User Reviews

This 30-minute retrospective documentary covers a good deal of interesting and illuminating ground on the making of the 50's sci-fi alien invasion classic "The War of the Worlds." Ann Robinson relates a great story about auditioning for her role. Gene Barry points out that it was not only his second movie, but also the biggest film he ever acted in. Robert Cornthwaite does a perfect George Pal impression while relating a funny story about Pal taking issue with his blonde hair in some early publicity photos he took at the start of his career. Ray Harryhausen talks about doing a stop-motion animation test for the Martians. Moreover, we also learn that Pal caught the burgeoning interest in space travel that was a major trend in the 1950's and didn't want any stars in the picture, Robinson hated the wig that she had to wear in the movie, Pal was often on the set, but didn't get in director Byron Haskin's way, the Martian costume was basically thrown together in a single frantic night, and the Technicolor cameras used to shoot the film were very noisy. Recommended viewing for fans of the film.

The fact that George Pal's "War of the Worlds" ranks in the top 30 of the American Film Institutes Top 100 films of all time is just one tidbit provided by Ann Robinson, actress who appeared as Sylvia Van Buren in the science fiction classic. Robinson, along with others associated with/interested with the film (including co-star Gene Barry, special effects legend Ray Harryhausen, author Justin Humphreys, historian Bob Burns, and actor Robert Cornthwaite), provides some illuminating facts about the production.

Along with giving the background "making of" information, the documentary also does a lot of "name-dropping" of Hollywood luminaries that also had an interest in the Wells classic, including actor/director Orson Welles, producer Cecil B. DeMille, and Sir Alfred Hitchcock who himself wanted to turn the story into film.

The documentary, found as one of the special features on the special DVD edition of the film, is well worth repeat viewings.