Science Fiction,Drama
United Kingdom
The Day the Earth Caught Fire is a 1961 British science fiction film that tells the story of how the actions of the United States and the Soviet Union have caused the Earth to become uncontrollably hot and move towards the sun. The film follows the experiences of Peter Stenning, a reporter for the Daily Express, who begins to suspect that something is amiss when weather patterns around the world become more extreme.
As he investigates further, Stenning discovers that the two superpowers have detonated nuclear bombs simultaneously on opposite sides of the Earth, and the resulting damage has thrown the planet off its axis. With the Earth's orbit disturbed, the planet slowly moves towards the sun, which will eventually cause it to be destroyed.
Stenning's attempts to get the story out to the public are stymied by a government cover-up, which tries to portray events as an "experiment in space research" gone wrong. Despite this, Stenning continues his investigations, working with a colleague, Jeanie, to publish the truth in their newspaper.
The film builds towards a dramatic climax, as Stenning and Jeanie race to publish their story before the Earth reaches the point of no return. The film ends on an ambiguous note, with the fate of the Earth left uncertain.
