Night the World Exploded, The
Entry updated 4 April 2017. Tagged: Film.
US film (1957). Clover Productions/Columbia Pictures. Produced by Sam Katzman. Directed by Fred F Sears. Written by Jack Natteford and Luci Ward. Cast includes Tristram Coffin (credited as Tris Coffin), Charles Evans, Kathryn Grant, Raymond Greenleaf, William Leslie and Frank Scannell (credited as Frank J Scannell). 64 minutes. Black and white.
Dr Conway (Leslie), with his colleague Dr Morton (Coffin), has perfected a Machine which can predict earthquakes. It indicates a large one will strike northern California within 24 hours, but the Governor (Greenleaf) doesn't believe them. The quake occurs as predicted, and causes much damage. The Scientists' device predicts increasing numbers of earthquakes around the world, and proves correct. Along with Morton, Dr Conway and Laura "Hutch" Hutchinson descend as deeply Underground as possible into the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico to make further readings. There they discover a new Element from the earth's interior called element 112, which proves highly explosive upon contact with open air. It is harmless as long as it remains either buried or covered with water. However, an unknown force is pushing element 112 to the surface; the scientists determine that enough of the new element will be in contact with air within 28 days to cause the world to explode. A massive effort is undertaken to flood the Carlsbad Caverns and submerge the element: this is successful at the last moment. [GSt]
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