User reviews

This movie rocks!

Okay, I know it's dated. know what?? I Don't care! This kind of movie making would put half the people in Hollywood out of work today. Maybe that's not such a bad thing. They did it right in the early days. They had their priorities right:

Story first

Then characters

Then Special effects

Seems simple, doesn't it? How come they can't get it right today? (with few exceptions, of course). Nope, today it's Special effects, stars, then story.... in fact, even the stories aren't original!!!

This sums up why I like this movie so much and many like it from the same era. They're exciting, fun, and captivating. The kind of movie that leaves you thinking, dreaming, having nightmares, all in the name of fun. You're left dreaming of what it would be like, how you'd react, what you'd do. You'd sit and ponder about a new life on a new planet. And not once would the level of special effects tarnish your view of this gem.

When was the last time you felt that way coming out of a modern movie? My guess is a lonnnnnng time. There are very few exceptions today. The special effects in movies like "Worlds" was icing on the cake... BUT IT WAS THE CAKE THAT MATTERED! Today, it's all icing and the cake can't support it (crappy icing, in fact!!)

Eat your cake and have it too! Watch "When Worlds Collide"!

First, this is a nice-looking film with a good DVD transfer. Seeing an early '50s sci-fi film Technicolor is nice.

Also, having just watched - I'm not kidding - "Plan 9 From Outer Space" and "Invaders From Mars," this George Pal film looked like multi-million dollar Oscar winner in comparison. Except for the ending scene, the special-effects were passable, the acting was good and the dialog pretty realistic. The story plausible? Of course not, but what they did know of space travel in 1951? Hell, we didn't send a man on the moon until almost 20 years after this movie. No, this is not one of those popcorn flicks that "is so bad, it's good" or just plaint stink. No, this movie is just good......period....even today, almost 57 years later!.

This was a no-nonsense survival story without an overdone corny romance, no stupid or obnoxious kids nor goofy-looking adults. It had a solid reverence for God and to science at the same time, a realistic portrayal of people under stress and how they would react knowing their world was coming to end. For a mostly talky film, it moved fast with few, if any lulls.

John Hoyt, who plays the wheelchair-bound millionaire "Sydney Stanton," may not be a "name" actor but he's very good. Check his resume: it's awesome. The man was in about every good television show for decades. The man could act. So did the rest of this cast.

Overall, this "modern" Noah's Ark story was a good one, and far, far better than your normal sci-fi flicks from the time period. Well done!

"When Worlds Collide" was one of the first of the Sci-Fi films that ruled the 1950s. Plus,it was in color. The movie was based on the novel of the same name and if I remember correctly, there were two books-part one(which the movie is based on) and part two which describes life on the new planet. An astronomer sees a new sun and planet coming right toward earth and we have less than one year before the new sun collides with us. At first, no one believes him. After a short period of time, several countries build rockets to bring a handful of survivors to the new planet. The interior of the rocket is pretty lame by today's standards but the outside is cool-looking. The paintings are OK but the one at the very end of the film is quite obvious.The acting is good, the plot is terrific and there is a good balance of action and drama. This is a nice film to watch.

When I was younger, this was one science fiction film that definitely made an impression on me. This was one of those where I actually was scared that one day my world would come to an end. However, as I got older I realized that this was just a movie, but still it is one of the best genre films of its era. Sure, it has its flaws (especially the painted background at the end), but still it is a film that was a product of its time and it will always be one of my favorites.

This is one of the least known sci-fi movies from the 1950s, but it's one of the best of the era. The great thing about this movie is that it concerns the lives of the characters and their personal problems.

The plot is about a group of researchers that after a trip in Africa discover some shocking news, that the star Bellus will collide to Earth, destroying the planet. Soon they begin to build a giant rocket ship that will take a group of survivors in Zyra, a safer planet.

The best part of the movie (for me) was the part of all the cataclysms (mountains crumbling, giant sea waves, the Brooklyn Bridge auto-destroying in pieces), and the music fits with the viewer's emotions. I also liked the chemistry between the two main characters (Richard Derr and Barbara Rush), especially in the night-club scene. And the ending is very superb for a 1951 sci-fi movie!

