The Day the Earth Caught Fire

The Day the Earth Caught Fire

The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a British science fiction disaster film starring Edward Judd, Leo McKern and Janet Munro. It was directed by Val Guest and released in 1961, and is one of the classic apocalyptic films of its era. The film opened at the Odeon Marble Arch in London on 23 November 1961. The film, which was partly made on location in London and Brighton, used matte painting to create images of abandoned cities and desolate landscapes. The production also featured the real Daily Express, even using the paper's own headquarters, the Daily Express Building in Fleet Street, London, and featuring Arthur Christiansen as the Express editor, a job he had held in real life.

Genre: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Production: Universal Pictures
  Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
7.2
Rotten Tomatoes:
75%
UNRATED
Year:
1961
99
1,069 Views

Peter Stenning:
Hello, Pat.

Pat Holroyd:
Well.

Peter Stenning:
It's a bit better than Picture Post, isn't it?

Pat Holroyd:
Stenning, what the hell do you want?

Peter Stenning:
A quote on sun-spots.

Pat Holroyd:
Sun-spots?

Peter Stenning:
Look, just tell me that the static, the monsoon, the compass trouble, and the terrible shows we get on television are all caused by sun-spots, and that the sun-spots are caused by bigger bomb experiments, and I'll leave you in peace.

Pat Holroyd:
Well, there usually is a bit of extra sun-spot activity this time of year, old boy, but I don't think it has much to do with anything.

Peter Stenning:
But there could be some connection. Oh, come on, say "Yes," what harm could it do you?

Pat Holroyd:
Look, Stenning, it's nice to see you again, but I'm afraid I'm up to my neck, old boy. [to his secretary] All right, Miss Johnson, take this to the Typing Pool and have it mimeographed immediately. [to Stenning] I see you're still a bit of a liberty-taker...

Peter Stenning:
Well, give me something, Pat, I've got to get a story out of this!

Pat Holroyd:
Sorry, can't oblige, old boy.

Peter Stenning:
But why not? It's a perfectly routine, harmless, silly-season story.

Pat Holroyd:
Look, Peter! You've no right to be here...

Peter Stenning:
Well, it is, isn't it? Well, just tell me: yes or no?

Peter Stenning:
I don't have to tell you anything, Stenning. You aren't in a special position that entitles you to a first break on anything that comes into this office.

Peter Stenning:
You mean something *has* come in.

[Holroyd freezes, and is clearly relieved when the telecom buzzes him]

[Peter decides to stop in at the Press Office, after telling Jeannie that he had better things to do. He finds her cleaning what looks like a mimeograph machine, and they each have no idea who the other one is]

Jeannie Craig:
Oh, hullo. Have you come to fix this?

Peter Stenning:
Well, I hadn't, but for you, why not?

Jeannie Craig:
[embarrassed] Oh, I'm sorry, they'd said they'd send someone. Can I help you? Nearly everyone's gone home.

Peter Stenning:
Yeah, I'd like a copy of tonight's official line-ups.

Jeannie Craig:
Tonight's what?

Peter Stenning:
Uh, the official releases.

Jeannie Craig:
Oh! Those are all a bit smudged, a bit over-inky, I'll get you a clean one. We're in a terrible state here. What with holidays and flu, we're all doing everyone else's job.

Peter Stenning:
[Admiring her shapely arse as she bends over:] It happens to the best of us.

Jeannie Craig:
Success! [She hands him a paper] No smudges.

Peter Stenning:
This is all I get, sweetie?

Jeannie Craig:
That's all you get.

Peter Stenning:
You wouldn't like a drink with me, or a lift home?

Jeannie Craig:
Just for my record, I'd like your name.

Peter Stenning:
Peter Stenning. Just for my record, I'd like yours.

Jeannie Craig:
[She straightens up and stares at him, remembering now his name and his rudeness on the telephone exchange] Peter Stenning?

Peter Stenning:
Yes.

Jeannie Craig:
Express?

Peter Stenning:
Oh, you've heard of me.

Jeannie Craig:
Oh, yes. And if you're Peter Stenning, that's not all you get.

Peter Stenning:
Oh, great, great.

Jeannie Craig:
You get this too, sweetie. [She slaps his face] Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to dive back into the Pool.

[she storms off, and Peter looks both injured and intrigued]


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