Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

When Worlds Collide Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 26, 2020

Rudolph Maté's "When Worlds Collide" (1951) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage promotional materials for the film; exclusive new audio commentary by critics Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman; and a large collection of archival interviews. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

On the way

As I was getting ready to revisit Rudolph Mate’s When Worlds Collide, NASA confirmed that there is evidence of hidden water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. This is an extraordinary piece of news, because it presents the human race with a wide range of incredible opportunities. One of them is described in Mate’s film.

In Africa, renowned astronomist Dr. Emery Bronson (Hayden Rorke) and his team issue a report warning that the Earth is on a collision course with Bellus, a giant star in the newly discovered planet Zyra’s orbit. Pilot David Randall (Richard Derr) is then hired to quickly transport the report to fellow astronomist Dr. Cole Hendron (Larry Keating) in America and have him and his team analyze it. When the data from the report is confirmed, Dr. Hendron warns the international community that it is only a matter of time before Bellus destroys Earth. However, a vocal group of skeptical experts dismiss the findings of the report and urge state leaders to remain calm and continue running their countries as usual.

Soon after, Dr. Hendron and his assistants acquire additional data pinpointing the exact date of the collision, and then with the help of a crippled millionaire begin building a giant spaceship that would transport a small team of scientists and other skilled volunteers to Zyra that would ensure the survival of the human race. While preparations are underway on a remote and secure location, Dr. Hendron’s daughter, Joyce (Barbara Rush), falls madly in love with Randall, who is unsure how to respond because she is supposed to marry another man.

The film merges two different types of material, one of which is starting to lose its vintage sci-fi identity. (Remember, this film was completed in the early 1950s, so the idea of engineering a spaceship capable of transporting people to another planet where they can build a livable colony was very much considered unrealistic). The more serious one is delivered through a series of discussions addressing the events leading to the construction of the spaceship and then its chances of reaching a safe place in outer space. Obviously, most of the technical verbiage is rather easy to dismiss, but the logic that is channeled through these discussions is entirely legit. Consider this: Elon Musk’s SpaceX project is fairly similar to the one that Dr. Hendron launches after his people confirm the initial report -- its ultimate goal is starting a colony on Mars. Also, the economic obstacles and coordination of the efforts to build a reliable spaceship during an emergency make perfect sense.

What looks decisively dated and actually does not work particularly well is the melodrama that is used to make the scientific material easier to digest. Indeed, the love triangle that emerges while the spaceship is build feels a lot like a distraction rather than an essential element of the narrative. Right before the crucial launch there is a mass uprising that looks equally problematic as well.

Still, this is a fine genre film that has the right atmosphere and looks quite good. The disaster footage isn’t comparable to the one that you would see in The War of the Worlds, but the majority of the sets and special effects are done with the right type of imagination and skills.

Mate used the services of two cinematographers: John Seitz, who lensed such classics as Sullivan's Travels and Double Indemnity, and W. Howard Greene, who won multiple Oscar awards for his work on Phantom of the Opera, A Star Is Born, and The Garden of Allah.

When Worlds Collide Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, When Worlds Collide arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The release is sourced from a 4K master that was prepared by the folks at Paramount Pictures. However, the quality of the presentation is actually very similar to that of Bend of the River. What does this mean exactly? It means that even though density levels range from good to very good, and fluidity is quite good, there are still registration issues and in some areas also noticeable color instabilities. In fact, the entire color scheme of the new master could and should be lusher and better balanced, especially in darker areas where some gentle nuances appear uncharacteristically shaky. Furthermore, there are tiny flecks, scratches, and even stains that quite easily could have been removed with modern digital tools. In other words, even through the current master has strong organic qualities, the film has the type of dated appearance that typically emerges from older masters. All in all, this is a decent presentation that makes it easy to enjoy the film, but a proper 4K restoration could and should deliver the type of quality we witnessed with the recent 4K restoration of The War of the Worlds. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

When Worlds Collide Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I liked the lossless audio track a lot. It is clear and often producing some very good dynamic contrasts. Yes, the age of the original soundtrack shows, especially when Leith Stevens' music becomes prominent, but the lossless track is healthy. Can any improvements be made? Yes. During select transitions the audio could become a bit thin and uneven, so some enhancements could produce meaningful improvements.

When Worlds Collide Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

NOTE: All of the supplemental features on this Blu-ray release are perfectly playable on North American Blu-ray players, including the PS3.

• Trailer - remastered vintage trailer for When Worlds Collide. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 720p).

• Photo Gallery - a collection of vintage production and promotional materials for When Worlds Collide. (5 min, 1080p).

• Extended Interviews - a large collection of extended 'George Pal' interviews. The bulk of the content focuses on the use of special effects in classic films and the legacy of producer George Pal. In English, not subtitled. (89 min, 720p).
  
  1. Wah Chang
  2. Gene Roddenberry
  3. Ray Bradbury
  4. Duke Goldstone
  5. Ray Harryhausen
  5. Russ Tamblyn
  6. Roy Edward Disney

• Commentary - in this new audio commentary, critics Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman discuss the genre identity and visual style of When Worlds Collide, the relevancy of the dilemmas that are tackled in the film, George Pal's legacy as an auteur, the era in which the film emerged, other similar genre films, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment.

• Cover - reversible cover.

When Worlds Collide Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Is there a relevant message in Rudolph Maté's When Worlds Collide? Yes, absolutely. I think that it is only a matter of time before various types of colonies are built on other planets, some perhaps in other galaxies as well. I think that this is one of the key reasons why The United States Space Force (USSF) is now a reality. On the other hand, I hope and pray that we never have to face the scenario that is described in the film. This recent release from Australian label Via Vision Entertainment is sourced from a 4K master that was prepared by Paramount Pictures. It is decent, but if the film is properly restored, it should look quite a bit better. Currently, this is the only Blu-ray release of the film on the market, so it is very easy to recommend. RECOMMENDED.