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Movie: War of the Worlds (1953)Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne Star in Sci-Fi Film Classic
H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds hit movie theaters like a Martian invasion in 1953. Gene Barry played Dr. Clayton Forrester, with Ann Robinson as his terrified gal pal.
Earth experienced one of its most horrific cinematic invasions in director Byron Haskin's 1953 sci-fi movie classic, The War of the Worlds. Gene Barry, Ann Robinson and Les Tremayne had the starring roles, along with the movie's superlative, Oscar-winning special effects. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil... Based on the Novel by H.G. WellsThe War of the Worlds was based on the 1898 novel of the same name by H.G. Wells (1866-1946). The book was first published in England by William Heinemann. Screenplay, Director, MusicBarre Lyndon wrote the screenplay. Directing the action was Byron Haskin, who went on to direct the sci-fi films Conquest of Space (1955), From the Earth to the Moon (1958) and Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964). Leith Stevens created the original music score. War of the Worlds CastA bespectacled Gene Barry starred as Dr. Clayton Forrester. Other cast members included a wig-wearing Ann Robinson (Sylvia Van Buren), Les Tremayne (General Mann), Robert Cornthwaite (Dr. Pryor), Sandro Giglio (Dr. Bilderbeck), Lewis Martin (Pastor Matthew Collins), Housely Stevenson Jr. (General Mann's Aide), Paul Frees (Second Radio Reporter/Opening Announcer), William Phipps (Wash Perry), Vernon Rich (Colonel Ralph Heffner) and Cedric Hardwicke (Commentary Voice). Budget, Filming LocationsBudgeted at $2 million, The War of the Worlds was filmed primarily in Los Angeles. Locations included City Hall, First United Methodist Church on Franklin Avenue, St. Brendan's Catholic Church on Van Ness Avenue and the U.S. District Court Building on Spring Street. Other filming locations included Simi Valley, California, and Phoenix and Florence, Arizona. Special EffectsThe producers allotted $1.4 million to special effects alone, with Gordon Jennings, Ivyl Burks, Jan Domela, Wallace Kelley, Paul Lerpae and Irmin Roberts in charge. Glass paintings, matte work and miniatures were used to great effect to create the destruction wrought by an an alien invasion. An eight-foot-high replica of Los Angeles City Hall was constructed and then dynamited, delivering one of the most specatcular scenes in sci-fi movie history. The sinister Martian heat-ray sound was accomplished via a recording of three electric guitars whose notes were then replayed backward. The infamous Martian scream was actually a combination of dry ice scraped across a microphone and a woman's scream played backward. Martian InvasionFollowing a brief narration, The War of the Worlds opens near Linda Rosa, California, where a large meteorite crashes into a field. The "meteorite" turns out to be the vanguard of an alien invasion, out of which emerge three fantastic Martian war machines. The American military surrounds the crash site, with a minister, Matthew Collins, slipping by and approaching the invaders with only a bible in hand. Pastor Collins is spotted by the Martians and is immediately disintegrated by their deadly heat-ray. The military retaliates, but their weapons are of no use as the Martians have erected an impenetrable force field. Alien pods continue to drop to Earth, delivering more war machines which wreak death and destruction worldwide. After an atomic bomb fails to even dent the initial alien landing site outside of Los Angeles, Dr. Clayton Forrester and his fellow Pacific Tech scientists feverishly race to come up with another strategy to stop the Martians. Release, ReviewsGeorge Pal's The War of the Worlds premiered in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on July 29, 1953. "War of the Worlds is a socko science-fiction feature, as fearsome as a film as was the Orson Welles 1938 radio interpretation of the H.G. Wells novel," reported Variety (4/6/53). Box Office, Academy AwardThe War of the Worlds grossed over $2 million, making it the most successful science fiction film of 1953. The War of the Worlds won an Academy Award for Best Special Effects. War of the Worlds DVD, RemakeThe War of the Worlds Special Collector's Edition (2005) is highly recommended. War of the Worlds was remade in 2005 starring Tom Cruise. "Guns, tanks, bombs -- they're like toys against them!" decries General Mann in frustration as the Martians continue their onslaught. Kind of humbling, isn't it, General?
The copyright of the article Movie: War of the Worlds (1953) in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Films is owned by William J. Felchner. Permission to republish Movie: War of the Worlds (1953) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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