In 1938 Orson Welles narrated a special edition of the radio drama programme Mercury Theatre on the Air titled War of the Worlds. The programme was presented in news bulletin format and caused near mass panic as a result of the belief of many listeners that what they were hearing was a real news broadcast.
In 1953 War of the Worlds was adapted to motion picture format complete with Technicolour and became a science fiction classic which must have stunned many viewers at the time.
War of the Worlds is your standard alien invasion story. When mysterious canisters begin to drop from the sky, Dr. Clayton Forrester, and other scientists, are called in to investigate. But very quickly it becomes clear that these are no mere asteroids. In fact, they contain fearsome alien space crafts with impenetrable force fields and lasers which can reduce a human being to ash in a second.
Their intention, the destruction of humanity, is almost immediately evident. No military force on the planet can stop them. Even the atom bomb has no effect. Soon survivors are running for their lives and human civilization seems doomed. But an unexpected weakness may yet put a stop from the aliens' destructive rampage and save humankind from extinction.
War of the Worlds has all the hallmarks of cheesy 50's sci-fi, but it is still pretty visually stimulating despite its old fashioned effects. One gets a real sense of the apocalyptic situation faced by the characters as the alien crafts cruise down the burning and crumbling streets reducing their prey to ash and vapour.
The film does contain the mandatory "patriotic" national chauvinism on behalf of the United States, which is of course the last country left standing and the one with responsibility for saving humanity. Of course, in this case it doesn't actually succeed... mother nature does, and in a very abrupt fashion too. But I'll say no more lest I spoil it.
There is also a really goofy religious component to the film as well and at the end it felt like the insinuation was that the alien defeat was a gift from God, despite the scientific explanation being provided. Of course, if there were a God who created the universe why would s/he necessarily be partisan to one or another species of beings? But I digress. The other side of the argument is that the religious imagery, especially the vaporization of the Pastor, helps to lend the film its atmosphere of hopelessness. Indeed, that is quite true.
Of course the film was remade in 2005 starring Tom Cruise. The two films are wildly different, but that's for a coming review of the remake. In any case, the original film is an entertaining and worthwhile watch.
3.5 death rays out of 5
Unrated: contains violence, frightening scenes.
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