The Night the World Exploded (1957)

Dr. Conway has perfected a machine which he believes will predict earthquakes, and has determined that one will strike California within 24 hours. He and his patron, Dr. Morton, attempt to ... See full summary »

Director:

Fred F. Sears

Writers:

Jack Natteford, Luci Ward

Stars:

Kathryn Grant, William Leslie, Tristram Coffin

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kathryn Grant	...	Laura 'Hutch' Hutchinson
William Leslie	...	Dr. David Conway
Tristram Coffin	...	Dr. Ellis Morton (as Tris Coffin)
Raymond Greenleaf	...	Gov. Chaney
Charles Evans	...	Gen. Bortes
Frank J. Scannell	...	Sheriff Quinn (as Frank Scannell)
Marshall Reed	...	General's Aide
Fred Coby	...	Ranger Brown
Paul Savage	...	Ranger Kirk
Terry Frost	...	Chief Rescue Worker

Storyline

Dr. Conway has perfected a machine which he believes will predict earthquakes, and has determined that one will strike California within 24 hours. He and his patron, Dr. Morton, attempt to convince the Governor but he cannot bring himself to declare an emergency when there is no proof the machine works - which, within 24 hours, it is proven to do. More significantly, Conway is getting readings which indicate a series of additional, pending quakes around the world, which also begin to occur; and more still seem to be on the way. With his assistant "Hutch", to whose love for him he seems oblivious, Conway takes his equipment to the deepest point of Carlsbad Caverns, in hopes that being closer to the center of the earth will help discern the cause of the earthquake epidemic. It does, when they inadvertently discover a new element which lies dormant in watery pools deep within the earth but, when in contact with air, becomes violently explosive. Forces unknown appear to be pushing this ...

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Plot Keywords:

earthquake | carlsbad caverns | computer analysis | volcano | volcanic eruption | 

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Taglines:

Super-quake tilts the earth!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

To telos tou kosmou plisiazei

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clover Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

64 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1957, Columbia Pictures theatrically distributed this film on a double bill with The Giant Claw.

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Goofs

When the "element 112" sample exploded inside the small globe, it was immediately and obviously followed by a blast from explosives buried in the ground under the globe.

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Quotes

Dr. David Conway: We better do more than hope, gentlemen. We better pray!

User Reviews

amusing low budget props, but above average plot line for 50's....

Entertaining typical 50's sci-fi low budget offering with slightly above average plot line for the time.

However, particularly amusing are scenes in the military command aircraft which used card tables and folding chairs in front of mock-up aircraft porthole windows.