Woodyanders Scientist Dr. David Conway (a sturdy and likable performance by William Leslie) creates a device that can predict earthquakes before they happen. After discovering a previously unknown rock element that causes explosions when hot, it's up to Conway and his plucky assistant Laura 'Hutch' Hutchinson (a winningly perky portrayal by the very fetching and appealing Kathryn Grant) to prevent this element from destroying the world.Director Fred F. Sears, working from a compact script by Jack Nattleford and Luci Ward, relates the engrossing story at a quick pace, maintains a serious tone throughout, makes nice use of stock footage, builds a reasonable amount of tension, and keeps everything ground on an intimate human level. Leslie and Grant make for personable leads; they receive solid support from Tristam Coffin as Conway's loyal colleague Dr. Ellis Morton and Raymond Greenleaf as the skeptical Gov. Chaney. The special effects aren't half bad. The tight 64 minute running time ensures that this movie never gets dull or overstays its welcome. Benjamin H. Kline's crisp black and white cinematography rates as another definite plus. A fun B-grade outing.

MartinHafer While "The Night the World Exploded" is a very low-budget film with no-name actors, it is enjoyable. It also manages to make a ridiculous plot seem plausible--and that is no small feat.The film begins with a seismologist creating a new machine that would help them predict earthquakes. However, the equipment is either faulty OR the Earth is royally screwed!!! Soon, after the big quake, they discover a new element--#112. And here is where it gets crazy. There is a lot of it and the element is VERY explosive--so explosive that the planet may soon go kaboom! That is, unless they enact a crazy plan that just MIGHT work.While this film offers few huge thrills, it works well. The miniature sets work well and the acting is good. Most importantly, the film is written well and will probably hold your attention.

LeonLouisRicci You might think that the explosion of the whole World, no less, could muster some thrills and chills as Scientists race to uncover the cause and apply their Egghead methods to stifle the upcoming Apocalypse.Not so much in the hands of these cheap Hollywood Hacks that in the Fifties exploited Science in their Fiction and made some Really Cool Posters but some very Uncool Movies. This isn't the worst of its kind and does manage to be involving enough. Just the thought of what's at stake could put the nerves on edge.But here just climbing down a rope is enough to make a Female Scientist freeze with fear. The cardboard sets have some visual charm and the stock disaster footage is mixed in nicely with some looking very ominous. But the Plot of the New Element and Diluvial problem solving is rather lackluster and hokey, as is the Romantic necessities. The final shot of the Lovers on an elevated Stage with a Kiss that makes Her quake is an exclamation point on the stodgy and stagy nature of what went before.

wayne.godbehere Entertaining typical 50's sci-fi low budget offering with slightly above average plot line for the time.However, particularly amusing are scenes in the military command aircraft which used card tables and folding chairs in front of mock-up aircraft porthole windows.