The War of the Worlds

United States

1953

85 Min

Color

1.37:1

English

Currently 3.3/5 Stars.
1
2
3
4
5

CAST Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Robert Cornthwaite, Sandro Giglio, Lewis Martin, Houseley Stevenson Jr., Paul Frees, William Phipps, Vernon Rich, Henry Brandon, Jack Kruschen, Cedric Hardwicke

The Martians unchain a direct assault to our planet, with hundreds of invulnerable ships. The invasion takes place all over the world, and all the major cities are destroyed one after one; even the atomic bomb can’t stop them. But, if the humans can’t beat them, who can? Maybe something MUCH smaller than them… —IMDb

Director

Byron Haskin

Byron Conrad Haskin (April 22, 1899 – April 16, 1984) was an American film and television director. He was born in Portland, Oregon.

He is remembered today for directing 1953’s The War of the Worlds, one of many films where he teamed with producer George Pal. In his early career, he was a special effects artist, with a number of credits on Warner Bros. films, eventually becoming the head of the studio’s special effects department. During his tenure there he earned three Oscar nominations for his effects work, and was even recognized with a Scientific and Technical Award citation for developing a rear-projection system useful in effects photography. In the late 1940s he turned to directing, helming Treasure Island, Walt Disney’s first live-action feature. In 1953 he began his collaboration with George Pal, followed by The Naked Jungle, Conquest of Space in 1955, and The Power in 1967. His other most noteworthy film is the science fiction adventure Robinson Crusoe on Mars, released… read more

Wall

Displaying 4 of 6 wall posts.

see all

Mohammad

18Apr13

I disliked it through and through. I really didn't mind the cheap effects, but the script was shitty, the story was weak, and the religious tones that filled the movie was downright preposterous. Such an insult to a great novel!

Trolley Freak

28Jan13

Decades before Spielberg's interpretation of Wells' novel, Haskin and Pál got there first with this fun version. OK, the cast is rather wooden and the special effects are on the cheap side but I love this kind of stuff and as far as I'm concerned the '50's will always be the greatest decade for Hollywood science fiction cinema. Trivia note: I currently live barely two miles from a house where H.G. Wells once resided!

Mr.Wolf

8Jan12

Great VFX for 1950's I actually cried when I was a kid, when the RBG Cyclops tentical goes after the main characters. But what actually made me laugh so hard when i saw this later on in my life, was that they hooked it up with a projector, thats right alien technology is compatible with a 1920's projector!! hahahahaha loved it.