Review: Day the World Ended

After a nuclear apocalypse has devastated much of Earth and rendered it radioactive, there is a valley that has been protected by lead-bearing mountains. Among the protected is survivalist and former Navy commander Paul Birch, who lives with his daughter Lori Nelson and their stockpiled supplies. A few other characters turn up at Birch’s doorstep seeking refuge. They include a hoodlum (Mike Connors) and his stripper gal (Adele Jurgens), a uranium mining specialist (Richard Denning), and an elderly prospector (Raymond Hatton). Birch very reluctantly lets them in and that’s when the trouble starts as one of the survivors (Jonathan Haze) has been contaminated and is turning into something monstrous and menacing.

 

One of the earlier sci-fi directorial efforts from late director Roger Corman (“A Bucket of Blood”, “It Conquered the World”, “The Intruder”, “Tomb of Ligeia”), this 1955 low-budgeter is one of several Corman-directed films that frankly deserves to be talked about more.

 

Sure, actor Richard Denning is uninspiring, and sure the monster is both unnecessary and just plain not good. However, this is a really fine B-movie outside of that. Scripted by Lou Rusoff (“It Conquered the World”) the plot is irresistible and most of the cast works. Paul Birch makes for a good no-nonsense 1950s survivalist, Lori Nelson is likeable, Mike Connors is perfectly smug and thuggish, and Adele Jurgens is full of personality. Together they more than make up for what Denning fails to bring to the table. Jurgens plays such a sad character here, she knows Connors is a lousy piece of shit but still she loves him and it costs her.

 

You can see where this has dated or not been thought out entirely realistically. However, for what this is, when it was made, and how little it was likely made for, it’s a really interesting and entertaining film. I even like the makeup used for the people afflicted by the nuclear event.

 

Roger Corman was such an underrated director. I really admire the ambition on this one for tackling a pretty grand premise – the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse - and despite its budget limitations, Corman and co manage to pull it off pretty darn well. Seek this one out if you can and are so inclined. It's a small winner.

 

Rating: B-

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