| With all the talk about the remake of | | | | that miracle came. In the climax of the |
| the H.G. Wells classic "War Of The | | | | movie while Gene Barry is frantically |
| Worlds", it may be a good time to | | | | running through the streets looking for |
| revisit the original movie from the late | | | | Sylvia Van Buren, played by Ann |
| 50s.Whether you are a fan of the | | | | Robinson, the Martians are pretty much |
| original, or the remake, or both, one | | | | blasting up the city. It's a miracle in |
| thing many people don't realize is that | | | | itself that Barry, playing Dr. Clayton |
| neither movie version is really anything | | | | Forrester, isn't blasted to kingdom |
| like the book. For that experience you | | | | come. But somehow he makes his way to |
| would have to listen to the Orson Wells | | | | the church where he just happens to find |
| broadcast with the Mercury Theater from | | | | Sylvia. Just as the Martian war machine |
| the 30s. That was a rendition that | | | | approaches the church and is about to |
| stayed very true to the book.In all | | | | blast it into next Tuesday, suddenly |
| fairness to the movies, the book version | | | | everything stops. The machines start |
| would not have played very well in | | | | dropping, not only all over the city, |
| theaters. Most of the book focused on | | | | but all over the world.What |
| two men simply trying to survive the | | | | happened?Good old mother nature, that's |
| attack from Mars. There was very little | | | | what. It turns out that the Earth's |
| action, outside of the scattered radio | | | | bacteria was too much for the Martians |
| reports they were receiving about | | | | and they started dropping like flies. |
| attacks from the Martians all over the | | | | The Earth, at least for now, was |
| world. Watching two men discuss the | | | | saved.The movie had some good special |
| fate of the world and what they were | | | | effects for 1953 and the climax was very |
| going to do probably would not have gone | | | | exciting. But for the most part a lot |
| over very big with theater audiences. | | | | of the movie was pretty corny and the |
| So the original movie focused more on | | | | overacting at times was hilarious. But |
| the actual attack itself.In the movie, | | | | if you were a kid growing up during the |
| Gene Barry plays the scientist who | | | | time, this was a movie that you just |
| happens to get caught in the middle of | | | | loved watching, with all its flaws.It |
| all this mayhem, constantly trying to | | | | should be pointed out that the news |
| warn the military that their weapons | | | | reporter who was commenting on the |
| were no match for the Martian war | | | | events of the day was one of the |
| machines. Of course the military | | | | greatest TV voices of all time, that of |
| doesn't listen and throws everything at | | | | Paul Frees. He was also the opening |
| the Martians, to no avail. Finally they | | | | narrator. Frees did a lot of classic |
| drop the atomic bomb on them. Even that | | | | science fiction during the 50s. Just |
| did no good whatsoever. The Earth was | | | | hearing him, regardless of the part, was |
| headed for certain destruction. Only a | | | | worth the price of admission. |
| miracle could save our planet.Of course | | | | |