This is a sci-fi movie that every sci-fi fan must see almost once in their life.

Hayden Rorke and his team of astronomers in Johannesburg, South Africa discover a star and an accompanying orbiting planet are on a direct course for our solar system. In a year they will hit earth. Rorke dispatches Richard Derr to his colleague Larry Keating in the USA for confirmation. It's true the worlds will collide in about a year on August 12.

When Worlds Collide is the story of a few scientists and their efforts to save mankind by taking a few over to that orbiting planet Zaira which will pass close before the star itself overwhelms earth with heat before the collision itself. It is mentioned that other countries are undertaking rocket building, but When Worlds Collide concentrates on the USA where the claims are met with derision by the scientific community so Keating and colleagues go out on their own. The main financial sponsor is multi-millionaire John Hoyt who believes his millions entitle him to some special consideration. The conflict between Keating and Hoyt is what drive the film.

Below that there is a subplot involving Richard Derr and Keating's daughter Barbara Rush. He breaks in and steals her away from Peter Hansen who also works with Keating.

The lack of name players gives a bit of realism to When Worlds Collide although these character actors are a pretty familiar lot. When Worlds Collide has come down to us via its reputation for its special effects because of the deserved Oscar it won. But director Rudolph Mate got good performances from his cast.

It never ceases to amaze me how the invention of the computer is never factored in and it certainly was thought about and invented very shortly although those early machines were big. Among the necessary items thought for survival were books, the Bible, Principia Mathematica and the Encyclopedia Britannica. These of course would all be on discs now. This is the third science fiction film from roughly the same era and none of them imagined that one.

Although the concepts are dated and the science fiction a bit flawed, When Worlds Collide still has great entertainment value.

With all of its shortcomings I love this excellent little film, always have. I first saw it on UK ITV when a kid in the late 1960's - during one of the ad breaks an announcer had to advise viewers not to panic as it was only a coincidence (apparently) that its given date of August 12th Doomsday was also the date it was being screened. And that the film was entirely fictitious. I've always found it incredible that some people could still be so credulous in the '60's and that it appears the opposite is usually true nowadays.

Two rogue planets are discovered to be on a close pass/collision course with Earth, dedicated scientist-brains lead dedicated teams to plan and build rocket to hopefully transport and save a few lucky surviving humans to the new world. Laid out in a typical Hollywood soap opus style with an icky love story and oodles of self-sacrifice in the face of impending hideous mass death it still grips - it's open simplicity saves it from being either a cornfest or boring. Although it's been dated for over 40 years it's still interesting for its procession of stereotypical people and emotions and the range of allegorical situations presented. With but a single moralisation stemming from the two jealous love rivals, boxes of urgent medical supplies are flown to a stranded group of people that everyone including us know are all going to be incinerated in a few days. But overall dog eat dog after all. I always hope classy heroine Barbara Rush will scream in horror directly at the camera as she did later in It Came From Outer Space but no such luck in here. Hunky hero Richard Derr never looked more like Danny Kaye.

I think the special effects won an Oscar in 1951 ... um, time has taken its usual toll – however it's still an essential sci-fi film to watch, especially if you're into the (history of the) genre.

This film has a lot of folks who became well known as character actors later in their careers. What is most interesting though is that receiving no credit for some amazing special effects work in this film, George Pal.

Geroge would go on to do other films like the Brothers Grimm & The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao but some of the better special effect work in this film is definitely George. This was quite a challenge in 1951 to come up with special effects work to end the world as we know it.

The film has a tone of a race to save mankind that actually works pretty well. The ending with the survivors getting ready to step into their new home is OK, but the special effects leading to this ending are simply amazing.

The film is showing it's age now, & younger viewers might not appreciate it for what it is- pretty well done science fiction in it's day.

This is an often overlooked sci-fi movie from the 50s--being not nearly as famous as the excellent Day the Earth Stood Still or Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Despite this, it is still one of the best ones of its era. The basic story is good, but not great. What sets it apart are the characters within it and the insight into human nature it gives you. This makes the film very allegorical and makes you think. Many of the characters, such as the leads, rise to the occasion and only think of saving others when it appears most life on Earth will be destroyed. Then, there are the jerks who also show their true colors--such as the crowd who try to storm the space ship bound for a safe new world, and especially the evil old financier who who wants to save his own skin and could care less about others. John Hoyt plays this role beautifully and it is very, very much like the character C. Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons!

