The War of the Worlds ***** (1953, Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne) – Classic Movie Review 485

In one of his most famed film roles, Gene Barry stars as Dr Clayton Forrester in director Byron Haskin’s and producer George Pal’s winning if unsubtle adaptation from the novel by H G Wells. It boldly switches the action from Victorian London to contemporary Fifties California with no loss of effect or damage to the story.

Acting is hardly the point here, and the nice cast’s slightly stiff performances mean that they are easily upstaged by Gordon Jennings’s charming Oscar-winning special effects, with whole cities collapsing under the attack of the sleek Martian spacecraft and the octopus-like aliens. Seventy per cent of the $2million budget ($1,400,000) was spent on the extensive and elaborate special effects.

Even in a shortish running time (85 minutes), the plot seems a bit thin and over-extended, so the film drags a little, especially with Barré Lyndon’s screenplay hammering home the movie’s cosy religious and romantic values. But the movie’s made with surprising flair and imagination and it’s still a lovely film, generally very engaging and a lot of fun.

Ann Robinson co-stars as Sylvia Van Buren. Born on May 25 1935, her last role to date is as the grandmother in the 2005 remake. She was part of Paramount’s golden circle of new stars in the early 1950s but this was her only leading role at the studio. Since 1987, she has been married to real estate broker Joseph Valdez. She enjoys being a regular fixture at sci-fi conventions and autograph shows. She reprised her character in 1988’s weekly TV series War of the Worlds (1988), 35 years later.

Sir Cedric Harwicke, suggested by producer Cecil B DeMille, narrates the movie. DeMille was due to direct the film when the rights were first bought in 1925, and Alfred Hitchcock was to direct a proposed version in the 1930s. After Hitchcock passed on it, DeMille picked George Pal, renowned for his Puppetoon animation technique and Destination Moon (1950) and When Worlds Collide (1951), to direct. DeMille gave complete control to Pal, who chose Haskin to direct.

The film editing and sound recording were also nominated for Oscars, rightly emphasizing the huge technical achievement in its day. Hal Pereira’s and Albert Nozaki’s production designs are also notable pieces of craftsmanship work, and Leith Stevens’s lovely Technicolor cinematography is a treat.

The H G Wells estate was so pleased with the film that it offered George Pal his choice of any other of Wells’s properties. Pal chose to make The Time Machine (1960).

It was remade by as War of the Worlds by Steven Spielberg in 2005 with Tom Cruise.

Gene Barry died on December 9 2009, aged 90. His last role was as the grandfather in the 2005 remake.