George Pal's spectacular full-color presentation of H.G.Well's The War of the Worlds remains to my mind the definitive on-screen version of the story despite many later renditions which were truer to the novel or attempted a more recent update. The reason is that this version of the Martians and their deadly machines is at least as locked into the popular imagination as are the original illustrations and descriptions from the classic novel. That said, the movie is limited in some ways.
Moving the story into the then modern day was like the infamous radio broadcast before it was a good move to make the threat in the story feel immediate and not remote and archaic. As compelling as the original Wells passages can be, seeing the Martian tripods stomping on horse-drawn carriages is less effective than seeing them blast tanks out of existence. The famous green machines from Pal's version are limited by the technology of the time which would've proved quite expensive to create for the screen in stop-motion which was the only option available. Animation was not a viable option given the conflict of imagery which would've resulted. I've seen this movie many times and on my recent viewing it was long enough that I was able to bring somewhat fresh eyes to the experience and I was frankly impressed all over again by what Pal and his team pulled off. I even like the somewhat hokey Martians they cooked up -- which were suitably mysterious since showing them was a nonstarter.
Another thing that struck me was the heavy-handedness of the Christian theme which takes its origin in a single line from the novel. "...the Martians were destroyed, and humanity saved by the littlest things which God, in His wisdom, had put upon the Earth." The Pal takes this message of a Godly plan and makes it the underpinning of the entire project with the finale taking us on a tour of several Christian churches before we learn that the Martians have succumbed to Earthly bacteria.
Gene Barry does a crackerjack job as the scientist-hero who becomes our interpreter of events. He shows a skill and yet also a humbleness which allows us to like him as he faces up the threats of both Martian and his own fellow Earthmen. Anne Robinson is the traditional damsel in distress, and she gets hysterical a few too many times even for a woman of that stereotypical way. It's always a smack in the face to confront the rank sexism of the time with men making all the decisions and taking all the actions to confront the threats while the dames are only good for moral support and a hot cup of Joe. But it's the 50's and while some folks are eager for that halcyon time to return, I can wait thank you very much.
More on the influence of this classic movie tomorrow.
Rip Off
War Of The Worlds was narrated by British actor Cedric Hardwick and there's a really embarrassing bit in the film when Hardwick says something like "And the British people fought incredibly bravely as you'd expect". I can't remember the exact line but it made me cringe.
ReplyDeleteFrom an American perspective it always seemed to me it was an attempt to praise Britain for its WWII stalwart position by filmmakers who had all been part of the war. Do you find it demeaning or inaccurate or both or something else?
DeleteCedric Hardwick's words in the film seem to imply that there's something special about the British, that we'd fight against the alien invaders when other countries wouldn't. Yes, I realise this was an attitude following from WW II but the reason the British were able to hold out against the Nazis is because we lived on an island so we were reasonably safe from invasion while other European countries (and Russia) were invaded and suffered greatly. There was nothing particularly brave or stoical about the British, we were just fortunate. So to answer your question, I find Hardwick's words embarrassing and insulting to our European neighbours.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me. Thanks for being so frank about it. We have a similar attitude in the U.S. but on steroids where there's a myth about the singular toughness of Americans. It's largely nonsense by and large. We don't have the grit as a nation to confront the current pandemic with anything approaching reason or steadfast courage. Instead, we spend our time arguing about scientific facts and imagining that freedom of choice affects communicable diseases. It's maddening and embarrassing.
DeleteOf course War of the Worlds was allegedly based on the premise of what would happen if (Victorian) Britain was invaded in the way Britain invaded so many other countries. That imperialistic attitude has lingered on in Britain and was certainly evident in the 1950s which was probably why that line about the Brits fighting bravely was added. Personally I think that entire generation that stood up to the Nazis regardless of their nationality were pretty "special" ( but I know what your saying Colin) unlike the anti vax , fake news brigade of today.
ReplyDeleteThe WWII generation in the U.S. was hardened by the Great Depression which was a long span of limited access to basics for many people. They were toughened by that, and the necessary war was just another hardship. I cannot imagine today's population having to make the sacrifices that were made in the WWII era. Folks would go ballistic at the smallest need for a concession for the general good. We are much weaker now than we were then, and I don't count myself out of that equation. Folks just don't know or possess the capacity to imagine.
DeleteWell said Rip.
ReplyDeleteThat arrogant imperialist attitude in Britain has persisted to this day, just look at our current government and their Brexit nonsense. On leaving the European Union we were told that "they need us more than we need them" and "we will hold all the cards" which has turned out to be totally delusional of course.
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