Oh, and lest I forget, for 1951, the special effects are absolutely amazing. Aside from a pretty flat-looking matte painting used at the end, the space ship effects and flood effects were just terrific and earned this movie a well-deserved Oscar.

This is a great sci-fi film that all fans of the genre need to see.

I absolutely love the old sci-fi films, most are cheesy and over acted with silly plots and thats great. Movies are made to help one escape from reality and although I love Horror best, I'll admit sci-fi is at times a better form of fiction than any other genre.

In the 50's sci-fi was maybe the most beloved style of movies out there, we had gone from tons of universal monsters to spaceships and little funny looking men from another world. Aliens were a hot topic in the 50's and UFO'S were about as interesting and mysterious as it got.

This film wasn't boring as most older movies are to me. I want excitement and less talk, unless talk is what I am expecting. This film has always surprised me. It isn't overacted and the plot,although is pure theory, it works. The main important factor is that its quick, you as a viewer aren't left with boring dialogue, just fast paced well acted and to the point directing.

The sets and gadgets are a bit cheesy, otherwise this movie is great - sci-fi lovers make sure you get this one

7/10 stars

Rudolph Mate directed this George Pal production about a rogue star named Bellus that is on an unalterable collision course with the Earth, dooming it to annihilation. In the meantime, some wealthy men, among them a wheelchair bound industrialist played by John Hoyt, finance a private expedition to build spaceships to carry a select group of people(who have various essential skills necessary in a new civilization) to a newly discovered planet called Zyra, where humanity can start over. Will this plan work in time, or is the human race doomed to extinction? Given it's highly dramatic premise, film is strangely bland and ineffectual, though does have some good model work on display. Pity the sequel "After Worlds Collide" wasn't filmed though.

I am partial to older movies such as "When Worlds Collide,"

because the acting and limited technology were more crucial to

making an interesting movie. You have to try to place yourself in

the movie's time period and in the characters' environment before

making judgment.

Having done so, I believe this movie is a "thumbs-up" for carrying

out a lengthy story line in just 86 minutes. The actors all made up

for the absence of modern, computer-generated graphics and

second-class props, by today's standards. And they did a good job

of bringing to life the human problems and issues that would arise

in similar situations if their predicament happened today.

I first saw this movie in 1960 at the age of six. It blew me away

then. And today, I still enjoy watching it, but I have to remind myself

about my previous comments and put myself back in the movie's

time zone.

This is a good Sci-fi movie for its time. Sit back, grab a bucket of

popcorn and a soda, and go back to the early 1950s if you can.

Then let the movie do the rest.

Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with other amateur reviewers on line that stress you have to put yourself back to 1951 to appreciate the film more, it still doesn't take away from the fact that the film is one of the poorer offerings from the disaster/sci-fi genre of years gone by.

The methodical build up of characters is fine for adding weight to the final reel, the effects are solid for the time, and the ending has an element of heart tugging hope to it, but the film still remains a drawn out laborious watch.

No amount of shouting about lack of budget and the time frame of its birth can't detract that the film over relies on heavy dialogue to keep the viewer interested. This is all well and good if the pay off is handsome in the extreme, which sadly isn't the case on this occasion.

I have taken myself back to 1951, and for that reason alone I give it the average rating of 5/10, while I certainly have no hesitation in recommending this to genre fans for at least one watch. It deserves to be looked at, and it deserves respect of course, but that doesn't mean it's particularly above average either.

When I read that a new version of this classic SCI Fi was being produced I could hardly believe it. Seeing it for the first time in the 1960's, I was spellbound. Without giving any spoiler information those rockets they used were so real. I think they must have had good science adviser, because even back then you felt that were seeing things that could possibly be real. The human element was very real also. You really get an idea what would happen if such an incident would happen. The question that it ask is if you had the opportunity to save yourself from a major situation would you do anything to save yourself? One other thing there is a book version of the story and there is a sequel to the book, which talks about events that occur after this story. Also, the book differs slightly from the movie story.

