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The War of the Worlds

  • 19531953
  • GG
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
37K
YOUR RATING
The War of the Worlds (1953)
Theatrical Trailer from Paramount
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionSci-FiThriller
A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion.A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion.A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
37K
YOUR RATING
    • Byron Haskin
    • H.G. Wells(based on the novel by)
    • Barré Lyndon(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Gene Barry
    • Ann Robinson
    • Les Tremayne
    • Byron Haskin
    • H.G. Wells(based on the novel by)
    • Barré Lyndon(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Gene Barry
    • Ann Robinson
    • Les Tremayne
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 291User reviews
    • 94Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos1

    The War of the Worlds
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch The War of the Worlds

    Photos134

    The War of the Worlds (1953)
    The War of the Worlds (1953)
    The War of the Worlds (1953)
    The War of the Worlds (1953)
    Gene Barry in The War of the Worlds (1953)
    The War of the Worlds (1953)
    Gene Barry and Ann Robinson in The War of the Worlds (1953)
    Gene Barry and Ann Robinson in The War of the Worlds (1953)
    "War of the Worlds" Gene Barry, Ann Robinson and Les Tremayne 1953, Paramount, **I.V.
    "War of the Worlds" Gene Barry, Ann Robinson 1953, Paramount, **I.V.
    "War of the Worlds" Gene Barry 1953, Paramount, **I.V.
    "War of the Worlds" 1953, Paramount, **I.V.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gene Barry
    Gene Barry
    • Dr. Clayton Forrester
    Ann Robinson
    Ann Robinson
    • Sylvia Van Buren
    Les Tremayne
    Les Tremayne
    • Maj. Gen. Mann
    Robert Cornthwaite
    Robert Cornthwaite
    • Dr. Pryor
    • (as Bob Cornthwaite)
    Sandro Giglio
    Sandro Giglio
    • Dr. Bilderbeck
    Lewis Martin
    • Pastor Dr. Matthew Collins
    Houseley Stevenson Jr.
    • Gen. Mann's Aide
    • (as Housely Stevenson Jr.)
    Paul Frees
    Paul Frees
    • Second Radio Reporter…
    William Phipps
    William Phipps
    • Wash Perry
    • (as Bill Phipps)
    Vernon Rich
    Vernon Rich
    • Col. Ralph Heffner
    Henry Brandon
    Henry Brandon
    • Cop at Crash Site
    Jack Kruschen
    Jack Kruschen
    • Salvatore
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • Commentary
    • (voice)
    • (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
    Peter Adams
    Peter Adams
    • Pine Summit Fire Watcher
    • (uncredited)
    Eric Alden
    Eric Alden
    • Man
    • (uncredited)
    Hugh Allen
    • Brigadier General
    • (uncredited)
    Ruth Barnell
    • Mother
    • (uncredited)
    Edgar Barrier
    Edgar Barrier
    • Prof. McPherson
    • (uncredited)
      • Byron Haskin
      • H.G. Wells(based on the novel by)
      • Barré Lyndon(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The estate of H.G. Wells was so pleased with the final production that it offered George Pal his choice of any other of Wells' properties. Pal chose The Time Machine (1960).
    • Goofs
      Modern viewers often complain that the wires used to suspend the Martian war machines are plainly visible throughout the film. The film was originally shot in three strip Technicolor, with prints made using a dye transfer process that resulted in very saturated colors, but with a slight reduction in overall resolution. This reduction in resolution "fuzzed out" the wires in original prints, making them effectively invisible. Later prints were made in Eastman Color, which uses a photographic process and yields sharper prints, but here had the side effect of making the support and electric wires plainly visible - the models had electrical wires as the side pods of the machines really lit up green and the "cobra heads" lit up as well. It is common practice in the film industry to take into account what details will be visible when a print is projected so as not to waste production time and money on details that will never actually be visible to a viewing audience, especially in the areas of effects and matte paintings. Thus, the filmmakers never thought the wires would be visible and in fact they weren't until the first Eastman Color prints of the film were struck in the late 1960s, and they had become even more visible on modern video releases as there is no dye sublimation resolution loss when making video masters from the original negatives. In the 2018 restoration this was resolved using digital technology.
    • Quotes

      Radio Reporter: All radio is dead, which means that these tape recordings I'm making are for the sake of future history - If any.

    • Alternate versions
      For the 2018 restoration Ben Burtt created a new 5.1 surround sound mix with replacements for many of the film's original sound effects, with the jarring result that the sound effects have fidelity far above that of surrounding dialogue in the film. The 2020 Criterion Collection release features this new sound mix as well as the original mono track.
    • Connections
      Edited from When Worlds Collide (1951)
    • Soundtracks
      Paramount on Parade
      (uncredited)

      Written by Elsie Janis and Jack King

      Played over the opening logo

    User reviews291

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    What more can be said?
    I was 6 when I saw War of the Worlds, my first color sci-fi film, "live" in a theater. (We did not have TV then!). I've seen all the other classics like "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", "Day the Earth Stood Still", "Them", "The Thing", etc. before and after WOTW, all good films but War of The Worlds was in a class all by itself. I know, the Brits lampoon the film all the time because it's not set in England/London, and not in the proper time period. I didn't know why it was updated and set in LA but..as a 6 year old I could have cared less...the movie was magical, frightening and memorable.

    Over the years I've read the book and and seen dozens of films within this genre. Yes, FX are far better now but 50 years ago this film set the standard. I hope the rumored remake in 2004 can be as memorable. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson did a great job. (If they're up to it, it would be neat for them to have cameos) Has anyone compared the farmhouse scene to the similar scene in "Close Encounters". Both deliver the goods...they scare the heck out of you. The sound effects were so outstanding the producers of the new film should consider using them again! All true WOTW fans know that the sounds of the "cobra" and the weapons fire are sounds you never forget..like the antenna sounds of "Them".

    Try to look past the re-locating and re-dating, kick back and enjoy a film that was king for 20-30 years, not topped until "2001", "Star Wars", "Close Encounters" and "Alien" came along.
    helpful•11
    3
    • MChittum-California
    • Oct 2, 2002

    FAQ1

    • Where (according to the movie) did the Martians first land?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 26, 1953 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Westminster Presbyterian Church - 1757 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 25 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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