The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961): Cast & Plot
The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a 1961 sci-fi drama directed by Val Guest, starring Edward Judd as Peter Stenning, Ian Ellis and Leo McKern. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes.
English What Is The Day the Earth Caught Fire About?
The premise of The Day the Earth Caught Fire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
British journalists uncover an international cover‑up as a worldwide catastrophe unfolds. After the United States and the Soviet Union simultaneously detonate nuclear weapons, the Earth's orbit is thrown off course, sending the planet careening toward the Sun. Panic spreads as humanity faces an unstoppable solar threat. Leaders scramble for answers.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- newspaper
- reporter
- journalist
- nuclear bomb
- newsroom
- chaos
- investigative journalist
- apocalypse
- disaster film
- climate change
- psychotronic film
- nuclear weapon
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- co written by director
- writer director producer
- in medias res
- aerial camera shot
- earth in jeopardy
- humanity in jeopardy
- defcon
- dark comedy
- secretary
- love
- panic
- england
- looting
- cover up
- scientist
- science
- british
- water
- mist
- newspaper editor
- alcoholic
- long take
- water contamination
- alley
- office
- stopwatch
- employee employee relationship
- church
- engineer
- death
- countdown
- horse
- donkey
- intrigue
- restaurant
- hall of records
- doctor
- fired from a job
The Day the Earth Caught Fire Cast & Characters
Edward Judd leads the cast as Peter Stenning, with Ian Ellis as Michael Stenning (uncredited) and Leo McKern as Bill Maguire. Directed by Val Guest; 75 actors are credited in all.
- Director Val Guest
- Edward Judd as Peter Stenning
- Ian Ellis as Michael Stenning (uncredited)
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Leo McKern as Bill Maguire - Janet Munro as Jeannie Craig
Also Starring in The Day the Earth Caught Fire
· 71 more- Terry Walsh Man (uncredited)
- Michael Caine Checkpoint Policeman (uncredited)
- Marianne Stone Miss Evans (uncredited)
- George Merritt Smudge (uncredited)
- Reginald Beckwith Harry
- Timothy Bateson Printer (uncredited)
- Peter Butterworth 2nd Sub-Editor (uncredited)
- Michael Goodliffe Jacko Jackson the Night Editor
- Guy Standeven Man at Funfair (uncredited)
- Jim Brady Man at Water Station (uncredited)
- Austin Trevor Sir John Kelly (uncredited)
- John Tatham Policeman at Water Station (uncredited)
- Aileen Lewis Demonstrator (uncredited)
- Edward Underdown Dick Sanderson (uncredited)
- Joe Wadham Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Fred Johnson Archie (uncredited)
Show all 75 cast members Show fewer cast members
- John Adams Constable (uncredited)
- John Rae Sarge the Doorman (uncredited)
- Juba Kennerley Harry's Club Patron (uncredited)
- Geoffrey Chater Pat Holroyd (uncredited)
- Renée Asherson Angela
- Robert Moore Air Traffic Controller (uncredited)
- Avril Angers Mother (uncredited)
- Norman Chappell Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)
- Peter Blythe Copy Desk (uncredited)
- Richard Coleman Partner of Stenning's Divorced Wife (uncredited)
- Wallace Bosco Copy Boy (uncredited)
- John Dearth Dick (uncredited)
- Reginald Marsh Picture Editor (uncredited)
- Gerry Judge Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Charles Morgan Foreign Editor (uncredited)
- Frank Sieman Print Room Manager (uncredited)
- Jeff Silk Policeman (uncredited)
- Maxwell Craig Harry's Club Patron (uncredited)
- Peter Evans Man in Pub (uncredited)
- John Barron 1st Sub-Editor (uncredited)
- Carmel McSharry Woman Lost in Fog (uncredited)
- Larry Martyn Argumentative Man at Washing Centre (uncredited)
- Robin Burns Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Jim McManus Man at Water Station (uncredited)
- Michael McStay Policeman at Washing Centre (uncredited)
- Terence Soall Bit Part (uncredited)
- Robin Hawdon Ronnie (uncredited)
- Harold Coyne Editor (uncredited)
- Leonard Llewellyn Editor (uncredited)
- Bernard Braden Davis the News Editor
- Geoffrey Frederick Mitchell (uncredited)
- Aidan Harrington Editor (uncredited)
- Frank Phillips Radio Announcer (uncredited)
- Gene Anderson May
- Julie Samuel Young Girl (uncredited)
- Cecil Paul Editor (uncredited)
- Jane Aird Nanny (uncredited)
