Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

The Day the Earth Caught Fire Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see slice of genre filmmaking

An exciting science-fiction fable told in the vein of an episode of The Twilight Zone, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a must-see classic of genre storytelling which stands up well to this day. Directed by Val Guest (When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Casino Royale), the edge-of-your-seat gem is well regarded for its impressive visuals and remarkable performances. Starring Janet Munro, Leo McKern, Edward Judd, Michael Goodliffe, and Bernard Braden, viewers won't want to miss it.

When a series of nuclear bombs detonate simultaneously around the United States and soviet Russia, the entire world is on the edge-of-their-seat as the weather turns deadly and strange events start to happen all around the world. A group of dedicated news journalists research the story and things rapidly begin to spiral out of control. Will the earth and its rotation ever return to a peaceful state?

One of the most compelling elements of the film is the striking visual aesthetic. The film is largely black-and-white and the visuals are haunting and effective throughout. Yet there are also moments featuring color-tinting that add to the viewing experience and which help the storytelling stand out. Some of these sequences are far more surreal and electrifying because of said color-tinting. Given the storytelling concepts, the visual aesthetics play a big component in the effectiveness of the filmmaking. Cinematographer by Harry Waxman (The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Swiss Family Robinson) adds so much to the tone of the film. Match these elements with the stunning art direction by Anthony Masters (production designer of 2001: A Space Odyssey) and the results are dynamite.

Tick. Tock.

Of particular interest to the production is the way effects were used for the time-period. Some scenes utilized matte paintings. These elements showcase how even simple special effects can go a long way and why modern CGI is not always a requirement – just some creativity and a good story are needed to entertain audiences.

The editing is dynamic and fluid throughout. Edited by Bill Lenny (Race for Life, Ike: The War Years), The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a quality achievement. The careful pacing and editing help to give scenes an eerie quality which would otherwise be missing. The pace is slow and thoughtful (and is never rushed). There is a sense that each scene was given a special amount of care. The edits are impressive and fit the score by composer Stanley Black (Mission: Monte Carlo, Sands of the Desert) like a glove.

Val Guest directed the feature with a confidence that makes the filmmaking all the more compelling to watch unfold. Working with co-screenwriter Wolf Mankowitz (Expresso Bongo, The Millionairess), there are moments were the storytelling feels like an ominous warning to society: we need to be contemplative when it comes to something as dangerous as a nuclear bomb. Guest wants for the filmmaking to be entertaining for audiences (while still giving some food for thought). The film actuallty features the real-life Daily Express newspaper (which plays a pivotal role in the story). A definite warning: we need to protect our planet from nuclear weapons or the headlines are to follow. The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a must-see genre gem.

The Day the Earth Caught Fire Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber, The Day the Earth Caught Fire features a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The release features a brand new 4K restoration. The print on the release is simply outstanding. The level of clarity and detail in each image is remarkable. The film has some rather impressive color-tinting as well and these sequences add to the experience. There are no issues with regards to print damage: no tears, scratches, and warps to report. The restoration effort is a true home run and the film has likely never looked better than it does on this Blu-ray release.

UPDATE: On closer inspection (after a note from a reader), the release appears to be in a aspect ratio of 2.24:1, which means that there is some very slight cropping to the image during the presentation. Most viewers will not notice any issue whatsoever with the slight cropping but it is still inexplicably there on the presentation. Though Kino lists the aspect ratio as 2.35:1, the transfer is ever-so-slightly different in its framing. For comparison: the BFI Blu-ray (Region B) uses a 2.38:1 transfer so both releases appear to be in a somewhat different aspect ratio than the 2.35:1 OAR. Perhaps this is due to the source materials delivered to Kino from the BFI in preparation for the release: the scan appears nearly identical to 2.35:1 but some information is cropped nonetheless and it is worth noting.

The Day the Earth Caught Fire Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release features a DTS-HD Master Audio mono soundtrack. The track sounds remarkably clean throughout the entire presentation. Dialogue reproduction is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The track has some subtle sound design elements which are well reproduced by the lossless sound mix. A highly proficient sound mix which has been well preserved by Kino and which is a perfect match to the 4K visuals.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Day the Earth Caught Fire Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio commentary by co-writer/producer/director Val Guest

Audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith

The Day The Earth Caught Fire 4 TV Spots (SD, 1:57)

The Day The Earth Caught Fire 4 Radio Spots (Audio Only, 2:08)

The Day The Earth Caught Fire Theatrical Trailer (SD, 3:04) is of particular interest as it showcases just how massive an upgrade the 4K restoration is on this release: the trailer has not been restored.

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: The Quartermass Xperiment (HD, 2:14) and The Earth Dies Screaming (SD, 2:14).

The Day the Earth Caught Fire Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a truly impressive film and one that will grip hold of audiences and never let them go. The experience is tense, exciting, and thought-provoking. The Blu-ray release is a must-own for fans of the film: the new 4K restoration is top-notch and is nearly flawless. There are several supplemental features as well. Highly recommended.