When Worlds Collide
starring: Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Peter Hansen, John Hoyt, Larry Keating
directed by: Rudolph Maté
directed by: Rudolph Maté
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Product Description:
When a group of astronomers calculate one planet is on course to pass close enough to the earth to cause havoc on land and sea while a few days later a second will record a direct hit they set about building a rocket so a few selected individuals can escape to the first of the unwanted intruders.Studio: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: 04/11/2006Starring: Richard Derr Peter HansonRun time: 83 minutesRating: GDirector: Rudolph Mate
Amazon.com:
Winner of the 1951 Academy Award for Best Special Effects, this science fiction extravaganza set a new standard for the realistic depiction of cinematic disasters. Of course, it's a quaint curiosity by today's technological standards, but as produced by visual effects pioneer George Pal, this story of Earth's collision with a runaway star is still a dazzling example of screen sci-fi from the '50s, when special effects were entering a new stage of advancement. Despite scientists' warnings about the star's destructive potential, government officials refuse to take action that could cause international panic, but a consortium of private industrialists prepare for the worst by building a gigantic spaceship--an ark for humanity to begin life anew on a distant planet. Who will be chosen to go, and who left behind? As earthquakes roar and massive tidal waves devastate entire cities, the huge rocket prepares for take-off from its miles-long launching ramp--ready to abandon the shattered Earth! Although it's more enjoyable now as a cinematic museum piece, When Worlds Collide remains a milestone of its kind, leading the way for many more screen disasters that followed this movie's still-worthy example. --Jeff Shannon
When a group of astronomers calculate one planet is on course to pass close enough to the earth to cause havoc on land and sea while a few days later a second will record a direct hit they set about building a rocket so a few selected individuals can escape to the first of the unwanted intruders.Studio: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: 04/11/2006Starring: Richard Derr Peter HansonRun time: 83 minutesRating: GDirector: Rudolph Mate
Amazon.com:
Winner of the 1951 Academy Award for Best Special Effects, this science fiction extravaganza set a new standard for the realistic depiction of cinematic disasters. Of course, it's a quaint curiosity by today's technological standards, but as produced by visual effects pioneer George Pal, this story of Earth's collision with a runaway star is still a dazzling example of screen sci-fi from the '50s, when special effects were entering a new stage of advancement. Despite scientists' warnings about the star's destructive potential, government officials refuse to take action that could cause international panic, but a consortium of private industrialists prepare for the worst by building a gigantic spaceship--an ark for humanity to begin life anew on a distant planet. Who will be chosen to go, and who left behind? As earthquakes roar and massive tidal waves devastate entire cities, the huge rocket prepares for take-off from its miles-long launching ramp--ready to abandon the shattered Earth! Although it's more enjoyable now as a cinematic museum piece, When Worlds Collide remains a milestone of its kind, leading the way for many more screen disasters that followed this movie's still-worthy example. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - "Dr. Frye," says Dr. Hendron, "notice the position of these new bodies." "Yes," says Dr. Frye, "yes, I see."
There was a time, long, long ago, when teachers taught their young students to crouch under their desks for protection if the Russians lobbed nuclear bombs into the town square. There was a time when kids would look at the marvelously detailed galactic paintings by Chesley Bonestell and rush to read more science fiction stories. There was a time when the human hand, not computers, created special effects in movies that made kids go "Wow!"
George Pal's When Worlds Collide, based on the ... Read More
Rating: - A great movie: But even in 1951 you would have noticed the gaps.
When Worlds Collide is great science fiction. I must have viewed it over a dozen times over the years and I never get tired of watching. Yes, there are scientific flaws; for example, surely the star Bellus would have either crushed or incinerated the Earth weeks before the final day of judgement. But there are more than adequate compensations in the acting, in the plot and the characterization. Richard Derr as the pilot/love interest is really good and Barbara Rush almost as convincing as the scientist/daughter/love ... Read More
Rating: 
- A classic Sci-Fi movie for all real Science Fiction fans
This movie is a classic Sci-Fi from 1951, produced by George Pal, and providing a very interesting story, based on accurate scientific facts, at least in theory, as two of the characters say all the time in parts of this movie, upsetting one of the other person involved. The collision course theory could happen for real, just like all the meteorites are happening every day, just imaging a little bit bigger !
From an astronomy stand point the story line is accurate, the launch pad for the rocket though isn't but ... Read More
Rating: - Great film for it's day or any other day!
I first saw this film when I was young and impressionable. It gave me a sense of dread and fear that very few "end of the world" pictures ever did. Nuclear war, a VERY real threat then, didn't cause me any worry. But the thought of being smashed to atoms by another pool ball from outerspace did. I always wondered would I be calm and accept my fate or scratch and claw my way for one more minute of existence like the others?
Considering the budget and the state of special effects at the time, this color film ... Read More
Rating: - Doomsday is near
When Worlds Collide is one hour and twenty-one minutes long and was released on November 22, 1951. When Worlds Collide won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects in 1952. An astronomer Dr. Henry Bronson in South Africa discovers that a planet he calls Zyra will collide to earth within eight months. A group of scientists get together to build a rocket\spaceship so a group of forty people can colonize Zyra. The movie has one major flaw. When they land on the new planet, they land snow\icy area. When they open the hatch, ... Read More
- "Dr. Frye," says Dr. Hendron, "notice the position of these new bodies." "Yes," says Dr. Frye, "yes, I see."There was a time, long, long ago, when teachers taught their young students to crouch under their desks for protection if the Russians lobbed nuclear bombs into the town square. There was a time when kids would look at the marvelously detailed galactic paintings by Chesley Bonestell and rush to read more science fiction stories. There was a time when the human hand, not computers, created special effects in movies that made kids go "Wow!"
George Pal's When Worlds Collide, based on the ... Read More
- A great movie: But even in 1951 you would have noticed the gaps.When Worlds Collide is great science fiction. I must have viewed it over a dozen times over the years and I never get tired of watching. Yes, there are scientific flaws; for example, surely the star Bellus would have either crushed or incinerated the Earth weeks before the final day of judgement. But there are more than adequate compensations in the acting, in the plot and the characterization. Richard Derr as the pilot/love interest is really good and Barbara Rush almost as convincing as the scientist/daughter/love ... Read More
- A classic Sci-Fi movie for all real Science Fiction fansThis movie is a classic Sci-Fi from 1951, produced by George Pal, and providing a very interesting story, based on accurate scientific facts, at least in theory, as two of the characters say all the time in parts of this movie, upsetting one of the other person involved. The collision course theory could happen for real, just like all the meteorites are happening every day, just imaging a little bit bigger !
From an astronomy stand point the story line is accurate, the launch pad for the rocket though isn't but ... Read More
- Great film for it's day or any other day!I first saw this film when I was young and impressionable. It gave me a sense of dread and fear that very few "end of the world" pictures ever did. Nuclear war, a VERY real threat then, didn't cause me any worry. But the thought of being smashed to atoms by another pool ball from outerspace did. I always wondered would I be calm and accept my fate or scratch and claw my way for one more minute of existence like the others?
Considering the budget and the state of special effects at the time, this color film ... Read More
- Doomsday is nearWhen Worlds Collide is one hour and twenty-one minutes long and was released on November 22, 1951. When Worlds Collide won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects in 1952. An astronomer Dr. Henry Bronson in South Africa discovers that a planet he calls Zyra will collide to earth within eight months. A group of scientists get together to build a rocket\spaceship so a group of forty people can colonize Zyra. The movie has one major flaw. When they land on the new planet, they land snow\icy area. When they open the hatch, ... Read More
