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EspañolTHE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953 FILM)
:
'''The War of the Worlds''' (also sometimes known as '''H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds''') is a 1953 science fiction film starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. It was produced by George Pál and directed by Byron Haskin from a script by Barré Lyndon based on the H. G. Wells novel of the same name. This was the first of several adaptations of Wells' work to be filmed by Pál, and is considered to be one of the great science fiction films of the 1950s. It won an Oscar for its special effects.
The story is updated to the 1950s for this film, and the setting is moved from the environs of London to southern California. Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), a world renowned physicist, is on a fishing vacation in the small town of Pine Summit when a giant meteorite lands in the hills above the town. Along with the townsfolk, he goes to investigate, but finds the meteorite too hot to examine immediately. While at the landing site, he meets Sylvia van Buren (Ann Robinson) and her uncle, Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins (Lewis Martin). He decides to wait in town for the meteorite to cool down.
Later, after most people have gone home, the meteorite unscrews and opens, disgorging a Heat-Ray device from Mars. It immediately kills three men who remained behind. When Forrester and the sheriff return, they are attacked as well, but survive. After the military are dispatched, the meteorite deploys three floating war machines. Pastor Collins approaches the Martians in peace, but they kill him with their Heat-Ray without attempting to communicate.
The full force of the United States armed forces, up to and including an A-bomb dropped by a "Flying Wing", is unleashed against the invaders, but, even more so than in Wells' book, human weapons prove to be totally ineffective; the Martians are protected by an impenetrable force-field. Meanwhile, there are reports of other landings all over the world.
Forrester and Sylvia flee, along with the rest of the civilians. Their plane crashes and they take shelter in a nearby abandoned farmhouse. They are trapped in the basement when another meteorite crashes into the house. The couple come in contact with an actual Martian, when the creature leaves its war-machine to investigate. They manage to fight it off and escape, eventually linking up with Forrester's co-workers, who are trying to find a way to defeat the aliens. However, widespread panic among the general populace scatters the research group and their equipment is wrecked. In the confusion, Forrester and Sylvia become separated.
All seems lost, with humanity helpless before the onslaught. Forrester frantically searches for Sylvia in the burning ruins of a Los Angeles under attack. He finally finds her among other survivors awaiting the end in a church. Then, suddenly, they see an approaching Martian war machine crash. Upon investigating, Forrester realizes that the seemingly all-powerful invaders are dying – simply because they have no defenses against the "smallest and humblest of Earth's living creatures": viruses and bacteria.
★ Not credited on-screen.
The film opens with a prologue in black and white and switches to Technicolor at the opening title sequence.
George Pál originally planned for the final third of the film to be in 3-D to correlate with the final attack by the Martians. The plan was dropped prior to actual production of the film, presumably being deemed too expensive.
World War II stock footage was used to produce a montage of destruction to show the worldwide invasion, with armies of all nations joining together to fight the invaders.
Wells had used the second half of his novel to make a satirical commentary on civilization and the class struggle. Lyndon did not write the satire into the movie, though he did add a religious theme, to the point that the Martians begin dying shortly after blasting a church.
★
A conscious effort was made to avoid the "flying saucer" look of stereotypical UFOs; the Martian war machines were instead sleek, sinister-looking constructs shaped like manta rays floating over the ground. Three Martian war machines were made for the film, out of copper. One was modified for use in the film ''Robinson Crusoe on Mars'' (which Byron Haskin also directed) and was supposedly later melted down for a copper drive. Forrest Ackerman owned one. It is believed that the third was destroyed in a fire.
Each machine was topped with a towering mobile eye, pulsing, peering around and firing beams of red sparks, all accompanied by thrumming and a high-pitched clattering shriek ([1]) when the Heat-Ray was fired from the eye. The distinctive sound effect of the weapon was created by the orchestra performing the musical score, mainly through the use of violins and cellos. For many years, it was utilized as a standard "ray-gun" sound on children's television shows.
The machines also fired a green ray from their wingtips, generating a distinctive sound ([2]) and exposing the interior of its target (in the case of humans, their skeletons became briefly visible) before disintegrating it. This latter weapon seems to have been substituted for the chemical weapon black smoke described in the novel. The sound effect was reused in '', accompanying the launch of photon torpedos.
Much effort was put forth to recreate the tripods of the novel, but they proved problematic for various reasons and it was eventually decided to make the machines float on three invisible electronic legs instead. To show their existence, sparks were to be shown directly under the hovering Martian war machines as they move along – however, in the final film, these only appear when the military and Dr Forrester first see one of the machines. It proved too difficult to mark out the invisible legs when smoke and other effects also had to be seen beneath the machines.
The Martians, rather than being octopus-like, were instead presented as small brown hulkish bipeds, with two hands, each with three fingers. They had no heads mounted on their shoulders; instead a single large eye, with three distinct lenses (blue, red and green), peered out from the middle of the chest.
