<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The War of the Worlds (1953) was produced by George Pal, directed by Byron Haskin, starred Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, and Les Tremayne with a screenplay by Barré Lyndon.

Although based on the 1898 novel by H. G. Wells, this film shares little in common with the book. Still, it is a classic in its own right. The setting is updated to contemporary (1950s) California, and substitutes a love story in place of the hero’s search for his wife. Most notably, the Martian tripod walking machines are replaced by sleek hovering craft with long necks and a kind of camera eye that shoots the signature death ray. This version of the war machine, designed by the film’s art director Al Nozaki, has become an icon of science fiction film. Late in the film, the final attack on Los Angeles by the war machines is another classic moment—compare it to the L. A. attack in 1996’s Independence Day. The special effects (created by a team led by Gordon Jennings) are what make this film, and cost $1,400,000 of the film’s $2,000,000 total budget. Note the series of planetary images in the beginning by legendary space artist Chesley Bonestell.

The film actually languished in production limbo for almost 30 years. Director Cecil B. DeMille first purchased the rights to the novel for Paramount in 1925. Over the years five scripts were written and rejected. George Pal discovered the project while working on When Worlds Collide (1951), and commissioned a new script.

Interestingly, in the mid-1970s George Pal put together a teaser reel for a War of the Worlds television series. The story involved a future time when humans go into space to pursue the invaders. The series would have centered around the adventures of the “hyperspace carrier” Pegasus, commanded by a Colonel James Anderson. The Pegasus was designed by Star Trek production designer Matt Jefferies (of “Jefferies Tube” fame.)

Opening Credits

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

BASED ON THE NOVEL BY H. G. WELLS

WITH

GENE BARRY

ANN ROBINSON

LES TREMAYNE

BOB CORNTHWAITE

SANDRO GIGLIO

LEWIS MARTIN

HOUSELY STEVENSON JR.

PAUL FREES

BILL PHIPPS

VERNON RICH

HENRY BRANDON

JACK KRUSCHEN

COMMENTARY BY

SIR CECRIC HARDWICKE

SCREENPLAY BY

BARRE LYNDON

COLOR BY

TECHNICOLOR

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

GEORGE BARNES, A.S.C.

TECHNICOLOR COLOR CONSULTANTE

MONROE W. BURBANK

ART DIRECTION...HAL PEREIARA and ALERT OZAKI

EDITED BY...EVERETT DOUGLAS, A.C.E.

ASSISTANT DIRECOTR...MICHAEL D. MOORE

COSTUMES...EDITH HEAD

SET DECORATION...SAM COMER AND EMILE KURI

MAKEUP SUPERVISION...WALLY WESTMORE

MUSIC SCORE

BY

LEITH STEVENS

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

FRANK FREEMAN jR.

SOUND RECORDING BY...HARR LINDGREN AND GENE GARVIN

SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC EFFECTS

GORDON JENNINGS, A.S.C.

WALLACE KELLEY, A.S.C.

PAUL LERPAE, A.S.C.

IVYL BURKS

JAN DOMELA

IRMIN ROBERTS, A.S.C.

ASTRONOMICAL ART

CHESLEY BONESTELL

PRODUCED BY

GEORGE PAL

DIRECTED BY

BYRON HASKIN