The End of the World (1916)
A landmark Danish silent film where a meteor threatens Earth and one ruthless opportunist turns apocalyptic panic into personal profit.
The End of the World - Movie Information
- Original Title: Verdens undergang
- Release Year: 1916
- Directed by: August Blom
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama
- Runtime: 1h 13m
- Original Language: Danish
- Spoken Languages: No Language
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 1, 1916 (Denmark - A)
- Alternative Titles: The Flaming Sword (US), L'épée flamboyante (FR), Flammesværdet (DK), Maailmanloppu (FI)
- Production Companies: Nordisk Film Denmark
- Production Countries: Denmark
The End of the World - Plot
Foreman West lives in a small mining town with his daughters Edith and Dina. When entrepreneur and mine owner Frank Stoll comes to town to inspect the work, he falls in love with Dina. Against her father's will, she elopes with the unscrupulous Stoll. News of a meteor approaching the earth causes panic and Stoll exploits the situation to make a killing on the stock market; Collaborating with the press to quell the news of the meteor eases public tensions and guarantees him a fortune. He plans to survive in a secret underground tunnel, with Dina and his wealthy pals in tow. But things don't go as planned.
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The End of the World - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- August Blom
Main Cast
- Olaf Fønss
- Carl Lauritzen
- Ebba Thomsen
- Johanne Fritz-Petersen
- Thorleif Lund
- Alf Blütecher
- Frederik Jacobsen
- K. Zimmerman
- Moritz Bielawski
- Erik Holberg
Writers
- Otto Rung
Producers
- Ole Olsen
The End of the World - FAQs
What is The End of the World about?
The End of the World follows a ruthless mine owner named Frank Stoll who, upon learning of a meteor on a collision course with Earth, manipulates the press and stock market to amass a fortune. He schemes to ride out the apocalypse in a secret underground tunnel with his wealthy companions, but his plans unravel in unexpected ways.
Is The End of the World one of cinema's earliest disaster films?
Yes, and it's a remarkable one. Released in 1916 by Denmark's Nordisk Film, it tackled mass panic, societal collapse, and human greed in the face of cosmic catastrophe — concepts that would define the disaster genre for over a century. Few films from this era attempted such an ambitious, large-scale premise.
How does Frank Stoll exploit the meteor panic?
Stoll works with the press to suppress news of the approaching meteor, keeping the public calm while secretly profiting on the stock market. He then arranges a private underground shelter for himself and his elite circle — a sharp critique of class privilege and capitalist opportunism that feels surprisingly modern even by today's standards.
Where can you watch The End of the World?
You can find viewing options for The End of the World on JustWatch, which lists available streaming, rental, and purchase platforms in your region. As a 1916 silent film, it may also be accessible through film archives, public domain repositories, or silent cinema preservation collections online.
Who stars in The End of the World?
The film stars Olaf Fønss as the scheming Frank Stoll and Carl Lauritzen as mine foreman West. Ebba Thomsen plays Dina, West's daughter who elopes with Stoll, while Johanne Fritz-Petersen portrays her sister Edith. The cast also includes Thorleif Lund, Frederik Jacobsen, and K. Zimmerman as an astronomical scholar.
Who directed The End of the World?
August Blom directed the film, and he was one of the most prominent figures of early Danish cinema. Known for his ambitious productions at Nordisk Film, Blom brought genuine spectacle and social depth to this apocalyptic story — making it one of his most technically and thematically daring achievements from the silent era.
Is The End of the World based on a book or true story?
The film is based on a novel by Danish author Otto Rung, who also wrote the screenplay. While the meteor scenario is fictional, the story's themes of media manipulation and elite self-preservation during a public crisis gave it a grounded, socially resonant quality that felt remarkably plausible to audiences of the time.
What makes The End of the World historically significant?
Produced by Nordisk Film in Denmark, this 1916 production was a major technical and narrative achievement for its era. It combined spectacular disaster imagery with pointed social commentary on greed and class, predating Hollywood's disaster genre by decades. Its influence on science fiction and apocalyptic cinema makes it a genuine landmark of early film history.
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