Based on H.G. Wells' 1897 novel, the George Pal-produced, Byron Haskin-directed War of the Worlds unfolds in a small Southern California hamlet where a large meteorite has come crashing down in the night sky. The streaking ball of fire attracts the attention of all in town and soon everyone has assembled at the point of impact, marveling at the molten rock's size, poking it with sticks and planning their strategy for exploiting the object that will surely prove a boon to the community.
The local sheriff sends for atomic scientist Dr. Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry), who just happens to be on a fishing trip with colleagues at the nearby lake. Forrester marvels at the meteorite like everyone else & is soon invited to partake in the celebratory festivities by library science instructor Sylvia Van Buren (Anne Robinson).
In the middle of the night, with townspeople standing guard, a hatch opens on the so-called "meteorite" and an alien weapon vaporizes three men standing nearby. Of course the military is called in and we learn similar objects have been reported across the globe. Soon the aliens begin a full-fledge assault on the town, laying waste to anything in their path, making their way toward Los Angeles.
Fast-paced at a svelte 85 minutes and photographed in Technicolor when most other sci-fi films of the era were shot in black and white, War of the Worlds was a huge hit with both audiences and critics alike in the fall of '53. It became the biggest sc-fi hit of the year and earned an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Newly restored in 4K and released on Blu-ray by The Criterion Collection, War of the Words has never looked better on home video. The native 1.37:1 aspect ratio (widescreen would debut later in the year with Fox's The Robe) is crisp and full of rich colors, especially those menacing green "desk-lamp" alien war machines. There are a few noticeable black scratch lines that appear from time to time but they disappear quickly and don't detract from an otherwise stellar presentation.
The original monaural and newly struck 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack are both immersive and satisfying at minimal levels.
As usual with Criterion, there are a slew of extras, including a 2005 audio commentary featuring filmmaker Joe Dante, new features on the restoration and visual effects and the original 1938 Mercury Theatre radio play featuring Orson Welles.
Overall, a very nice presentation for a film I've loved since childhood, one that will forever define both the science-fiction genre and the zeitgeist of the 1950s.
Happy Halloween!