★ The 1988 ''War of the Worlds'' TV series is essentially a sequel to this film, and employs several elements from the film, including having Ann Robinson reprise her role as Sylvia Van Buren in three episodes.
★ ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' named one of its lead characters Dr. Clayton Forrester in an homage to the film. Ironically (and perhaps intentionally so for humour), the series' Forrester is a mad scientist.
★ ''Independence Day'' (1996), directed by Roland Emmerich. The aliens (not from Mars) are defeated in part by installing a computer virus onto the motherships. There are also several other references to the 1953 film, such as the failed attempt to use an atomic bomb, and a downed streetlight twisted into the shape of the gooseneck of the original war machines. In a homage to ''War of the Worlds'', director Emmerich added a scene in which three helicopters are destroyed while attempting to communicate with a city destroyer.
★ ''Mars Attacks!'' (1996), directed by Tim Burton, a more humorous treatment, and ''very'' loosely based upon the original story, but more directly adapted from Topps' famous 1962 trading card series. The film primarily spoofs 1950s alien invasion films, including ''The War of the Worlds''. In this version, the Martians are repelled not by the natural germs on Earth, but by Slim Whitman's yodeling, which causes their heads to explode, an obvious parody of the film's (and novel's) ending.
★ Steven Spielberg's 2005 updated adaptation, though not a remake, does feature several references to the original film. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson have a cameo appearance, and the aliens kept their three-fingered hands, though they became reptilian-like tripods.
★ Ann Robinson did a quasi-reprisal of her role in two later films: first as Dr. van Buren in 1988's ''Midnight Movie Massacre'' and in 2005's ''The Naked Monster'' as Dr. Sylvia van Buren.
★ War of the Worlds Movies.info
★
★ The War of the Worlds Movie Site
★ Making of the movie at site dedicated to all things War Of The Worlds
★ http://geocities.com/mustavapint/aliens.htm For some thoughts on Hollywoods interpretation of Wells' novel.
'''The War of the Worlds''' (also sometimes known as '''H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds''') is a 1953 science fiction film starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. It was produced by George Pál and directed by Byron Haskin from a script by Barré Lyndon based on the H. G. Wells novel of the same name. This was the first of several adaptations of Wells' work to be filmed by Pál, and is considered to be one of the great science fiction films of the 1950s. It won an Oscar for its special effects.
| Contents |
| Plot |
| Cast |
| Production |
| Special effects |
| Fictional influences |
| External links |
Plot
The story is updated to the 1950s for this film, and the setting is moved from the environs of London to southern California. Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), a world renowned physicist, is on a fishing vacation in the small town of Pine Summit when a giant meteorite lands in the hills above the town. Along with the townsfolk, he goes to investigate, but finds the meteorite too hot to examine immediately. While at the landing site, he meets Sylvia van Buren (Ann Robinson) and her uncle, Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins (Lewis Martin). He decides to wait in town for the meteorite to cool down.
Later, after most people have gone home, the meteorite unscrews and opens, disgorging a Heat-Ray device from Mars. It immediately kills three men who remained behind. When Forrester and the sheriff return, they are attacked as well, but survive. After the military are dispatched, the meteorite deploys three floating war machines. Pastor Collins approaches the Martians in peace, but they kill him with their Heat-Ray without attempting to communicate.
The full force of the United States armed forces, up to and including an A-bomb dropped by a "Flying Wing", is unleashed against the invaders, but, even more so than in Wells' book, human weapons prove to be totally ineffective; the Martians are protected by an impenetrable force-field. Meanwhile, there are reports of other landings all over the world.
Forrester and Sylvia flee, along with the rest of the civilians. Their plane crashes and they take shelter in a nearby abandoned farmhouse. They are trapped in the basement when another meteorite crashes into the house. The couple come in contact with an actual Martian, when the creature leaves its war-machine to investigate. They manage to fight it off and escape, eventually linking up with Forrester's co-workers, who are trying to find a way to defeat the aliens. However, widespread panic among the general populace scatters the research group and their equipment is wrecked. In the confusion, Forrester and Sylvia become separated.
All seems lost, with humanity helpless before the onslaught. Forrester frantically searches for Sylvia in the burning ruins of a Los Angeles under attack. He finally finds her among other survivors awaiting the end in a church. Then, suddenly, they see an approaching Martian war machine crash. Upon investigating, Forrester realizes that the seemingly all-powerful invaders are dying – simply because they have no defenses against the "smallest and humblest of Earth's living creatures": viruses and bacteria.
