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October will see the DVD and Blu-ray premiere of the BFI Archive’s digitally re-mastered version of one of British cinema’s most intense sci-fi offerings – The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961).

Special features

- Brand new 4K transfer by the BFI National Archive
- The H-Bomb (David Villiers, 1956, 21 mins): civil defence information film demonstrating the damage that might be expected from a ten megaton bomb
- Operation Hurricane (Ronald Stark, 1952, 33 mins): a documentary exploring the work involved in, and the research behind Britain's first atomic bomb tests
- The Hole in the Ground (David Cobham, 1962, 30 mins): a dramatization of a nuclear attack demonstrating the operation of Britain s warning system for atomic war
- The Day the Earth Caught Fire: An Audio Appreciation by Graeme Hobbs (9 mins)
- Original trailer
- Stills gallery
- Other extras TBC

Dr Amicus wrote:Now, it's not sf, but will someone please pick up Jigsaw? Please??

Dr Amicus wrote:Going a bit off topic, I see that the BBFC have now passed Jigsaw, not only for DVD but for a cinema re-release! If you haven't seen it, it's a cracking little thriller that makes good use of its Cinemascope frame.

What A Disgrace wrote:Will this be region free?

The Day the Earth Caught Fire
A film by Val Guest

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

Blu-ray exclusive feature

• 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 product details

RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIB1198 / Cert 12
UK / 1961 / black and white, with tinting / English language, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles / 100 mins / BD50 / 1080p / 24fps / Original aspect ratio 2.35:1 / PCM mono audio (48k/16-bit)

DVD product details

RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIV2009 / Cert 12
UK / 1961 / black and white, with tinting / English language, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles / 96 mins / DVD9 / Original aspect ratio 2.35:1 (16x9 anamorphic) / Dolby Digital 1.0 mono audio (192 kbps)

tenia wrote:Extras wise, that's BFI at Full Throttle. Really nice to see what they got to put on this release. It seems very promising.