A small team of professional astronomers discover a new planet that is on its way to hitting Earth directly. The astronomers put all their information about this discovery into a secure container. They then hire a skilled pilot named David (Richard Deer) to take the data to a group of scientists, asking them to confirm if the recent discovery is real.
Upon delivery, the scientists review all the information, and it is shortly confirmed that all the data appears to be true. The two worlds will collide, destroying Earth. With the clock ticking, David, along with the scientists, will work frantically to create and complete a massive rocket that will allow them to fly out to the new planet which is passing them by. It is hoped they will land safely, and the remaining survivors will start life all over again.
The pacing of this film is brilliant. To my surprise, it’s a short film which is paced nicely. Even within the first act, a discovery is made, and then the world is bracing itself for the major disaster. The lead character played by Richard Deer was fun and loveable type of character. There are many scenes where he admits that he can’t save the world, and he has no scientific background. He’s a character who wants to help if possible, using any skills he can to try and help. He is almost comparable to a cheeky schoolboy which I thought was a nice touch considering the film’s topic about the end of the world is quite dramatic. The playful character lightens the mood whenever he appears on the scene, and I enjoyed his presence on screen.
The visuals are also stunning. Considering this film was made back in 1951, the achievement of visuals and special effects are outstanding. Naturally, there are obvious moments where the use of models are at play, but I truly enjoyed the creativity of the film. The makers were forced to be creative without the use of CGI that we are spoilt with in the present day. The transfer of this release onto Blu-ray from Imprint Films was extremely complimentary, with only one or two frames that showed their age and took me out of the moment. But again, based on the year it was released, I can’t complain about the results here.
Generally, I found myself having a good time with the film. If I had to pick out any issues with this film, it would be minor ones. Some of these include what feels like a forced romance, and the lead female character who does not offer a great deal as a character on screen.
Overall, it feels like it has been a while since I watched a disaster film that genuinely pleased me. While the plot of the world coming to an end sounds sad and dramatic, I honestly had a good time with this film. It is a short film, and the pacing is terrific. It never drags on, and it is always entertaining. The film visuals were also somewhat positive thanks to Imprint Films and considering this is a 1951 film, it’s a beautiful release. I am so glad I had the opportunity to check it out!
7.4/10
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