Capital Celluloid 2023 — Day 197: Mon Jul 17

The War of the Worlds (Haskin, 1953): Prince Charles Cinema, 6pm


This 35mm presentation also screens on July 30th. Details here.

Chicago Reader review:
The archetypal 50s science fiction film, with science and the military teaming up to repel an alien invasion (though ultimately it’s God who saves the day). As the perfect crystallization of 50s ideology the film would be fascinating enough, but the special effects in this 1953 George Pal production also achieve a kind of dark, burnished apocalyptic beauty. Director Byron Haskin handles the live-action material—featuring Gene Barry as America’s most photogenic astronomer and Ann Robinson as his plucky girlfriend—with speed and concision.
Dave Kehr

Here (and above) is the trailer.

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