're all square then, as I'd never heard of Aelita. Good of you to look Phase IV up as I thought you'd feel its vibe. Oddly, were I to start a YT channel on sci-fi movies my choices would be exactly the same as yours - except for Aelita which I didn't know about. So respect! Very well made, informative videos.

Okay. I'll see it.

did know this movie existed.

I found this film pales when compared to the Midnight Sun episode of Twilight Zone. I simply love the basic claustrophobia of the TV show transformed it in a way that the film failed to do. Also, and who can deny this, the twist at the end is revolutionary. Such a tiny little character play is heightened by that ending to a level this film would never reach. Also, until 1980 and the film Body Heat, I had never seen such a sweaty film--I mean not even the slave scene in Ben Hur came close. Body Heat on the other hand is one of the best films ever made. The cast is performing so high above almost anything else they would ever go on to do, the writing is, not surprisingly, much better than that of Double Indemnity--the film most often compared to Body Heat these days--and the crackling, sex-tinged dialogue between Ned and Maddy is much better than it has any right to be in such a film. Take for example the scene where Ned--after spending montages looking for Maddy finally finds her one night in a neighborhood bar. He takes a seat beside her at the bar. Across from them sits an array of scowling men. Ned asks, "What did I do." 'A lot of them have tried that seat. You're the first one I let stay." "You must come here a lot". "Most men are little boys". Ned looks at her. "Maybe you should drink at home." "Too quiet". Maddy looks away and sips her cocktail. Ned looks her up and down. "Maybe you shouldn't dress like that." "This is a blouse and skirt, I don't know what you are talking about." Ned seriously, "Maybe you shouldn't wear that body." They don't write dialogue like that anymore.

Solid man, good work. My favorite climate catastrophe movie has to be Children of Men, which like this movie is narrowly focused on the human toll and redemption. I guess you could say the same thing about Bladerunner 2049. A lot of people have a hard time with The Road because of how utterly bleak it is, but it does get down to the point that children are essential to fix our thinking when we can't fix ourselves. what you pinpoint here, though is an environmental disaster movie where the events take place proximate to the onset of the disaster. The movies I mentioned all take place in the aftermath.

@thrashpondopons2776

3 жыл бұрын

If you like 'Children of Men', try reading 'Greybeard' by Brian Aldiss!

Thank god this film doesn't suffer the label of "cult classic", which often means a film watched repeatedly for either its sheer weirdness, or for the esoteric laughs it gets.

I really want to like this movie. But the DVD I got of it was so bad (Early BFI or something?) It was like a VHS transfer straight to disk. Sound was awful, no subtitles, blah! Yet, as you say - there was good drama and dialog happening I wanted to understand more. Not sure who I saw recently - Shout! or Indicator or someone, but has reissued the film? I'd like to get a GOOD version of this movie, preferably with subtitles and extras as well. As it is unique to most of the 'apocalypse' movies. Good review that keeps me intrigued still. :)

The cliffhanger ending was unusual. The movie does seems similar to the novels "The War of the Worlds" & "The Time Machine" in the protagonist being a passive observer. Have you considered reviewing "The First Men in the Moon"?

@TheUnapologeticGeek

3 жыл бұрын

It’s on the list!

Great photography and production value on such a low budget. I wonder how many days that had to film.

It's a good film.

Ha! Already clicked like before you asked me too, I got you m8!