The War of the Worlds (1953)
Directed by Byron Haskin

Film Review

Arguably the most important science-fiction film of the 1950s is this spectacular adaptation of H.G. Wells's novel, The War of the Worlds.  Although it is let down somewhat by its shallow B-movie characterisation and some irksome bouts of religiosity, this film is a landmark in the sci-fi genre, breaking new ground with its spectacular (Oscar winning) special effects.  Its producer, George Pal, had scored two previous notable successes in the sci-fi genre - Destination Moon (1950) and When Worlds Collide (1951) - and would later direct the classic The Time Machine (1960), based on another H.G. Wells story.

More than half of the film's two million dollar budget went on special effects, and it shows.  The model effects are impressive even by today's standards, particularly the realisation of the Martian war machines, which, with their sleek swan-like design, genuinely do look like the product of an advanced alien civilisation rather than something you could pick up in Woolworths for under a fiver.  It's also worth mentioning the eerie sound effects, which contribute greatly to the film's impact - these were re-used and closely imitated in many subsequent films and television shows, including the original Star Trek series.

Unlike many comparable fantasy B movies of this era, The War of the Worlds is a genuinely frightening film and is at times shocking in its uncompromising bleakness.  Director Byron Haskin ekes as much horror content as he can from the story and achieves wonders with his apocalyptic vision of a world laid waste by an alien invasion.  The film also includes one of the most chilling sequences ever - the one where the heroine (played by Ann Robinson) suddenly realises that she has an alien hand on her shoulder and, after a momentary pause, lets out a scream of undiluted terror.  A huge commercial success in its day, this remains one of the great science-fiction film classics, vastly superior to Spielberg's uninspired 2005 remake.

Film Synopsis

The peace of a small Californian town is disturbed when a huge meteorite crashes into the ground.  Dr Clayton Forrester, an eminent physicist, happens to be holidaying in the area and cannot resist examining the meteorite.  At the impact site, he meets science graduate Sylvia van Buren and her uncle, the pastor Dr Collins.  The meteorite is still too hot for the scientists to examine, so they decide to wait until the morning.  During the night, the three men who are watching over the meteorite are surprised when a large and mysterious metallic object emerges from it.  The next morning, all that is left of the three men are their charred remains.  On their return to the site, Dr Forrester and the town's sheriff are confronted by three of the machines, each equipped with ray guns that are capable of destroying anything.  When Dr Collins is shot down by one of the machines, the military opens fire, but to no avail.  The alien machines appear to be indestructible.  Meanwhile, across the entire world there are reports of similar meteorites landing and disgorging the destructive war machines.  Cities are razed to the ground and nothing the military can throw at the aliens has any effect.  It really does look like the end for humankind...