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War
of the Worlds is a famous
science fiction novel
written by H.G. Wells in 1898. It is the
tale of a Martian attack on Earth.
In 1938
Orson Welles and his Mercury
Theatre Group performed a version of it live on the radio.
The popular book has also inspired two major movies: 1953
version and Steven
Spielberg's
War of the Worlds 2005 version.
H.G. Wells -
Herbert George Wells (1866 - 1946)
 H.
G. Wells was born on September 21, 1866 in Bromley, Kent,
England, United Kingdom. H. G. Wells War of the Worlds novel was
first published in 1898. The book describes an invasion of Earth
by spaceships from
Planet Mars. The novel became a
science-fiction classic and has influenced and inspired the
science fiction genre from books to movies.
H. G. Wells
has written many famous books which include
the Time Machine, the Invisible
Man and the Island Of Dr. Moreau. H.G. Wells died on
August 13, 1946.
War of the
Worlds Radio Broadcast
In 1938 people listened to music,
news reports and plays on their radio for entertainment. There
was no television and the world was on the brink of World War 2.
The most popular radio program was the 'Chase and Sanborn Hour'
which aired on Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. Orson Welles Mercury
Theatre Group ran a weekly radio program at the same time. Orson
Welles tried to think of ways to increase his audience. Orson Welles decided to adapt H.G.
Wells War of the Worlds novel for the Halloween show.
On October 30, 1938 the radio play narrated by Orson Welles,
simulated news reports about an invasion from Mars. The story
was set in New Jersey instead of England. Most people were
listening to Chase and Sanborn Hour program. Ten minutes into
the show (during the break) many listeners tuned into War of the
Worlds. Having missed the introduction, many people believed
what they heard on the radio was real and that they were under
attack by Martians. A mass panic followed even though the
announcer explained it was fictional. Many ran out of
their homes screaming while others packed up their cars and fled
their home.
War of the Worlds
1953
The
first War of the Worlds movie was released in 1953. It was
directed by
Byron Haskin. The film adaptation of the story first told on
radio of the invasion of Earth by Martians.
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War of the Worlds 1953 Cast
Gene Barry as Clayton Forrester
Lewis Martin as Pastor Matthew Collins
Ann Robinson as Sylvia Van Buren
Les Tremayne as General Mann
Robert Cornthwaite as Dr. Pryor
Sandro Giglio as Dr. Bilderbeck
Director:
Byron Haskin
Written by: Barr¨¦ Lyndon
Herbert G. Wells
Original music by: Leith Stevens
Produced by: Paramount Pictures |
Running Time: 85 minutes. English. Rated: G.
¡¡
War of the Worlds
2005 Tom
Cruise stars in this Steven Spielberg¨Cdirected adaptation of the
War of the Worlds, which
is based on HG Wells' 1898
novel.
Cast:
Tom Cruise as Ray Ferrier
Justin Chatwin as Robbie Ferrier
Dakota Fanning as Rachel Ferrier
Tim Robbins as Ogilvy
Miranda Otto as Mary Ann Ferrier
David Alan Basche as Tim
Morgan Freeman as the Narrator (voice)
Running Time: 116 mins
Released 29 June, 2005 in cinemas. Did
you know?
*
Steven Spielberg¡¯s
War of the Worlds in 2005 represents the third time Ann Robinson
has appeared in an incarnation of War of the Worlds. The name of
her character in the 1953 George Pal film was Sylvia Van Buren.
War
of the Worlds
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