THE NIGHT THE WORLD EXPLODED

US, 1957, 94 minutes, Black and white.
Kathryn Grant, Raymond Greenleaf, Tristram Coffin.
Directed by Fred F. Sears.

The Night the World Exploded is a small-budget Columbia disaster film of the mid-'50s. It is like the old-fashioned serials of the'30s and '40s. However, the film also acts as a parable about human beings exploiting the resources of the earth - and the earth getting its revenge. It concerns a new element, Element 112, which when dry, heats and expands and causes explosions - enough to put the earth off its axis. The film might serve as a parable for the nuclear developments of the '50s and their repercussions. However, the film ends in a note of romance and high optimism, about human nature and human beings in crisis.

1. An enjoyable disaster thriller? Its scientific background? Parable on conservation? optimistic?

2. Black and white photography, small budget, special effects?

3. The title and the focus on global crisis? Conservation, human beings exploiting the resources, the elements striking back?

4. The focus on Dave Conway and Hutch as scientists? Conway's discovery and measuring of earthquakes? Warnings to the government? The disasters? The research in the caves? The increasing number of earthquakes? The discovery of the element? The conference of the scientists? The flooding of various countries? The danger in Nevada? Going to the dam, flooding the valley? Personal crises? Romance with Hutch - supporting her, taunting her to come down the ladder, taking her for granted, the gift? Happy ending?

5. The heroine, woman, feminine, feminist touches with Conway's challenge to her, her sturdiness in participating in the research, the cave-in, the rescue, hospital? Her wanting to be in on the flooding of the valley?

6. Scientists and their skills? The expanding rock and Kirk's death? International scientists and their research? The flooding of valleys and of areas which had mineral exploitation?

7. The plausibility of the plot? Elements striking back against human beings? The earthquakes? National disasters? Communications?

8. The crisis: the research in the caves, the flooding of the various countries, the volcano in Nevada, deaths, the helicopter flight, the flooding of the dam?

9. How persuasive the moralising message about conservation? Optimism about nature not exploiting the earth?