movie world

Producer George Pal presents the H.G. Wells story, the one used in Orson Welles’ infamous radio play of 1938 that scared the country. The star of this film is Pal’s special effects, orchestrated by Gordon Jennings, which won an Oscar. This updated version from the Victorian-era London of 1890 is now set in contemporary Southern California of 1953.

One would have to have been raised on Mars to have never heard of The War of the Worlds. Vacationing Pacific Tech scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry) is summoned when a meteor lands intact in a California forest. He meets attractive library specialist Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson) at the impact site, and hangs around for it to cool off and permit further examination. The oddly shaped projectile is not a meteor, but the first of hundreds of alien landing craft, from which emerge gigantic hovering fighting machines. Armed with heat rays and disintegrator beams, the evil-looking machines are protected from attack by invisible force fields. They begin an all-out assault on human civilization. In a matter of days the entire world is overrun by the Martian invasion. Clayton and Sylvia rush to organize a scientific defense at Pacific Tech even as the battle front reaches downtown Los Angeles.

Director: Byron Haskin
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
Country: United States
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

The War of the Worlds (1953) Criterion Collection
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BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC 4:3 | 01:25:37 | 44.5 Gb + 7.50 Gb
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• Commentary - this archival commentary features filmmaker Joe Dante, film historian Bob Burns, and writer Bill Warren (Keep Watching the Skies!). It was recorded for Paramount Pictures in 2005.

• Movie Archeologists - in this new program, visual effects supervisor Craig Barron and sound designer Ben Burtt discuss the production history of The War of the Worlds as well as some of the unique ways in which sound and effects are utilized in it. There are also some interesting observations about the archival footage that is seen in the film as well as its reception. The program was produced by Criterion in 2020. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080p).

• From the Archive: 2018 Restoration - in this new program, vice president for Paramount Pictures Andrea Kalas, visual effects supervisor Craig Barron, and sound designer Ben Burtt discuss the 4K restoration of The War of the Worlds. The program was produced by Criterion in 2020. In English, not subtitled. (21 min, 1080p).

• The Sky is Falling - this archival documentary examines the history, lasting appeal and visual brilliance of The War of the Worlds. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with Robert Cornthwaite (Dr. Pryor), Gene Barry (Dr. Clayton Forrester), art department specialist Jack Senter, Ann Robinson (Sylvia Van Buren), art director Al Nozaki, and first assistant director Micky Moore, amongts others. The documentary was produced for Paramount Pictures in 2005. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080i).

• Wells and Welles -

1. The Mercury Theater on the Air - the classic scandalous radio adaptation, directed and narrated by Orson Welles. The program was broadcast live on October 30, 1938. In English, not subtitled. (58 min, 1080p).

2. KTSA Interview - an archival audio interview with H.G. Wells and Orson Welles, recorded at LTSA radio in San Antonio, Texas, on October 28, 1940. In English, not subtitled. (24 min, 1080p).

• George Pal - presented here are excerpts from an audio recording of George Pal's Harold Lloyd Master Seminar at the American Film Institute on February 5, 1970. He discusses his career and the use of special effects in his films. In English, not subtitled. (50 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for The War of the Worlds. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

The War of the Worlds (1953) Vision Entertainment - Imprint
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BD50 | 1080p AVC | 01:25:25 | 34.7 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

The release is sourced from the new 4K master that the folks at Criterion also worked with to produce this release. However, there is one small -- but perhaps important -- discrepancy between the two releases. On the Criterion release, a small color adjustment was made in the very beginning of the film to have Mars look red(ish), while on this release Mars still looks blue(ish), as it appears on the master that was finalized at Paramount Pictures. The rest is basically the same -- delineation, clarity, density levels and fluidity appear identical.

• Audio Commentary One - in this new audio commentary, critics Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman discuss in great detail the conception of The War of the Worlds and the era in which it emerged, the film's visual style and tone (with comments about its audio design), its reception and lasting appeal, etc. So, there is a tremendous amount of factual information here that fans of the film will find quite interesting. The commentary was recor4ded exclusively for Via Vision Entertainment.

• Audio Commentary Two - this vintage audio commentary was recorded by actors Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. Rather predictably, the bulk of the comments here are in fact recollections addressing the particular manner in which different parts of the film were shot. However, there are also some quite interesting observations about the film's unique use of color and sound.

• Audio Commentary Three - this archival commentary features filmmaker Joe Dante, film historian Bob Burns, and writer Bill Warren (Keep Watching the Skies!). It was recorded for Paramount Pictures in 2005. Out of the three commentaries that are listed here, this commentary is the only one that appears on Criterion's release of The War of the Worlds.

• The Sky is Falling - this archival documentary examines the history, lasting appeal and visual brilliance of The War of the Worlds. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with Robert Cornthwaite (Dr. Pryor), Gene Barry (Dr. Clayton Forrester), art department specialist Jack Senter, Ann Robinson (Sylvia Van Buren), art director Al Nozaki, and first assistant director Micky Moore, amongts others. The documentary was produced for Paramount Pictures in 2005. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080p).

• H.G. Wells: The Father of Science Fiction - this archival program takes a closer look at the life and legacy of H.G. Wells and the latter's socio-cultural significance. Included in it are clips from archival interviews with writer/director Nicholas Meyer (Time After Time, Dr. John Partington, actor Forrest Ackerman, and amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (11 min, 1080p).

• Radio Broadcast - presented here is the classic scandalous Mercury Theater radio adaptation, directed and narrated by Orson Welles. The program was broadcast live on October 30, 1938. In English, not subtitled. (59 min, 1080p)

• Photo Gallery - a large collection of vintage materials from the production of The War of the Worlds. (5 min, 1080p)

• Trailer - a vintage trailer for The War of the Worlds. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 720p).

• Imprint Trailer - a promotional trailer for Via Vision Entertainment's recently launched series. (1 min, 1080p).