When a group of astronomers calculate a star is on a course to slam into Earth, a few days before, it's accompanying planet will first pass close enough to the Earth to cause havoc on land and sea. They set about building a rocket so a few selected individuals can escape to the planet.
Practical Effects
Miniature floods that still look wetter than CGI.
Production
Deluxe color apocalypse—Paramount spent BIG on doom.
Director
Rudolph Maté
Richard Derr
David Randall
Barbara Rush
Joyce Hendron
Peter Hansen
Dr. Tony Drake
John Hoyt
Sydney Stanton
Larry Keating
Dr. Cole Hendron
Rachel Ames
Julie Cummings
Stephen Chase
Dr. George Frye
Frank Cady
Harold Ferris
Hayden Rorke
Dr. Emery Bronson
Sandro Giglio
Dr. Ottinger
Kirk Alyn
Rioter Bringing Guns (uncredited)
James Congdon
Eddie Garson (uncredited)
Gertrude Astor
Traveler (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
George Pal's production kicked off the 1950s disaster boom and won the Oscar for effects—beating a little film called 'The Day the Earth Stood Still.'
The rocket launch noise was reused in 'Star Trek' and countless shows; that scream is embedded in Hollywood DNA.
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