Cast
★ Gene Barry .... Dr. Clayton Forrester ★ Ann Robinson .... Sylvia van Buren ★ Les Tremayne .... General Mann ★ Bob Cornthwaite .... Dr. Pryor ★ Sandro Giglio .... Dr. Bilderbeck ★ Lewis Martin .... Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins ★ Housely Stevenson Jr. .... General Mann's aide | ★ Paul Frees .... Radio reporter ★ Bill Phipps .... Wash Perry ★ Vernon Rich .... Colonel Ralph Heffner ★ Henry Brandon .... Cop at crash site ★ Jack Kruschen .... Salvatore ★ Sir Cedric Hardwicke .... Commentary ★ Vittorio Cramer ★ .... Narrator |
★ Not credited on-screen.
Production
The film opens with a prologue in black and white and switches to Technicolor at the opening title sequence.
George Pál originally planned for the final third of the film to be in 3-D to correlate with the final attack by the Martians. The plan was dropped prior to actual production of the film, presumably being deemed too expensive.
World War II stock footage was used to produce a montage of destruction to show the worldwide invasion, with armies of all nations joining together to fight the invaders.
Wells had used the second half of his novel to make a satirical commentary on civilization and the class struggle. Lyndon did not write the satire into the movie, though he did add a religious theme, to the point that the Martians begin dying shortly after blasting a church.
★
Special effects
The Martian war machines prepare to attack.
A conscious effort was made to avoid the "flying saucer" look of stereotypical UFOs; the Martian war machines were instead sleek, sinister-looking constructs shaped like manta rays floating over the ground. Three Martian war machines were made for the film, out of copper. One was modified for use in the film ''Robinson Crusoe on Mars'' (which Byron Haskin also directed) and was supposedly later melted down for a copper drive. Forrest Ackerman owned one. It is believed that the third was destroyed in a fire.
Each machine was topped with a towering mobile eye, pulsing, peering around and firing beams of red sparks, all accompanied by thrumming and a high-pitched clattering shriek ([1]) when the Heat-Ray was fired from the eye. The distinctive sound effect of the weapon was created by the orchestra performing the musical score, mainly through the use of violins and cellos. For many years, it was utilized as a standard "ray-gun" sound on children's television shows.
The machines also fired a green ray from their wingtips, generating a distinctive sound ([2]) and exposing the interior of its target (in the case of humans, their skeletons became briefly visible) before disintegrating it. This latter weapon seems to have been substituted for the chemical weapon black smoke described in the novel. The sound effect was reused in '', accompanying the launch of photon torpedos.
Much effort was put forth to recreate the tripods of the novel, but they proved problematic for various reasons and it was eventually decided to make the machines float on three invisible electronic legs instead. To show their existence, sparks were to be shown directly under the hovering Martian war machines as they move along – however, in the final film, these only appear when the military and Dr Forrester first see one of the machines. It proved too difficult to mark out the invisible legs when smoke and other effects also had to be seen beneath the machines.
A Martian from the film.
The Martians, rather than being octopus-like, were instead presented as small brown hulkish bipeds, with two hands, each with three fingers. They had no heads mounted on their shoulders; instead a single large eye, with three distinct lenses (blue, red and green), peered out from the middle of the chest.
Fictional influences
★ The 1988 ''War of the Worlds'' TV series is essentially a sequel to this film, and employs several elements from the film, including having Ann Robinson reprise her role as Sylvia Van Buren in three episodes.
★ ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' named one of its lead characters Dr. Clayton Forrester in an homage to the film. Ironically (and perhaps intentionally so for humour), the series' Forrester is a mad scientist.
★ ''Independence Day'' (1996), directed by Roland Emmerich. The aliens (not from Mars) are defeated in part by installing a computer virus onto the motherships. There are also several other references to the 1953 film, such as the failed attempt to use an atomic bomb, and a downed streetlight twisted into the shape of the gooseneck of the original war machines. In a homage to ''War of the Worlds'', director Emmerich added a scene in which three helicopters are destroyed while attempting to communicate with a city destroyer.
★ ''Mars Attacks!'' (1996), directed by Tim Burton, a more humorous treatment, and ''very'' loosely based upon the original story, but more directly adapted from Topps' famous 1962 trading card series. The film primarily spoofs 1950s alien invasion films, including ''The War of the Worlds''. In this version, the Martians are repelled not by the natural germs on Earth, but by Slim Whitman's yodeling, which causes their heads to explode, an obvious parody of the film's (and novel's) ending.
★ Steven Spielberg's 2005 updated adaptation, though not a remake, does feature several references to the original film. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson have a cameo appearance, and the aliens kept their three-fingered hands, though they became reptilian-like tripods.
★ Ann Robinson did a quasi-reprisal of her role in two later films: first as Dr. van Buren in 1988's ''Midnight Movie Massacre'' and in 2005's ''The Naked Monster'' as Dr. Sylvia van Buren.
External links
★ War of the Worlds Movies.info
★
★ The War of the Worlds Movie Site
★ Making of the movie at site dedicated to all things War Of The Worlds
★ http://geocities.com/mustavapint/aliens.htm For some thoughts on Hollywoods interpretation of Wells' novel.
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