The War Of The Worlds [1954]

Loosely based on the classic H.G. Wells novel, WAR OF THE WORLDS moves the original story from late 19th Century England to 1950s California, where a group of scientists confront an invasion from Mars. Arriving in meteor-like projectiles and sweeping across the landscape in strange, birdlike machines armed with death-rays, the Martians prove invincible to human attack. How can mankind survive?

The great attraction of the film is its special effects, which is early 1950s state-of-the-art in its combination of rear-screen projections, miniatures, and truly imaginative design. But the film also has an additional interest, for it is very much of its time, presenting us with some of the most relentlessly stereotypical characters to ever reach the screen. This is particularly true in terms of gender roles, for seldom has any film before or after created such a hysteria-prone and clinging leading lady as Sylvia Van Buren, played here by the hapless Ann Robinson. Not only would the special effects and story prove tremendously influential, so too would the film's gender stereotyping. While the slightly earlier THE THING offered a strong female lead, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS would generally set the tone for every sci-fi leading lady well into the 1960s.

But all of this is analytical criticism. We may hoot a bit at the incredibly broad performances, the frequently silly dialogue, and the truly ludicrous gender roles, but WAR OF THE WORLDS is a tremendous amount of fun to watch. It makes you want to break out a bag of popcorn and curl up with friends and family in true Saturday matinee fashion. And it is a great pity that the DVD release is so... well... dire.

The DVD was transferred from a poor-condition print riddled with artifacts. In an effort to compensate for this, the technicians have toyed with the contrast, and as a result the picture quality varies from foggy to grainy--and in the process quite often reveals the wires used to manipulate the famous Martian machines. Adding insult to injury, the technicians have also fiddled with the color balance, often reducing the film's brilliant colors to a grayish hues. There are also problems with the sound; when I watched the DVD I found that the sound levels of several scenes were so faint I had to turn up the volume... and then, quite naturally, when the soundtrack returned to normal the blast almost blew me through the wall.

It seems almost beside the point to note that there are no bonus features beyond the original movie trailer--which, sadly, is in better visual condition than the film itself. I purchased this DVD with the idea of replacing my VHS copy, but it was money wasted. Get the VHS and hope that someday someone will give this film the DVD release it deserves.

--GFT (Amazon.com Reviewer)--


A Welcome Addition to DVD   October 12, 2003
E. A. Redfearn (Middlesbrough)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

I first saw this film many years ago now. Its still quite an entertaining film based around H. G Wells classic novel which was written even before man learned to fly. Americanised of course, which doesnt distract from the original story which was set in Surrey and London. For a film made during the early 1950s, the effects are remarkably good for its time. The leads, Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, do the best they can with the wooden dialogue which was typical of films in those days. Technology which we take for granted nowadays didnt exist then. The sound and picture for DVD are rather good, and its still worth buying just to see the sort of film which packed cinemas upon its initial release, for it was a box office hit at the time. Give it a try.


Martins have invaded!   July 29, 2004
Deborah MacGillivray (US & UK)
10 out of 15 found this review helpful

This was a fav Sci-Fi film when I was a kid. Most Sci-Fi does not wear well, as time and progress moves too fast. I remember the old UFO British telly series, and it has "the future" as being 1980!! So most old Sci-Fi is more for fond memories.
I still love The Thing from Another World, with James Arness lumbering around as the seven-foot-tall carrot from outer space. One of the most terrifying movies as a kid, Invasion of the Body Snatchers just draws smiles. They are stylistic and fun. But few withstand the march of time. That why I was surprised by The War of the World. The special effects are not that shabby. Gene Barry alternates between laconic and hammy, and the tone of the movie is a little religious. Yet, all in all this is still a very entertaining film. Those Martian (hahahha!) pods coming down the street blasting away still has a high impact. Despite it's faults, I still enjoy this one, time after time.


Dated but fun film   December 17, 2002
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

When this film first came out it was considered so terrifying that it was given an x cirtificate. Now it's shown at tea time and is given a PG. How things change.
There are some changes to the book by changing the setting to America and changing some details in the middle. The walking machines are changed to flying machines for the sake of filming. Walking machines would be near impossible to film when this film was made. Walking machines would be laughably bad to watch. It was difficult enough to film walking machines (especially with three legs) in the 1980's for the Tripods TV series.
The powerful ending is still more or less the same. Like all sci fi films seen many years later it's almost cute because it's so dated. However it's not too bad and it's still a fun film to watch. It keeps it's pace throughout.


All we can do is pray for a miracle   April 10, 2005
Sally-Anne (Leicestershire, United Kingdom)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

This is a film that I've watched and enjoyed many times since I was a child - and I'm almost as old as the film. Martians leave their dying planet to colonise Earth. They have a range of sophisticated weapons that current (1950s) technology cannot compete with so it looks as though the Martians will have their way and we will be wiped out to make way for them. Our only hope is a miracle. What are the chances of that happening?

The special effects, for the time, were very good. I remember finding it terrifying when I was young. People who have grown up in the era of CGI may be unimpressed, but this was state of the art in its time. The heat ray, the skeleton ray and the Martian shield seemed very convincing and their war machines were amazing - still are as far as I'm concerned. The Martians themselves were a bit rubbery and comical but fortunately, we don't see very much of them. The acting is pretty good for a 1950s sci-fi film. The story is quite unlike the story in the book by H G Wells that it's based on however.

As a previous reviewer has pointed out, Mr Wells might well have been spinning in his grave if he knew how the film had distorted his story. He took a fairly dim view of religion and the curate in his tale was a selfish, spineless madman. Contrast that with the courageous vicar of the film. Wells seems to have been a free thinker and a strong advocate of women's rights. What would he have made of the insipid, hysterical mouse of a leading lady I wonder. Wells was a revolutionary thinker, always writing stories about established society being destroyed only to be replaced with something better. This film could hardly be more pro-establishment and supportive of the status quo, especially with regard to the role of women and religion. The least of the changes is the one most often commented upon: the transfer of the invasion from 19th century England to 20th century America.

Still, as other reviewers have said, this is a film of its time. It's partly nostalgia no doubt, but I still enjoy it.