UK, 1956
85m
35mm film, “a CinemaScope picture”, Warnercolor, 2.35:1
mono, English
A British science fiction film directed by Paul Dickson. Production began in May 1956 and it was originally released in the UK on 17 December 1956.
Plot Summary
A British space shot takes its crew on a mission to test a revolutionary new tritonium bomb. But during the test, The bomb becomes attached to the rocket and the crew races against time to defuse it.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Paul Dickson
Copyright 1956 Tridelta Productions
Warner Bros. presents
Produced by: The Danzigers Edward J. Danziger, Harry Lee Danziger
Associate Producer: Nicholas Duke Biddle
Screenplay by: John Mather, J.T. McIntosh and Edith Dell
Directors of Photography: Georges Perinal, James Wilson
Editor: Sidney Stone
Music: Albert Elms
Westrex Recording System
Director of Special Effects: Wally Veevers
Art Director: Erik Blakemore
The Producers are grateful to the government agencies which made their technical assistance available; and to Folland Aircraft Co., and A.V. Roe Ltd., for the kind permission to use their aircraft
This film is made under license from Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation – the registered proprietor of the trade mark CinemaScope
Cast
Kieron Moore (Commander Michael Haydon)
Lois Maxwell (Kim Hamilton)
Donald Wolfit (Professor Merrity)
Bryan Forbes (Jimmy Wheeler)
Jimmy Hanley (Larry Noble)
Thea Gregory (Barbara Noble)
Barry Keegan (‘Lefty’ Blake)
Alan Gifford (Colonel Galloway)
Shirley Lawrence (Ellen)
Walter Hudd (Professor Blandford)
Donald Gray (Captain Ross)
Peter Neil (Tony, party gigolo)
Rick Rydon, Ronan O’Casey, Robert O’Neil (reporters)
Charles Richardson (General Barnett)
Carl Jaffe (Professor Bechstein)
John Baker [official] *
Alastair Hunter, Trevor Reid [technicians] *
Alternative Titles
La terra esplode – Italy
Production Notes
A trade show was held in Birmingham on 27 September 1956.
References
Periodicals
- Monthly Film Bulletin vol.23 no.273 (October 1956) p.131
- Today’s Cinema vol.87 no.7598 (31 August 1956) p.10
- Today’s Cinema no.7615 vol.LXXXVII (25 September 1956) p.6 – note (Trade show)
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Science Fiction by Phil Hardy (ed) pp.162-163
- British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928-1959 by David Quinlan p.369 – credits, synopsis
- Creature Features Movie Guide Strikes Again by John Stanley p.334 – credits, review
- English Gothic: A Century of Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.54
- Frightfest Guide: Exploitation Movies by Alan Jones p.41
- Nuclear Movies: A Filmography by Mick Broderick p.50
- Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.418 – credits
- Uneasy Dreams: The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956-1976 by Gary A. Smith pp.190-191
