When Worlds Collide (1951)

Synopsis:

Mankind’s total destruction becomes a possibility when scientists discover that a planet is en route to a direct collision with Earth. As experts try to convince the international community of their impeding doom, engineers are working on creating a spaceship that could take a handful of people to another habitable planet.

Reaction & Thoughts:

“Your salvation doesn’t interest me; mine does.”

Producer George Pal was a master at developing great looking, grandly produced fantasy films that served not only to stretch our imaginations, but also to further push technological advances in the film industry, especially in the optical effects department. The War of the Worlds, Tom Thump, and The Time Machine are among Pal’s most interesting and successful productions, and they all share the same ideas — fantastic stories vividly told using an array of visual imagery.

This was Pal’s third production, and his good eye for detail pays big dividends. Imaginatively directed by cameraman-turned-director Rudolph Mate (Union Station and D.O.A.) from a screenplay by Sidney Boehm (Side Street and The Big Heat), When Worlds Collide is full of great visual and sound effects (for 1951).

It’s clear that Pal was set on creating a feast for the eyes and ears. The film was lavishly filmed in Technicolor by John F. Seitz (The Lost Weekend) and W. Howard Greene (The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex). The then-innovative, Oscar-winning special effects blend exceedingly well with the actors and the sets, creating a believable futuristic atmosphere. I’m a huge fan of miniature work, so it goes without saying that I greatly enjoyed the technical aspects of this entertaining movie.

During the collision of planets, some optical effects do show their age. However, a possible hokey sequence becomes an imaginative way of presenting two planets on the verge of destruction. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, you name it, all these sequences are neatly realized for maximum impact by the technical crew.

 The actors are just right. Richard Derr (American Gigolo) and Barbara Rush (The Young Lions) are okay in the leading roles. John Hoyt (Winter Meeting) is a great villain. Stuart Whitman (The Comancheros) has a bit role. Film debuts of Rachel Ames (TV’s General Hospital) and Mary Murphy (The Desperate Hours). All things considered, When Worlds Collide provides a good alternative for those of you tired of today’s highly digitized Hollywood films.

Conclusions & Final Thoughts:

Although the effects don’t look as fresh as they did almost 70 years ago, When Worlds Collide is undeniable one of the most influential science fiction films ever made. Although the technology is dated, this is an essential movie for those movie buffs that treasure classic science fiction. This is a delightfully corny film that the entire family can enjoy. Color, 83 minutes, Not Rated.