Page updated Saturday, March 10th, 2007 |
|
The movies of Science Fiction Double Feature
When Worlds Collide DVD | |
back to the Movies of SFDF page back to the Cellar |
Directed by Rudolf Mate Produced by George Pal (1951) Yep the Worlds do collide in this 1951 Paramount Pictures release, but George Pal is never seen as he is the Producer, he also produced the classics War of the World, and The Time Machine. George Pal (and his bride) is the only name mentioned in SFDF that we don't see in a movie. Gordon Jennings won an Oscar for Best Effects, Special Effects for his work on this movie and deservedly so. This story tells of what might happen if a large enough object struck the Earth, in this case a planet. In fact two planets, the first just missing. Astronomer David Randall (Richard Derr) comes up with the plan to build a rocket to send a select group of mankind to colonise the first planet so that humankind may survive the destruction of Earth. Long before Armageddon and Deep Impact this film dealt with the "what if" of a planetary impact, they owe it more than a debt of gratitude. There are currently plans for a remake of When Worlds Collide due to be filmed in 2006. George Pal had started a project in 1955 called After Worlds Collide again for Paramount, but it never made it into production. Trivia:
Cast:
DVD details:
Cover notes: TODAY'S SCIENCE-FICTION EXTRAVAGANZAS ALL PAY TRIBUTE TO THIS PIONEERING classIC FROM PRODUCER GEORGE PAL (THE WAR OF THE WORLDS), WHICH WON AN OSCAR FOR ITS SPECTACULAR SPECIAL EFFECTS. AN IMPENDING COLLISION WITH A RUNAWAY STAR SIGNALS THE DESTRUCTION OF EARTH. The government refuses to listen to scientists, but private industrialists finance the building of a spaceship, which will carry a limited number of people to another planet to begin a new civilization. As doomsday approaches, they race against time and the panic of those who will be left behind. The potential pulverizing impact of the collision, the massive tidal waves and devastating earthquakes, and the final cosmic smashup make a chilling panorama of disaster. The balance between human and planetary drama is excellently maintained as the movie builds to its fascinating, unforgettable climax. All in all, Saturday afternoon classic. |
Top of Page Print page Email this to a friend Copyright ©TimeWarp fan club