When Worlds Collide

I remember back in the late 70's seeing this film on television with fondness; as it was this film that made me a fan of actress Barbara Rush. It must have been a sub-conscience/subliminal influence, as I remember still back in the early 70's in vaguely seeing Barbara in another classic - `It Came From Outer Space', which should also be in your DVD library-I might add.

So it was decided then and there that Barbara was to be my first `Movie Star' that I would love to watch; and even now she is still my favourite actress after all these years-slowly but surely I hope to get all her films.

The 1950's was a treasure trove of classic science fiction films that were to influence the genre from then to the present; and thus one early movie was of course `When Worlds Collide' made in 1951.

The film was based on the 1933 novel co-written by Philip Gordon Wylie and Edwin Balmer; and was directed by Rudolph Maté and was also the winner of the 1951 Academy Award for special effects. It's not hard to see why, and along with Chesley Bonestell who helped create the artwork for the film, the movie was a success.

Chesley Bonestell was also responsible for the design of the `Space Ark' and the final scene in the movie showing the landscape on the alien world of Zyra which was actually a coloured sketch. But due to budget constraints, Rudolph Maté used this sketch rather than a finished matte painting. This of course drew the only film's most important criticism. The scene did not seem all-too realistic, especially the trees, the clouds and green fields. (My personal view is that if a film studio does not have the money to make the film, then the film should not be made; so as not to cut corners and make the film inferior).

If you take real notice to the final scenes of the film, you will see, what seems to be a large pyramid-type structure showing at the extreme left of this coloured sketch, and in the background you actually see two pyramids silhouetted against the horizon. Thus stating perhaps there was an alien civilization on Zyra. This may have been deliberate as Producer George Pal was considering making a sequel to `When Worlds Collide', based on the 1934 novel `After Worlds Collide', by the same authors, but after the failure of the film `Conquest of Space' in 1955, this was canned.

I have to say that `Conquest of Space' in my mind is an excellent science fiction film in its own right; and I thoroughly recommend it for your collection. I am still amazed what we consider cult classics today, were flops during their day.

- The Basic Story -

Basically it's about a group of scientists who discover that the Earth is going to be destroyed by a rogue planet called Bellus. So the scientists plus a volunteer group of people,who will be chosen by lot to go with the scientists, build a rocket-ship, to go to a small planet called Zyra that orbits Bellus to live after the Earth is gone.

- Personal Comments -

1] Interesting to note is that Peter Hansen and Barbara Rush appeared together the previous year in the film `Molly and the Goldbergs', aka `The Goldbergs'.

2] Larry Keating is best known as Roger Addison in the TV series `Mister Ed'.

3] Hayden Rorke is most memorable as Dr. Bellows in the TV series `I Dream of Jeannie'.

4] John Hoyt is remembered as Dr. Philip Boyce in the Star Trek pilot - `The Cage'; which also starred Jeffery Hunter, who was married to Barbara Rush between 1950-55.

5] Frank Cady is recognizable as the character Sam Drucker, the General Store owner, who appeared as a semi-regular in three TV series - `Green Acres', `Petticoat Junction' and `The Beverley Hillbillies'.

6] Watch out for uncredited young actor Stuart Whitman as a worker, helping to construct the `Space Ark', in this, his first film.

7] As other nations build their `Space Arks', the film does not go beyond that, so we don't know if these ships being constructed ever made it to Zyra.

8] I really would have liked a sequel to this film - but as always if your films fail at the box office, chances are future film projects won't get off the ground. And if `After Worlds Collide' was made; I believe it would have been the first film where the story was based on another planet. But as it stands `Forbidden Planet' took that honour.

9] The only `real' extra features that the DVD has is the `Theatrical Trailer'; and of course no booklet.

10] I really would have liked a 60th anniversary edition of this film, which would maybe have an interview with Barbara Rush, and also perhaps any behind the scenes booklet with photos, plus postcard size lobby cards, and soundtrack CD. (Wishful thinking I know, but what the heck, we can only dream).

Well that's about it, I thoroughly recommend this film to add to your DVD library, plus check out these other Science Fiction classics as well - `This Island Earth', Earth vs. the Flying Saucers', `The War of the Worlds' (1952 version), `The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951 version), `Destination Moon' - another George Pal classic...I could go on, but you get the idea.

Thanks to the DVD of `When Worlds Collide' for addition information.

Before Deep Impact and Armageddon, there was When Worlds Collide.

Astronomers in South Africa--one played by Hayden Rorke, who went on the play Dr. Bellows in 'I Dream of Jeannie'--discover a star is on a collision course with Earth. Along with associates in America, most notably Larry Keating, in the role of Dr. Hendron, they try to convince a skeptical world that doomsday is just around the corner.

Unable to convince the world of the coming calamity, they set to work in building a rocket of salavation--to fly to what they believe is a habitable planet circling the star eventually named Zyra (the planet, they name Bellus). The rocket building is funded by a meglomaniac wheelchair-bound millionaire name Sydney Stantion--played wonderfully wicked by character actor John Hoyt. You also have Frank Cady, looking very young yet still very bald, who went on to greater fame in Green Acres.

