John Johnson wrote:
The British Film Institute has officially announced and detailed its upcoming Dual Format Edition of Val Guest's The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961), starring Edward Judd, Janet Munro, and Leo McKern. The release will be available for purchase on November 17th.
Newly remastered by the BFI National Archive, this definitive version of the classic British science fiction thriller will be released by the BFI on both DVD and Blu-ray on 17 November 2014 as part of Sci-Fi: Days of Fear and Wonder.
Both formats contain a host of extras, including a commentary with director Val Guest (the Quatermass films), a newly-created documentary, a selection of bomb-related archive films and much, much more.
When the USA and Russia simultaneously test nuclear bombs, the earth is knocked off its axis and set on a collision course with the sun. As the planet inexorably heats up and society slowly breaks down, Peter Stenning (Edward Judd), a washed-up Daily Express reporter, breaks the story and sets about investigating the government cover-up.
Made at a time when the nuclear threat of the Cold War loomed large, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is an expertly crafted sci-fi film that boasts a BAFTA-winning screenplay, gritty characters and a vision of end-of-days London that really burns. It also stars Leo McKern (Rumpole of the Bailey), Janet Munro, real-life reporter Bernard Braden and one-time Daily Express editor Arthur Christiansen. Many scenes were filmed on location at the former Daily Express HQ on Fleet Street and in the surrounding area.
Special Features:
Brand new 4K transfer by the BFI National Archive
Hot Off the Press: Revisiting the Day the Earth Caught Fire (John Kelly, 2014, 34 mins): a newly-created documentary with contributions from Kim Newman, Marcus Hearne and BFI Archive curators John Oliver and Jo Botting
Audio commentary with Val Guest and Ted Newsom
An Interview with Leo McKern (Paul Venezis, 2001, 9 mins)
The Day the Earth Caught Fire: An Audio Appreciation by Graeme Hobbs (2014, 9 mins)
Original trailer, TV spots and radio spots
Stills and Collections Gallery
Three nuclear films from the BFI National Archive: Operation Hurricane (Ronald Stark, 1952, 33 mins); The H-bomb (David Villiers, 1956, 22 mins); The Hole in the Ground (David Cobham, 1962, 30 mins)
Think Bike (1978, 1 min): road safety film with actor Edward Judd
Illustrated booklet with extensive credits and newly commissioned essays from John Oliver and Marcus Hearn
The Guardian Lecture: Val Guest and his wife, actress Yolande Dolan are interviewed by David Meeker, filmed at the National Film Theatre (1998, 63 mins) (Blu-ray exclusive feature)
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=15266
Review.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-ray_ ... lu-ray.htm