The War of the Worlds (1953) - Caravan Of Garbage

·26 min·2 clips

Why did the 1953 'War of the Worlds' film modernize the alien invasion story that started with a famous radio panic?

The episode begins with the hosts, Mason and James, introducing their review of the 1953 film 'The War of the Worlds'. They mention the film's context as an adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel and the famous Orson Welles radio play from 1938. The hosts discuss how the film modernized the story by setting it in the 1950s instead of the original period. They note that Orson Welles declined to be involved, and the project went to director Byron Haskins. The hosts analyze the film's opening, criticizing the font choice and narrator's exposition. They describe key scenes, such as the meteor crash and the first appearance of the Martian ships. Mason and James praise the special effects, including the miniature work of Al Nuzaki and the heat ray visuals. They highlight the alien design by Charlie Gamora and its significance as an early man-in-a-suit monster. The hosts critique the film's characters, particularly the limited role of the female lead, Anne Robinson's character. They discuss the ending, where the aliens are defeated by germs rather than human action, comparing it to later adaptations like 'Independence Day'. The episode includes trivia segments, such as Lee Marvin being offered the lead role and the film's budget allocation. They mention that the original Martian war machines were donated to a Boy Scout copper drive and destroyed. The hosts conclude by teasing a future review of the 2005 'War of the Worlds' adaptation and promote their other content on Big Sandwich.

As heard by us

A funny, concrete look at alien hardware and the practical tricks behind it.

The episode works best as a brisk autopsy of effects and choices, starting with the priest who walks toward the invaders in a bid for peace while holding a religious symbol.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a Martian attack where a peace gesture gets lasered and invisible magnetic legs somehow become the main event?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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