Clevercell Very disappointing...

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

bkoganbing What begins as a scientific disagreement ends with an event having importance for the solar system we live in. Drs. Dana Andrews and Kieron Moore a pair of well known physicists are working on a project that would crack the earth's crust. The idea is to have a controlled flow of magma from the center of the earth from which humankind can extract the mineral wealth it needs and have a never ending heating supply. Andrews wants to drop a missile with an atomic warhead down a shaft. He feels it will bore a hole allowing for a controlled flow. Moore however thinks the explosion will shatter the crust because of the underground atomic testing that's been done. Guess who turns out to be right?In addition to their scientific disagreements Andrews and Moore are romantic rivals as well. Janette Scott who is married to Andrews once was going out with Moore who still has a yen for her. I'm not sure of the physics or the geology that we are given in Crack In The World, but this is a well done science fiction drama spiced with a little romantic rivalry. A Crack In The World does form and threatens to dismember the planet itself.Well we're still here and if you want to see the miracle that saves the Earth then see Crack In The World. Good indication there is a ruling power out there.

Mark-129 Saw this in my local cinema when I was about 5. Although I didn't quite understand what was going on, I knew it was bad. Others have noted the quality of the production and script, and I can't agree more. Compared to American Sci-Fi, 'Crack' was definitely given the A film treatment. All three leads were excellent with only the symptoms of Sorenson's sickness ringing false. For it's time, the special effects arex unparalleled. The only reason this film has remained somewhat unknown is the lack of a major home video release over the years. Too bad, many of the craftsmen involved in the making of 'Crack in the World' have missed well deserved accolades.

ShadeGrenade 'Crack in The World' used to play a lot on '70's British television, but has been strangely invisible for years now. My copy was taped off Sky about 1994! It is a gripping sci-fi thriller based loosely on the 'Mo-Hole Project'; American scientists once attempted to drill to the Earth's core, but abandoned the idea ( for reasons that are still shrouded in mystery ). Another source of inspiration could be the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle short story 'When The World Screamed'.Dr.Stephen Sorenson ( Dana Andrews ) is head of 'Project Inner Space', a plan to ( you guessed it ) drill to the Earth's magma core and tap the limitless energy there. To break through the outer shell, he proposes firing a nuclear missile. Dead against the scheme is Dr.Ted Rampion ( Keiron Moore ) who believes said missile will in fact shatter the shell, causing red-hot magma to pour into the sea. Rampion attempts to get the British Government to withdraw support, but it is too late - the missile is launched.Initially it appears that the project is a success, but then tremors and other disturbances are reported. Rampion's worst fears are confirmed - the explosion has opened a fissure in the Earth's crust, meaning it is only a matter of time before it widens sufficiently to literally break the entire world in half...This is a disaster movie before the term was coined; the special effects are good ( for the time ), particularly the volcano sequence and the train crash. Andrews turns in his usual block of wood performance, but then disaster movies are not about great acting in any case. Keiron Moore and Janette Scott ( Thora Hird's daughter, incidentally ) previously worked together in the 1963 film of 'Day Of The Triffids' ( they were that young couple trapped in the lighthouse ). Again neither turn in Oscar-worthy performances ( Scott seeming to have strayed out of another movie ). What bogs the film down is the soppy sub plot involving Scott and Moore; their characters had once been an item apparently and events give them an excuse to get together again. Luckily for them Dr.Sorenson is terminally ill and so won't pose much of a threat to their happiness.For most of the time, 'Crack In The World' is tense, frightening stuff. Director Andrew Marton was partly responsible for 'The Longest Day'. When the missile goes down the bore hole you will finding yourself shouting at the screen: "You stupid idiots! You've just destroyed the world!". The film was made before the 'tectonics plates' theory was formed, meaning that a crack like the one here could never in fact destroy the world, they are continually appearing in the Earth's surface. The ending - in which a chunk of the Earth defies the laws of gravity and becomes a new Moon - does not bear close scrutiny. Five years after it was made, the plot was ripped off by 'Dr.Who' for the seven-part story 'Inferno', starring Jon Pertwee, which threw in werewolves and parallel universes for good measure.The 'Project Inner Space' scheme is so mad, so monstrously insane that one day I expect someone will attempt to do if for real. I hope I won't be around then.

CatTales The back story in CRACK IN THE WORLD is a bland love triangle when taken at face value. But there appears to be several elements of Greek Drama, Mythology, and Freudian symbolism working together throughout the film. This doesn't make it a better movie, but it's interesting to consider.Dana Andrews evokes Prometheus bringing fire to mankind; in a speech, he states his goal as "man's age-old dream to to get limitless energy." Because of his ill health, Dana imprudently rushes his plan along. The success would bring immortality to his name. He would also like a sense of immortality through having children. Unlike Prometheus he will not succeed in the way he wants.He feels ambiguously towards his wife because he is older, is in ill health, and seemingly stole her from a younger, more age-appropriate colleague. An Unnatural relationship like this in Greek Drama brings about major consequences to society until the Natural Order is corrected.Dana's plan to get energy is disputed by the jilted young colleague who predicts disaster and thus plays the part of a mythological oracle. Dana cheats him again by sending him off and somewhat minimizing the colleague's criticism to authorities.Freudian symbolism reinforces the Unnaturalness of the relationship. Dana's health issue is a cancerous hand, an ill limb which easily translates as a Freudian phallic symbol indicating a lack of potency. The symbolism continues in a discussion about the ground drilling between a government official and Dana's wife. After looking on at a phallic rocket pointing into (Mother) Earth, the Official reminds her that they haven't been able "to gain an inch in weeks." She looks unusually uncomfortable as if the comment has another meaning. Dana launches the missile which causes the disaster of the film title and fulfills the prediction of the young colleague/oracle. Confronted with his mistake, Dana begins to wear large black sunglasses. While this might be to avoid eye contact from feeling ashamed, it also suggests Oedipus who blinded himself after realizing his fate was fulfilled.The technical solution to stop the crack is doomed to failure because it wouldn't restore the Natural Order. It is the unexpected turn of events which resolve the matter. The crack circles back to it's source (ie Dana Andrews), kills him and creates a new moon. This does two things: It allows Dana to sacrifice himself so his wife and young colleague can reunite and restore the Natural Order. A squirrel digs himself out of the rubble to reinforce this notion. It also immortalizes Dana on two levels: a Freudian offspring from the missile into the earth, and a Mythological constellation attesting to his folly.