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War of the Worlds [DVD] [1953] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Gene Barry (Actor), Ann Robinson (Actor), Byron Haskin (Director) | Rated: Parental Guidance | Format: DVD
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)

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Region 1 encoding (requires a North American or multi-region DVD player and NTSC compatible TV. More about DVD formats.)

Note: you may purchase only one copy of this product. New Region 1 DVDs are dispatched from the USA or Canada and you may be required to pay import duties and taxes on them (click here for details). Please expect a delivery time of 5-7 days.


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War of the Worlds [DVD] [1953] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] War of the Worlds [DVD] [1953] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] 4.4 out of 5 stars (74)
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Product details

  • Actors: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Robert Cornthwaite, Sandro Giglio
  • Directors: Byron Haskin
  • Writers: Barré Lyndon, H.G. Wells
  • Producers: Cecil B. DeMille, Frank Freeman Jr., George Pal
  • Format: Collector's Edition, Colour, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Special Edition, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Paramount
  • DVD Release Date: 1 Nov 2005
  • Run Time: 85 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000AOEMWS
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 176,961 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

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Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

After the success of 1950's Destination Moon and 1951's When Worlds Collide, visionary producer George Pal brought the classic HG Wells story of a Martian invasion to the big screen, and it instantly became a science-fiction classic and winner of the 1953 Academy Award for Best Special Effects. It's a work of frightening imagination, with its manta-ray spaceships armed with cobra-like probes that shoot a white-hot disintegration ray. As formations of alien ships continue to wreak destruction around the globe, the military is helpless to stop this enemy while scientists race to find an effective weapon. Gene Barry and Ann Robinson play the hero and heroine roles that werede rigueur for movies like this in the 50s, and their encounter with one of the Martians is as creepy today as it was in 1953. It finally takes an unseen threat--simple Earth bacteria--to conquer the alien invaders, but not before War of the Worlds has provided a dazzling display of impressive visual and sound effects. This is a movie for the ages, the kind of spectacle that inspired little kids such as Steven Spielberg (not to mention Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, whose Independence Day is a remake in all but name) and still packs a punch. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Earth versus the Enemy Unknown 3 Aug 2003
By No_Poet
Format:DVD
Sensationally good, this is one of the all-time greatest sci-fi films. The visual effects are years ahead of their time; the battle sequences are nothing short of brilliant, and the first face-to-face contact with an alien is completely terrifying. The acting is convincing throughout - even the script is pretty good! Despite its age this film is far suprior to such modern "classics" as Starship Troopers or Independence Day, the latter of which was supposed to be a remake of War of the Worlds. Anyone who even vaguely enjoys sci-fi is going to have a fantastic time with this film.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Welcome Addition to DVD 12 Oct 2003
By E. A. Redfearn TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
I first saw this film many years ago now. Its still quite an entertaining film based around H. G Wells classic novel which was written even before man learned to fly. Americanised of course, which doesnt distract from the original story which was set in Surrey and London. For a film made during the early 1950s, the effects are remarkably good for its time. The leads, Gene Barry and Ann Robinson, do the best they can with the wooden dialogue which was typical of films in those days. Technology which we take for granted nowadays didnt exist then. The sound and picture for DVD are rather good, and its still worth buying just to see the sort of film which packed cinemas upon its initial release, for it was a box office hit at the time. Give it a try.
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65 of 68 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal Sci Fi Classic 30 April 2006
By pointone TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Having been totally under whelmed by the new Tom Cruise version I came back to the original and everything fell into place again.

Unknown stars were deliberately chosen so the audience would concentrate on the drama. Gene Barry as the scientist Dr Clayton Forrester and Ann Robinson as Sylvia van Buren have the leading roles. They are low on chemistry but as there is no overt love interest this is not a problem

The 1953 special effects still stand up with the best. The best decision (although taken on financial grounds) was to eliminate the tripod legs of the Martian invaders and invent invisible force fields to hold the beautiful swan like monsters in the air enabling close ups as they methodically destroy everything in their path.

This is a film that deserves its' well loved classic status, does not date and will never disappoint however often it is viewed.

