A frustrated pacifist plans on using his weather altering machines to punish warring nations. The film is an ambitious semi-amateur production by Richard Lyford, unseen for decades, which resurfaced in 2020 and started making the festival circuit rounds. For what it is, 'As the Earth Turns' is pretty good. The special effects are amateurish but still impressive (for what is essentially a home movie) and no one could question the effort the 20 year-old filmmaker put into the production. There is some speculation that the film is a 'fake' artifact that was recently produced - anything is possible on film these days but (IMO) this cinematic conspiracy theory seems unlikely. Definitely watchable but primarily of interest to film historians and sci-fi life-listers.
11 Reviews
Pretty good for an amateur production
JBest576041 November 2021
I thought this was a pretty decent effort, given it had no budget and the cast was probably every friend the director had. Some of them even went on to actually have careers. In response to JoeB131, though, the word airliner was in use as early as 1908 and as for blood in movies, please check out "Wings" and "All Quiet on the Western Front," just to name two. Yes, by 1937, when this film was made, the Hayes Office had knocked a lot of the guts out of films, but this was an amateur production and not likely to be viewed by censors. Anyway, not a bad way to spend 49 minutes.
Fake Film?
rogerdob30 November 2021
I am certainly open to discussion whether this film was really made in 1939. However, being a big fan of pre-1950's movies I would have to say there are certain aspects of the film that would make one suspicious. 1) The film "damage" almost looks like film overlay...it is fairly consistent in looks and comes at a regular intervals EXCEPT during action scenes when they disappear or slow down, 2) missing from the male actors hairstyles is pomade...extremely common usage in the 1930's, and 3) the most important clue is the cinematography and editing...unless the filmmaker was a genuine "visionary" the movie is edited more in the style of modern films...the length of each shot is extremely short, far too many closeups (even of feet...completely unusual), and the editing and cutting between the shots do not match up to what mainstream filmmakers were doing at the time.
If I have to trust my gut...I would have to say that it never felt like an old film to me.
If I have to trust my gut...I would have to say that it never felt like an old film to me.
Strange reviews question the authenticity but a recent TCM showing swears it's really from 1938
morrisonhimself1 November 2021
Believing this is really from Richard Lyford, then an amateur in Washington state, I rate this an A- for effort.
The directing was ambitious but either it or the editing was lacking. Or both.
The special effects too often looked like something from Columbia.
The story was reminiscent of "Things To Come," perhaps, and had a similar premise to the much later "The Day the Earth Stool Still," and probably many other movies and books.
But whatever flaws might be noted, again I praise the effort.
Hundreds of miles away from Hollywood and its expertise and labs and stunt people, 20-year-old Richard Lyford created something pretty admirable. And he got enough attention for his body of work he was invited to Hollywood, worked for Disney, and earned an Academy Award.
I don't know why IMDb lists its date as 2019. That is bad mislabeling, very misleading. Yes, the finding and re-scoring are recent, but the creation was 1937 with the release in 1938.
TCM deserves our thanks for presenting this on Hallowe'en night of 2021, and I hope it will be shown again soon, and that there is enough advance notice everyone will get the chance to watch.
The directing was ambitious but either it or the editing was lacking. Or both.
The special effects too often looked like something from Columbia.
The story was reminiscent of "Things To Come," perhaps, and had a similar premise to the much later "The Day the Earth Stool Still," and probably many other movies and books.
But whatever flaws might be noted, again I praise the effort.
Hundreds of miles away from Hollywood and its expertise and labs and stunt people, 20-year-old Richard Lyford created something pretty admirable. And he got enough attention for his body of work he was invited to Hollywood, worked for Disney, and earned an Academy Award.
I don't know why IMDb lists its date as 2019. That is bad mislabeling, very misleading. Yes, the finding and re-scoring are recent, but the creation was 1937 with the release in 1938.
TCM deserves our thanks for presenting this on Hallowe'en night of 2021, and I hope it will be shown again soon, and that there is enough advance notice everyone will get the chance to watch.
Okay, everyone, we're being pranked
JoeB1311 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is being billed as a lost 1938 film that has been rediscovered. They attached the name of an obscure 1930's filmmaker onto it (it's not like he's going to sue at this point) and tried to pass it off as a silent film. But some of the anachronisms give it away, such as blood from injuries or the use of the term Airliner, which didn't enter the common language until 1950's. I do give them credit for reproducing the clothing, sets and hairstyles of the period, but they missed more than a few little things.
The story itself is kind of dull. Mad Scientist threatens the world with his machine to change the weather (another anachronism, that's a modern concern) if they don't end the world war. (The fake date is before WWII, of course. )
Well, at least they didn't try to pass it off as a "Found Footage" film.
The story itself is kind of dull. Mad Scientist threatens the world with his machine to change the weather (another anachronism, that's a modern concern) if they don't end the world war. (The fake date is before WWII, of course. )
Well, at least they didn't try to pass it off as a "Found Footage" film.
A very ambitious attempt that doesn't fail to entertain!
angus-lamont23 June 2020
As a filmmaker around the age Richard was when he made this mini epic, and also a big fan of classic films from the golden age of cinema, I really enjoyed this! You can see how the films and world events at the time really inspired Lyford to make this film and the overall style is very reminiscent of those classic serials of the 1930's, such as "Flash Gordon" and "Dick Tracy". From the great dramatic acting to the charming special effects, this is definitely a worth while watch! I won't spoil anything but the ending really caught me off guard and was a really nice surprise! I love watching 'homemade epics' and to see one from this era is a rare treasure!
Not buying it...
PoChoRocker6 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
They reference Europe at war in 1937 (the year the film was supposedly made.)
World War Two began in Europe in 1939.
