Drones reported in Bayonne, New Jersey!

No —actually it’s our episode celebrating Stephen Spielberg’s epic Sci-Fi thriller based on H. G. Wells novel. This classic earned notoriety from the now famous production of the radio play by Orsen Welles Mercury Theater, which was so convincing that some listeners really believed Martians had landed in Grover’s Mill, NJ.

In 1953, Paramount would release a full cinematic treatment with some of the most impressive visual effects at the time, and we’re rewarded with an Oscar for their efforts. Spielberg’s installment is updated and brilliantly paced, and the visual effects are (we think) some of best in an era dominated by digital “gloss”. Tom Cruise turns in one of his best performances, and a young Dakota Fanning makes another entry as a child actor into what has been a long and successful transition to present day. This film is a gripping and fun ride. And we thank Tim Robbins for totally creeping us out in the role of Harlan Olgivy.

Lots of good episode links to share: “The Night that Panicked America” Paramount Television https://archive.org/details/night-that-panicked-america-1975

“The Night America Trembled” 1957 https://youtu.be/7jeW30vLwds?si=Im1tSlR7PN08KEUz

“Orsen Welles-War of the Worlds, 1938 radio broadcast” https://youtu.be/Xs0K4ApWl4g?si=dcQoCQKmJHshWdOd