Press Release Scream Factory Press Release: The Day The World Ended (1955) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Randy Korstick]

I was doing some research on this and every source I have come across says this film was composed for 2.00 and a couple say 1.85. I read some comments on another film thread discussion and The opening title of the film in 2.35:1 is cropped very tightly. Also The American Releasing film credit at the end of the film is cut off from the bottom in the 2.35 version which would indicate that this is not the correct ratio. They also point out some of the shots present extra info at top and bottom and sides at times but at other times the 2.35 appears pushed to the left so its strange.
Supposedly in the early 60's AIP re-released some of their early films in 2.35:1. Glen Erickson mentions seeing a theatrical screening of Machine Gun Kelly in 2.35:1 even though the original ratio when it was released in the 50's was 1.85. So the belief is the 2.35 version of Day the World ended came from a 1960's reissue but the original Superscope release was 2.00. Corman probably framed the film in 1.85 since nearly all the 50's AIP films were done in this ratio.

 

[RolandL]

From the trailer on YouTube about 1.33.

Trailer cropped to 2.0

From the movie on YouTube about 1.80

 

[RolandL]

Weird that the opening titles are cropped on the sides then opened up later.

From the 2.35 DVD

 

[timk1041]

Bottom line: keep the DVD. Even though the physical print they used has some splices (a few in the company logo up front, a couple more when Denning is carrying Ratick), it provides a better representation of the movie than the cropped 2:1 BD does. Wide composition is very important to DAY THE WORLD ENDED, and it should be correctly presented.

The sound levels aren't good on the Lionsgate DVD. Another one where you need to crank it up near maximum. Almost all blu rays have a much better robust sound than many DVDs. I will keep my DVD copy for now, mainly because "The She Creature" is also on the DVD and there is no blu ray of that yet. I haven't looked at the blu of "Day The World Ended" yet, but will soon. I can't comment on the aspect ratio DVD vs. blu since I haven't been able to compare the two myself.

 

[Sadsack]

Bottom line: keep the DVD. Even though the physical print they used has some splices (a few in the company logo up front, a couple more when Denning is carrying Ratick), it provides a better representation of the movie than the cropped 2:1 BD does. Wide composition is very important to DAY THE WORLD ENDED, and it should be correctly presented.

Some will say, "Ah, who cares, it's not the end of the world..." But it is!

 

[Capt D McMars]

From Wikipedia - Hart now owns the rights to 11 movies made by her late husband's company: It Conquered the World (1956) and its 1966 remake Zontar, The Thing from Venus, Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957) and its 1965 remake The Eye Creatures, I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957), I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), Terror from the Year 5000 (1958), Apache Woman (1955), The Oklahoma Woman (1956) and Naked Paradise (1957).

I'd love to see a 2-fer BRD release of Invasion of the Saucermen & the Larry Buchanan abominationversion The Eye Creatures!!! and secondly do both of the "I was a teenage..." as another BRD 2-fer!! And lastly, that amazing classic It Counquered the World with that funky creature alien by Paul Blaisdale!!!

 

[Capt D McMars]

Some will say, "Ah, who cares, it's not the end of the world..." But it is!

...Sometimes it's the little things that mean so much!!!

 

[RolandL]

I have the DVD and it looks better than whoever uploaded it to YouTube.

IFC broadcast

DVD