George
Pal's 1953 Movie
In 1953 the
first feature length film of "The War of the Worlds" hit the
screens. Produced by George Pal and Directed by Byron Haskin the film
told the modernised story of HG Well's classic tale.
Set in mid 50's America opposed to turn of the century London, the film tells the tale of a two scientist fighting for survival against the Martians as their hovering metal war machines flatten cities the world over. Even the atomic bomb is not powerful enough to stop their advance. The film won an Oscar for best special effects, at the time and even now, nearly 50 years after it's first screenings, the effects do look fantastic.
The film starts with an explanation of why the Martians where looking for a new home. Theirs was desolate, cold and dying (does this mean that we are supposed to think the Martians did not evolve on Mars? that they are in fact nomads from an even more distant world, this certainly would back up the story told in the 1980's TV series which picks up where this film left off) they had no choice but to look for a new home. Early is awash with green grass, life and water, it was perfect for them.
The first vanguard of the invading army falls in a 'shooting star'. It is the source of much curiosity as one Clayton Forrester (played by Gene Barry) begins to believe that the fallen star is in fact hollow. Only when 3 deputies stationed to watch the cooling mass are vaporised do people realise that it's an invasion from Mars!!! The army are deployed as more of these invasion pods arrive. Yet the Martians' 'heat ray' and 'skeleton beam' proves to be too powerful, atomising tanks, planes and men alike.
Forrester with his new found friend Sylvia Van Buren (played by Ann Robinson) take his plane to attempt to escape the massacre that is unfolding around them. However, they crash in a field hundreds of metres away from the advancing Martian war machines. By a miracle they escape taking refuge in an abandoned farm house. They eat a meal of fried eggs whilst we find out that Sylvia once got lost as a child knowing the only place to go was to a church, where her Uncle found her. The couple begin to become good friends as they begin to learn more about each other. Suddenly the room fills with green light as a invasion cylinder hits the house...
During the night the Martians begin to build their machines as the couple try to escape the house. Whilst digging their way out Sylvia sees something moving outside, a live Martian! they begin to dig faster as the creature makes it's way into the house. It grabs Sylvia, it is at this point that we begin to think that maybe the Martians don't want to kill us all, that they maybe have another purpose for us (as nice subtle link back to the original books idea that the Martians needs our blood.) Forrester attacks the creature, getting a sample of it's blood, they manage to make it away from the house by the time the injured Martian returns to his ship and burns the house to the ground.
The Governments of countries around the world are beginning to see that the Martians are the biggest threat humanity has ever seen, the decision is made to us the new atomic bomb against the creatures to stop them in their tracks. Forrester and Sylvia have travelled across country to Los Angeles where Forrester introduces Miss Van Buren to his colleagues who work with him at Pacific Tech. They study the Martian blood observing that although very intelligent, they are weak physically and not as resistant to disease as we are. The team rush off to watch the dropping of the Atom bomb. Sadly the Martians don't even stop as they power through the atomic blast. Los Angeles is their next target.
People crowd the streets attempting to get out of the city, the scientists with them, hoping to biologically attack the Martians, knowing now that their machines are invincible. The inhabitants of the huge city are heading for the hills. Forrester is left behind, and as he searches the empty streets he finds the empty bus Sylvia had been driving, he knows where he will find her; in church, waiting for him. Dodging certain death Forrester finds her in a church about to be destroyed by the advancing Martian war machines, as they embrace, the noises of destruction cease with one final crash. They move outside to find a war machine crashed, a dying Martian trying to pull itself out of its ship. All of a sudden it goes still. The Martians have been killed by bacteria to which we have been long immune. The war is over...... or is it?
