The Day the Earth Moved

If IMDb existed when I was eight years old and the first time I watched this made for TV movie of the week, I would have rated it a 9 or a 10.

This story HAD such a profound affect on me, I remembered it and for the past few years, I searched for it on VHS, Usenet, Bittorrents, etc... without success. A week ago I brought this story up in a conversation and it dawned on me to see if Youtube had a trailer or clip available. What did I find? The *entire* movie! I was thrilled! So, thirty years later, I finally watch it again on Youtube.

Unfortunately, it failed to captivate me in the same way as it did when I was eight years old. I found the dialog was simplistic and the acting was rather wooden. I was disappointed to find a little bit of racism (intentional or not?) in the script.

On a positive note, as a sci-fi'ish disaster story, The Day the Earth Moved, is actually much better than many of the more modern disaster flicks. At least, this story doesn't insult one's intelligence.

Doubtless the producers of this unenthralling twaddle believed they were on to a good thing with ANY flick with a name starting "THE DAY THE EARTH........?" (whatever!) trading off the slipstream of the other two classics THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

So with Jackie Cooper (TV flavor of the month during the 70's) and his wife Kate (Stella Stevens) and some amateur seismologists in tow, taking some aerial pics in the desert, they deduce the Big "E" is due. Just like DANTES PEAK, no-one of course wants to listen to their warnings.

When the quake comes, make sure you're out having a tea-break!

Even though this could be seen as a typical movie of the week. It was a pretty interesting one, especially for a combination disaster/science fiction pic. I especially loved the humor that Cleavon Little inserted in what could have been just another disaster pic. This definitely is a decent if not good movie of the week.

A sleeper film that was ignored unfairly, "The Day the Earth Moved" has some good entertainment value. Jackie Cooper stars as the pilot of an aerial photography plane who--along with his photographer--discovers an amazing characteristic about their film. When they realize what they have, they are forced to take drastic measures to save some folks in a small town from harm. The film is definitely television fare, but it does possess an underlying charm which makes it tolerable, and even exciting at some point. Jackie Cooper has been an underrated actor in Hollywood. He has always performed his roles well, and he invariably creates the aura of a jovial personality for his characters.

I can't tell exactly why but I kinda liked it. I half wonder if the movie Cars might have gotten a little inspiration from the storyline. Without giving anything away, I think those who who have seen both will know what I mean.