A lovely DVD preserving the original superb highly saturated Technicolor, with a good selection of extras.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Dated but fun film 17 Dec 2002
By A Customer
Format:DVD
When this film first came out it was considered so terrifying that it was given an x cirtificate. Now it's shown at tea time and is given a PG. How things change.
There are some changes to the book by changing the setting to America and changing some details in the middle. The walking machines are changed to flying machines for the sake of filming. Walking machines would be near impossible to film when this film was made. Walking machines would be laughably bad to watch. It was difficult enough to film walking machines (especially with three legs) in the 1980's for the Tripods TV series.
The powerful ending is still more or less the same. Like all sci fi films seen many years later it's almost cute because it's so dated. However it's not too bad and it's still a fun film to watch. It keeps it's pace throughout.
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36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Special Edition that's well worth a purchase 29 Mar 2007
By Alasdair Swanson
Format:DVD
War of the Worlds, the good version. Lovely deep colours, unique designs, terrifying sounds (I still get goose-bumps from the hiss the martian heat ray makes as it surveys its surroundings) and inspired effects add up to a terrific movie.

It has a terrific package to go with it -- two commentaries by people who really know their stuff, a couple of neat documentaries (what a shame about the original models!) and a clear, sharp picture. So sharp, in fact, that the support cables are all too visible, unfortunately.

Still the best film of Wells' novel. Steven Spielberg, eat your heart out.

As I write this, it's only Ł6. You'd be a fool not to.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best sci-fi films of all time. 8 Sep 2001
By Chris Burin (chrisburin_2000@yahoo.co.uk)
Beautifully filmed, tense alien drama; the technology is somewhat primitive, but the acting is first rate and the film is genuinely eerie. Definitely worth a watch.
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A class Act 2 Mar 2007
By C. Pierides
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wow, what a surprise this film is. Done way back before I was born. And I am old by today's standards.Suspense, ahead of their time special effects, a nifty alien and superb spacecraft with an invincible feel to the invaders. Talking of which, if you've seen "the invaders" you know where the dying alien effects come from. A real surprise package with interviews and behind the scenes discussions that further enhance the magic of this movie. A true classic.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Effects For The Time 24 Jan 2003
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This film was made before I was born & I saw it on TV as a teenager. I'm glad I bought the DVD because it was as good as I remember. There is a lot of action & a good storyline even though they do take liberties when compared to the original book. If you like old scifi films, you will enjoy this.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Fab
Despite there being almost no connection with HG Wells' classic novel other than the aliens are from Mars and Earth bacteria wipes them out, it is in its own way a classic movie... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Jonathan
5.0 out of 5 stars "They'll be stopped, somehow" !
A really first class DVD presentation of this classic film.
The picture is perfect. I have never seen the film look this good. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Avengers Assemble
4.0 out of 5 stars Originals are always better
Great simple film. Better than the modern Tom Cruise version. You can't go wrong with the classics. Recommend to any war of the world fan
Published 2 months ago by Flint
4.0 out of 5 stars Missing footage
When I bought this movie edition, it wasn't available in the US. It is as good as I remembered. However, when the US version finally came out, it had a few extra minutes. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Frenchy
4.0 out of 5 stars wow
i like this version, it as a good cast i would recommend it to fans of this type of film.
Published 3 months ago by june asquith
5.0 out of 5 stars FORGET THE REMAKE...
We all know the story,this is the original film version made at the height of American UFO paranoia. Read more
Published 3 months ago by deadkat77
5.0 out of 5 stars The War of the Worlds (DVD)
This is not the "new" version of War of the Worlds DVD but a 1952 updated version it contains special fetures a must get for all War of the Worlds fans and its under a fiver yet... Read more
Published 6 months ago by fedup11
5.0 out of 5 stars Old time classic
although the effects are out dated, still for its time they are ahead. This is a good film keeping the viewer on interest.. ( I find it better to the new remake )
Published 6 months ago by Yannis
5.0 out of 5 stars A 1950s sci-fi classic
This was one film I had seen on TV on a good few occasions and was desperate to find a copy of on DVD. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Liam S
1.0 out of 5 stars RUBBISH
This is supposedly based on the novel by HG wells. I am currently reading the original book and enjoying it so much I thought I would get the DVD. They are worlds apart. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Annoyed
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