As doomsday draws nearer, the rest of the world becomes convinced of what is to happen. As Hendon put it early in the movie, "Even a layman will be able to see the danger."

I didn't really find Richard Derr convincing as ladies' man Dave Randall. He was just a little too much Howdy Doody in the face to pull it off. The lovely Barbara Rush play Dr. Hendon's daughter, Joyce, and Randall's eventual love interest. By the way...a little Trek trivia here...Barbara Rush was the real-life wife of actor Jeffrey Hunter, who played Captain Christopher Pike in the original Star Trek pilot in 1964 (ultimately played by Shatner, of course).

The story does manage to build some tension, but the film is more genre than epic. There are some nice scenes, such as the U.N. scene (they must have spent some money on that) and closeups of the rocket. Unfortunately, the effects fall apart upon landing on Bellus. Obviously, they ran short of money at the end and had to settle on some hokey-looking painted backgrounds.

Overall, a very good movie whose premise has been copied time again in the decades since.

Paramount's 1951 Sci Fi extravaganza dealing with the end of the world, "When Worlds Collide", was a startling creation for its time both in vivid storytelling and especially for the then state of the art special effects that rewarded Paramount with the Oscar that year. Although its look is certainly tame by today's standards it is a wonderful effort all round and makes for great viewing in its telling of the time in our Planet's life that we have all perhaps at one time thought about but can't really imagine happening: the end of our planet's life. Told in a straightforward manner the film manages to incorporate the dazzling special effects together with a rather at times mature examination of human behaviour under threatening circumstances and the lengths individuals will go to preserve their life no matter what the cost. It all makes for entertaining viewing from the old school of Sci Fi filmmaking before special effects took over completely at the expense of any real story.

The filmmakers here have actually used a rather novel approach to filming the book by Edwin Balmer by loosely basing their tale on "Noah's Ark", and have used it as the stories springboard by which a small number of individuals along with assorted cattle will be the ones to escape the World Wide holocaust when it is discovered that the Earth is due to collide with a fast approaching asteriod from far out in space. The assumption is made that a newly discovered planet called Zyra could sustain human life so all efforts are directed towards constructing a spaceship or "human ark" that will be able to travel to this new world. The film chronicles the at first strong disbelief among world leaders that such a catastrophe could ever occur to the Earth, gradually moving through the plans and construction of this "Ark of Mankind", which is financed by Millionaire Sydney Stanton (John Hoyt in a superbly frantic performance) and the gradual increase in terror as the prophecy of the world's end coming is proven correct. As construction continues the human dramas begin to unfold through the romance of Flyer David Randall and JoyceHedron (Barbara Rush) and then through the first of the frightening effects the encroaching asteroid has on the Earth's surface in huge tidal waves and dramatic climatic changes that threaten all existing life and civilization on Earth. Along with these occurences begins the crumbling of the earlier sensible approach to preserving mankind as individuals begin to fight to have a place on the departing spaceship. The climax of the story shows the ships last minute departure from a soon to be destroyed Earth that is close to collision with the runaway Star. Rather fittingly the major sponsor of the mission the greedy Mr. Stanton who is prepared to kill to ensure his place on board is left behind at the last moment to share the common fate of those he was prepared to leave behind.

Other reviewers have mentioned the moral lessons laid on quite thickly in the films storytelling and the fact that supposedly Caucasians are the only people depicted on this flight to safety. Well the film indicated that many other races are concurrently building similiar spaceships and indeed the all too familiar human qualities of self preservation shown in "When World's Collide", are very close to those that any person would employ in a similiar crisis. Performances in the film are average to good for this type of story. Richard Derr and Barbara Rush deliver acceptable performances as the romantic leads but as stated John Hoyt really excels in the role of the ruthless millionaire who finances the construction solely to save himself. A wonderful performance of great quality is turned in by veteran character actor Frank Cady, still best known for his long running role as Sam Drucker on the classic 1960's TV series "Petticoat Junction", and Green Acres". The very powerful scene when he attempts to turn the tables on his hateful employer and secure a spot on the ship after years of abuse from Stanton is one of the best parts of the film and shows human desperation at its very best. Of course the wonderful special effects courtesy of the legendary George Pal are the things that give "When Worlds Collide", its memorable quality. While not as breathtaking as those constructed for Paramount's classic "War of the Worlds", two years later they are still a sight to behold and the visual image of huge flood waters pouring down New York's streets is still one of the classic Sci Fi images from the 1950's. Combined of course with beautiful technicolour and a very exciting finale of the spaceship finally beginning it's departure from Earth just as the planet is due to be destroyed, and you have one of the 1950's most outstanding efforts in science fiction drama.

I always enjoy this film as a sort of pair with the infinitely better "War of the World's". We may look more critically on the science technology employed and on the storytelling in general than did 1950's audiences but if you like a good old fashioned exciting drama about a threat to mankind and how it turns the world upside down then you can't go past "When World's Collide". It is definately Hollywood moviemaking of the old school right down to the predictably very upbeat conclusion when the passengers safely arrive at this "New World" to start life afresh much like what Noah did in the bible story. Enjoy this doomsday story that still offers "hope" in Paramount's groundbreaking "When Worlds Collide".