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IMDbPro

When Worlds Collide

  • 19511951
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,671
3,282
When Worlds Collide (1951)
Theatrical Trailer from Paramount
Play trailer2:00
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionSci-FiThriller
As a new star and planet hurtle toward a doomed Earth, a small group of survivalists frantically work to complete the rocket which will take them to their new home.As a new star and planet hurtle toward a doomed Earth, a small group of survivalists frantically work to complete the rocket which will take them to their new home.As a new star and planet hurtle toward a doomed Earth, a small group of survivalists frantically work to complete the rocket which will take them to their new home.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,671
3,282
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Rudolph Maté
    • Writers
      • Sydney Boehm(screenplay)
      • Edwin Balmer(novel)
      • Philip Wylie(novel)
    • Stars
      • Richard Derr
      • Barbara Rush
      • Peter Hansen
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Rudolph Maté
    • Writers
      • Sydney Boehm(screenplay)
      • Edwin Balmer(novel)
      • Philip Wylie(novel)
    • Stars
      • Richard Derr
      • Barbara Rush
      • Peter Hansen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 133User reviews
    • 57Critic reviews
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    When Worlds Collide
    Trailer 2:00
    When Worlds Collide

    Photos114

    "When Worlds Collide" Barbara Rush 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.
    "When Worlds Collide" 1951, Paramount, **I.V.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Derr
    Richard Derr
    • David Randall
    Barbara Rush
    Barbara Rush
    • Joyce Hendron
    Peter Hansen
    Peter Hansen
    • Dr. Tony Drake
    John Hoyt
    John Hoyt
    • Sydney Stanton
    Larry Keating
    Larry Keating
    • Dr. Cole Hendron
    Rachel Ames
    Rachel Ames
    • Julie Cummings
    • (as Judith Ames)
    Stephen Chase
    Stephen Chase
    • Dr. George Frye
    Frank Cady
    Frank Cady
    • Harold Ferris
    Hayden Rorke
    Hayden Rorke
    • Dr. Emery Bronson
    Sandro Giglio
    Sandro Giglio
    • Dr. Ottinger
    Kirk Alyn
    Kirk Alyn
    • Rioter Bringing Guns
    • (uncredited)
    Gertrude Astor
    Gertrude Astor
    • Traveler
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Bayless
    • Club Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Nina Borget
    • Translator
    • (uncredited)
    Steve Carruthers
    Steve Carruthers
    • Delegate
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Chapman
    • Student
    • (uncredited)
    Gene Collins
    • Newsdealer
    • (uncredited)
    James Congdon
    • Eddie Garson
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Rudolph Maté
    • Writers
      • Sydney Boehm(screenplay)
      • Edwin Balmer(novel)
      • Philip Wylie(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      George Pal wanted to film the novel's sequel, "After Worlds Collide," which depicted the struggle of human survivors on the alien planet. However, the failure of his film Conquest of Space (1955), and the declining health of uncredited executive producer Burgess Meredith, damaged his relationship with Paramount, and the sequel was never made.
    • Goofs
      Throughout the film, Bellus is referred to as a star; this is presumably how life is able to be sustained on Zyra. However, if this was the case, Earth would have been destroyed from the heat long before Bellus collided with it, even if it was a small brown-dwarf star.
    • Quotes

      Sydney Stanton: Your salvation doesn't interest me; mine does.

    • Connections
      Edited from Spawn of the North (1938)

    User reviews133

    Review
    Top review
    A classic and a controversy
    George Pal, Hungarian born Puppetoon creator and fantasy legend made several great science fiction space movies. Adaptations of popular books in the 50's included former German rocket scientist Willy Ley's "Conquest Of Space" using designs and ideas illustrated by space artist Chestley Bonestell, who's work is seen in almost all of Pal's space films in one way or another, considered cutting edge for the time. His others included H.G.Wells classic "War Of The Worlds", Robert Heinlein's "Destination Moon" and the Edwin Balmer & Philip Wylie 1932 novel "When World's Collide".

    The results still stand as seminal classics of science fiction filmwork, often copied, referenced and paid homage in one way or another. Although perhaps dated by the computer generated, digitally enhanced SFX of today's so-called masterpieces, these films still stand out as the major influences which helped shape our dream, visions and often spoke to our deepest fears, such as the end of the world.

    From the inverted ski jump launch system (used today on aircraft carriers), to expendable booster rockets (a Space Shuttle standard), the Ark spaceship spawned the imagination of many filmakers, including some who reused the model for other films such as "Flight To Mars" and "The Queen Of Outer Space". The movie still stands as a milestone as the first science fiction disaster movie.

    Once again, Leith Stevens' musical score enriches the experience, as it did for Pal's previous space adventure, "Destination Moon". The film's special effects won it the Oscar in 1951. All this, and in the rich tones of Technicolor that shall never been seen in a first run movie theater again. Thank you Lord for revival houses that still manage to seek out old time prints for festivals (the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas comes to mind).

    There still remains a bit of controversy, though, about the film's ending. A wide, panoramic Bonestell matte painting is seen from the hatch of the newly arrived Ark. In the image can be seen two clearly pyramidal mountains in perfect proportions, as if artificial, as well as the base of what appears to be a building constructed by an alien intelligence. Although the actors don't react to this (the matte effect added in post production), the artwork hints at the planet Zyra as being inhabited (In the novel, the planet is known as Bronson Beta, and is indeed found to be once inhabited, and is explored further in the sequel "After Worlds Collide").

    In the 1970s, producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown attempted to do a remake, which eventually mutated into the 1998 film, "Deep Impact". As in "When Worlds Collide", the human interaction was as important as the science fiction elements.
    helpful•14
    0
    • redbeard_nv
    • Jan 12, 2002

    FAQ1

    • Who was technical advisor on the 1951 film _When Worlds Collide_?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 15, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • Hindi
      • English
      • French
      • Portuguese
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Der jüngste Tag
    • Filming locations
      • Calabasas, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $936,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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