When Worlds Collide (1951)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
David Randall	Richard Derr
Joyce Hendron	Barbara Bush
Dr. Tony Drake	Peter Hansen
Sydney Stanton	John Hoyt
Dr. Cole Hendron	Larry Keating	½

Review

Thoroughly interesting, but badly simplified and often inconsiderate end-of-the-world science fiction yarn in which a group of scientists discover a rogue planet on collision course with earth, and plan to create a modern space ark to transport a selected group of people to the passing planet Zyra. Director Rudoplh Maté wisely keeps his focus on the human aspects of this suspense film, even if his characters behave overly properly and the film avoids many relevant questions (such as how the spacecraft is able to co-ordinate its speed with that of the passing planet, or how they could have even the slightest idea that Zyra was going to habitable). Maté is mostly concerned with morality and action, and handles both usefully. Unfortunately, When Worlds Collide does have obvious drawbacks when seen more than half a century after its release; the development in science and film effects has not been kind to it. The miniature effects hold up quite well, but the representations of the craft travelling in space and the view of Zyra's surface hampers the dramatic effect. With even, B-movie performances from all the actors.