I'd like to think this isn't a hoax, but more of an homage. Unfortunately, it's not very good in either case.
World War Two began in Europe in 1939.
I'd like to think this isn't a hoax, but more of an homage. Unfortunately, it's not very good in either case.
It leans over the amateur rail, nearly falling into the professional ranks.
Keatonics22 July 2020
I must say it is quite a remarkable little film. Very impressive. I can't quite decide if it is a low budget professional film, or a high budget amateur film. Either way, it is clear that it was a work of passion. The attention to detail was impressive. The filmmaker knew his trade. Interweaving the models with the full size was done very well. Editing was superb. Camera work and effects were well done. I can only imagine what it could have been if it had the proper backing.
Oh, and the score was good, too. Actually, it was superb. The sign of a good score is one that becomes another character of the story, and they did that very well. It was just the right amount of understatement, clearly it was meant purposely not draw attention to itself. Bravo.
Bringing this old film to the attention of the public was a work unto itself, and well worth the effort. This is something to be truly proud of.
Clearly, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" got its inspiration from Mr. Lyford.
Oh, and the score was good, too. Actually, it was superb. The sign of a good score is one that becomes another character of the story, and they did that very well. It was just the right amount of understatement, clearly it was meant purposely not draw attention to itself. Bravo.
Bringing this old film to the attention of the public was a work unto itself, and well worth the effort. This is something to be truly proud of.
Clearly, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" got its inspiration from Mr. Lyford.
I believe this to be genuine..
madned2 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I know there is a trend (especially on Amazon) to create new 'old B-movies', but I do believe that the footage here is genuinely from 1937, and not some sort of recently-shot hoax thing trying to make us believe it is an old movie. (Credits list the soundtrack as having been redone as part of the release however.) Richard Lyford is not the best-known director but he has a large enough body of work that I cannot buy that he is made up, nor can I buy that this movie was created recently and falsely attributed to him, it's just too big a leap.
Anyway, I thought this was great. Another review asked, is this an amatuerish pro film, or an amateur film that looks pro? I think its kind of the latter, sounds like Lyford did a lot of side projects on his way up as director and this was one of them. I enjoyed the dedication to the story-telling, lots of time spent creating models for the effects, and trying to approximate different locations like the white house or a secret island fortress etc. It has heart, and I also appreciated some of the camera work, which took some risks to varying degrees of success, but held my attention.
Anyway, I thought this was great. Another review asked, is this an amatuerish pro film, or an amateur film that looks pro? I think its kind of the latter, sounds like Lyford did a lot of side projects on his way up as director and this was one of them. I enjoyed the dedication to the story-telling, lots of time spent creating models for the effects, and trying to approximate different locations like the white house or a secret island fortress etc. It has heart, and I also appreciated some of the camera work, which took some risks to varying degrees of success, but held my attention.
The apocalypse has begun
nickenchuggets6 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
There are a lot of films that were made before most people can remember, but fail to show themselves until decades after their production. As the Earth Turns is one such film. Originally made in the 1930s by Richard Lyford, it was apparently lost for about 80 years until it was discovered in the house of the person responsible for its existence. It's not particularly impressive plot-wise, but there are several things I like about it. It has an element of science fiction in its story, but that's just one piece of the overall whole. Since it's pretty short, the plot does not need much time to develop. It's about a scientist who wants to use a weather manipulation device in order to bring about the end of the world if people don't stop a concurrent global war. By the time this film came out, ww1 had already happened, so it's not like a world war was a far fetched idea. Aside from what's already been said, there isn't that much to comment on in regards to the story. The movie has nice effects, and a futuristic looking plane shows up at one point. Its design reminds me of something you'd see in a George Pal movie (who made War of the Worlds). Strangely enough, others have been saying that this doesn't really feel like an authentic old movie to them, and that TCM must be playing some kind of prank. The quality of the film itself looks too good for the late 30s, and some of the special effects look too impressive for the time. Maybe if the film was from a well known company it would have an excuse, but it was made by just one person (allegedly). Conversely, the effects look astoundingly fake many times as well. When a base is exploding and being destroyed towards the end, it's obvious that all the models are just miniatures, similar to Star Wars. Whether this is an actual old film or a new one just made to look old, I still enjoyed it because it is obscure and virtually unknown today. I also thought it was strange how the film almost goes to full color towards the end, and everything is in a magenta hue. It's like the color is trying to exist, but can't.
"Snow! - In July!"...
azathothpwiggins13 March 2023
A mysterious figure known only as PAX (Richard Lyford) begins sending messages to the world, threatening catastrophic events if war is not abolished. When PAX's threats are ignored, strange environmental disasters strike.
AS THE EARTH TURNS is a restored film from 1937. Mr. Lynch wrote, produced, directed, and edited this opus, all independent of Hollywood. His use of miniatures and special effects are novel and effective, especially considering the lack of any real funding for the project. The "train wreck", ""flooding", and "earthquake" sequences are fairly well-realized. The characters are perfectly stereotypical, with PAX being the most animated. Mr. Lyford plays him with gusto!
Is it cheeezy? Sure, but that's to be expected with a production such as this. Just enjoy it for what it is: A fun movie for lovers of rescued "lost" films...
AS THE EARTH TURNS is a restored film from 1937. Mr. Lynch wrote, produced, directed, and edited this opus, all independent of Hollywood. His use of miniatures and special effects are novel and effective, especially considering the lack of any real funding for the project. The "train wreck", ""flooding", and "earthquake" sequences are fairly well-realized. The characters are perfectly stereotypical, with PAX being the most animated. Mr. Lyford plays him with gusto!
Is it cheeezy? Sure, but that's to be expected with a production such as this. Just enjoy it for what it is: A fun movie for lovers of rescued "lost" films...
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