When World Collide (1951)

Released by Paramount in 1951, ‘When Worlds Collide’ was one of the earliest large scale science fiction disaster movies & assured in establishing the blueprint for countless end of the world type films that would follow. The feature was produced by George Pal & was adapted from the 1933 novel. Pal had already tasted success with the 1950 sci/fi feature, ‘Destination Moon’ & craved for his next production to be even more ambitious. Budget realities, however forced him to scale back many of his grandest of ideas. Instead of massive sets & elaborate visual effects throughout, the film relied on carefully crafted miniatures, matte paintings, optical effects & detailed models. Even with these limitations, the finished movie looked remarkably convincing for its era, ultimately winning an Academy Award for Best Special Effects. The movie is regarded as one of the true ancestors of the modern disaster epic such as, ‘The Poseidon Adventure’ & ‘Earthquake’ because it proved audiences would embrace large scale apocalyptic storytelling grounded in human emotion as much as the spectacle. ‘When Worlds Collide’ features scientists warning of great catastrophes while governments hesitate to react, frantic races to complete an escape vehicle before time runs out, moral dilemmas over who deserves to survive, widespread panic among ordinary citizens & a climax in which earth is actually destroyed rather than miraculously saved. That last decision was especially daring for 1951 & shocked audiences accustomed to optimistic endings. The feature includes the talents of Barbara Rush, Richard Derr, Hayden Roarke, Kirk Alyn, Rachel Ames & Peter Hansen.