- Pamela Green Nurse at Laundrette (uncredited)
- Lisa Peake Girl (uncredited)
- Charles Price Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Bill Rayment Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Dave Griffiths Workman (uncredited)
- Verina Greenlaw Trixie (uncredited)
- Graham Skidmore Bit Part (uncredited)
- William Baskiville Policeman (uncredited)
- Edith Raye Woman in Crowd (uncredited)
- Dan Lester Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Frank Schock Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- George Curtis Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Ruth Harrison Woman in Crowd (uncredited)
- Gordon Humphries Man at Water Station (uncredited)
- Alf Casha Man in Crowd (uncredited)
- Arthur Christiansen 'Jeff' Jefferson - Editor
- Don McMurray Man in Fight (uncredited)
- Jeff Shane Man in Crowd (uncredited)
More from Val Guest
More films directed by Val Guest, best-rated first: Casino Royale, Child’s Play, Mark of the Devil and Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire Plot Summary
What happens in The Day the Earth Caught Fire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A lone man walks through the deserted, sweltering streets of an abandoned London, a stark image that opens a story about a world already under pressure. The narrative then rewinds several months to follow Peter Stenning, once an up-and-coming journalist with the Daily Express, whose life has fallen into disarray after a painful divorce. His career falters as he grapples with heavy drinking, and his editor assigns him a string of lackluster jobs that only deepen his sense of stagnation. Yet his only real lifeline is his friend, Bill Maguire, a veteran Fleet Street reporter who offers encouragement and sometimes covers for him by writing the clumsy copy himself.
Full summary
The whole story of The Day the Earth Caught Fire, scene by scene
The Day the Earth Caught Fire Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer The Day The Earth Caught Fire ≣ 1961 ≣ Trailer
- Featurette Josh Olson on THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE
How Well Do You Know The Day the Earth Caught Fire?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
Who is the main journalist protagonist of the film?
Cars in The Day the Earth Caught Fire
43 cars on screen, including the 1949 Leyland Titan PD2 and the 1950 Morris Minor.
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1949 Leyland Titan PD2 Important role -
1950 Morris Minor Important role -
AEC Regal Minor role -
AEC Regent III Merryweather Minor role
The Day the Earth Caught Fire Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “O Dia em Que a Terra se Incendiou” and “Den sidste paddehat”.
- Also known as
-
- O Dia em Que a Terra se Incendiou
- Den sidste paddehat
- Maailmanloppu
- Världens undergång
- Le Jour où la Terre prit feu
- Der Tag, an dem die Erde Feuer fing
- Όταν η Γη πήρε φωτιά
- A nap, amikor a Föld lángra lobbant
- ...e la Terra prese fuoco
- El día que la Tierra se incendió
- Dagen jorden ble satt i brann
- El día en que la Tierra se incendió
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- Dzień, w którym Ziemia stanęła w ogniu
- O Mundo em Chamas
- Ziua in care a fost incendiat Pamantul
- День, когда загорелась Земля
- Jordens sista dag
- E la terra prese fuoco
- O Dia Em Que A Terra Incendiou
- 地球失火之日
- 지구가 불타는 날
- Den, kdy Země vzplanula
Seen The Day the Earth Caught Fire?
Movies Like The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Day the Sky Exploded, Day the World Ended and Earthstorm.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Day the Earth Caught Fire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Day the Earth Caught Fire?
The Day the Earth Caught Fire runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was The Day the Earth Caught Fire released?
The Day the Earth Caught Fire was released on November 1, 1961.
Who directed The Day the Earth Caught Fire?
The Day the Earth Caught Fire was directed by Val Guest.
More films by Val Guest Who is in the cast of The Day the Earth Caught Fire?
The Day the Earth Caught Fire stars Edward Judd as Peter Stenning, Ian Ellis as Michael Stenning (uncredited) and Leo McKern as Bill Maguire, among 75 credited actors.
Does The Day the Earth Caught Fire have a post-credit scene?
No. The Day the Earth Caught Fire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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