When Worlds Collide was George Pal's second sci-fi film after the success of his previous Destination Moon. It's also one of the earliest depictions of "the end-of-the-world" scenario since it was based on a 1932 novel. While the premise was interesting and there were some cool effects for a '50s Technicolor movie, there's the formula "girl has to choose between two men" that seemed par for the course in many of these genre flicks. The best performance was that of John Hoyt as the billionaire who finances the rocket move after the government turns scientist Larry Keating down. Richard Derr and Barbara Rush are the adequately compelling leads. Besides Keating who was the fourth Harry Morton on Burns and Allen, other familiar faces from later TV series include Hayden Rorke from I Dream of Jeanne (though it took a while before I recognized him since he wore a beard here) and Frank Cady from Petticoat Junction and Green Acres (though again he wasn't easily spotted without his mustache or gravelly voice). If you're a sci-fi fan of Pal, this film is worth a look. Just don't expect too much in the way of logic.

Even though its visuals have dated somewhat since its original release back in 1951, "When Worlds Collide" is still an interesting "End-of-the-World" Sci-Fi fable, no matter what anybody says to the contrary.

Brilliant scientist, Dr. Cole Hendron tries to convince a doubting world that Earth is in the direct path of a rogue planet called Bellus that's about the size of our Sun. And a collision with it is inevitable.

With no time to lose, wealthy financier, Sydney Stanton orders the immediate construction of a giant spaceship to transport selected survivors safely to a distant planet known as Zyra.

A world lottery is held in order to determine who is to travel to Zyra on this astounding spacecraft.

The special effects (which includes the submersion of Manhattan) won an Oscar for this impressive, technicolor, "George Pal" production.

Just convince yourself that "When Worlds Collide" could really happen and I guarantee that you'll enjoy this throughly entertaining picture from start to finish.

This film begins at a remote observatory in South Africa where an astrologer by the name of "Doctor Emery Bronson" (Hayden Rorke) makes a terrifying discovery in which a star called Bellus is directly on a collision course with the earth. He also observes that a small planet he calls Zyra is orbiting Bellus as well. Desperately needing a second opinion, he hires a local airplane pilot by the name of "Dave Randall" (Richard Derr) to take his research to another noted astronomer named "Dr. Cole Hendron" (Larry Keating) in New York with the stipulation that Dave Randall does not release his findings to anyone else. Unfortunately, upon his arrival there Dr. Hendron confirms the analysis of his noted colleague and estimates that the world-and every living thing on it-will cease to exist in about 8 months. There is, however, a small chance that a few people will be able to survive if they can build and launch a rocket ship within the small timeframe they are given to the planet Zyra. But everything has to be carefully coordinated and nothing can go wrong. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a pretty good science-fiction film which follows the book of the same title pretty well. Admittedly, the actors weren't exactly top-notch but they performed well enough all things considered. I should also add that this film was clearly dated so some viewers might not be able to appreciate it as much as others. Be that as it may, while it definitely has the feel of a grade-B movie, it manages to pass the time reasonably well and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

A stunning example of why old school sci-fi movies are so great.

Has every element you need in this genre to make for a fun viewing.

Fun story, great effects and well put together.

Loved it :)

It is a sci fi classic whose premise is the collapse of our planet, Earth, by colliding with a star and the attempt to save life in a "Noah's ark".

This film was made in 1951, before space exploration, so it is with curiosity that, nowadays, we see the director's vision of what this would be.

For the time being it is technically evolved and well done, it even won the Oscar for best special effects.

It errs however for a very basic and stereotyped plot with one-dimensional characters.

Basically it's like many modern blockbusters, good effects, well done and poor story/plot. Bring the popcorn... I, even so, recommend it to cinephiles, curious about the history and evolution of science fiction movies, it's one of the classics.

In the old days all it took to make a good film, was a good book or script, a serious director and some up and coming Hollywood stars. The magic arrived when everyone involved would believe in the end product, ergo a good film. To make it more interesting, someone would include the magic words, science fiction. If the words weren't enough, then in would come the author. If they included Edwin Balmer, then nothing short of total incompetence could destroy the entire project. That is what happened in this film. The actors were good and included Richard Derr as David Randall, Barbara Rush plays Joyce Hendron, Peter Hansen played Dr. Tony Drake M.D. and John Hoyt was superb as Sydney Stanton the self-centered millionaire. The story is plausible enough, but then someone knocked over the cart carrying common sense and replaced it with absolute nonsense. With the world about to be destroyed, the earth's nations' prepares to gather a few humans and launch them into space and re-start humanity anew on a new planet. But watch carefully as the selected group consists of all Anglo Saxon people. You will notice there is no one of color selected to go on the ride. No African Americans, Indians, (Feather or Dot) Asians, Spanish, no people of any other color, except white. They all cram into a single rocket which by modern standards would never fly off the Earth much less make interplanetary travel. Furthermore, except for one child, no children are selected. Only one character, the millionaire is blatantly honest about his salvation. All in all this film was made long before reason and skin color became a factor in the selection of a final humanity.

I love this movie! I loved it as a kid for the special effects (what a great rocketship! And that launch system!) As an adult, I enjoy the film for the brisk pace, plausible plot-line, wonderful character stereotypes, and I've always loved planes, rockets, sci-fi, space stuff, et al. It's also interesting in the context of the "Cold War" and the threat of nuclear annihilation. And I've never understood why Richard Derr wasn't more successful. Tall, good looking, blond with a deep voice--do I smell some studio politics? Anyway, I think this little movie is just a whole bunch of fun to watch and it's very well crafted for any era. Enjoy!

Though the great space race between America and the U.S.S.R. was still a number of years away, the fact that space travel was a real possibility fuelled audiences desire for sci-fi that was rooted in scientific theory. I emphasise the word theory as the science behind the Golden Age of sci-fi was generally rather loopy, though the films were happy to make heroes of scientists. They were no more self-isolated lunatics cooking up destructive experiments or digging up corpses to make a monster, but wise, goateed intellectuals, or square-jawed protégées capable of saving humanity from any potential threats. Of course, the 1950's mainly gave us rubber-suited aliens or giant, mutated monsters, but there were a few directors and producers that were aiming to give the audience a more satisfying, thoughtful experience, such as Rudolph Mate's When Worlds Collide.

After scientists discover that there are a pair of rogue planets hurtling towards Earth, pilot David Randall (Richard Derr) is given the task of delivering the information to New York for further research. When Dr. Cole Hendron (Larry Keating) confirms the fear, the news is brought to the attention of the United Nations, where they are laughed out as crackpots. It is believed that the first planet will pass so close to the Earth, it will cause devastating damage, only return from its orbit of the Sun to destroy Earth completely. With the help of Sydney Stanton (John Hoyt), who provides the funds, Hendron and his colleagues begin work on a spacecraft that will transport a small band of survivors to the second planet, which they believe is habitable and will remain on a stable orbit.

Rather than giving us special-effects filled set-pieces or killer aliens, When Worlds Collide entirely focuses on humanity's reaction to potential catastrophe. The story is an obvious parable of Noah's Ark, with God venting his fury upon the Earth he saw as fallen into sin, and this theme comes to fruition near towards the end as a lottery-system is drafted to choose who stays and who goes, with the inevitable violent rebellion of those facing death. This harsh depiction of the human race was the most intriguing idea the film had, which makes it sad that the film-makers failed to capitalise on it, instead focuses on a dull love story between Randall, Hendron's daughter Joyce (Barbara Rush) and Dr. Tony Drake (Peter Hansen).

The film was successful and went to be hugely influential in the genre, but it is held back from being anything great by some gaping plot-holes, lazy plot devices, and some erratic special effects. It took home to Academy Awards for Special Effects, but the new world reveal at the climax is a rather hastily painted backdrop, ruining any sense of wonder the ending may have provided. There is plenty of fun to be had with When Worlds Collide and gave many future writers and directors to think about, but producer George Pal funded better and more satisfying sci-fi in The War of the Worlds (1953) and The Time Machine (1960).

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