BBC: The War of the Worlds

Last night the BBC televised the first installment of it's new mini series, a period adaptation of HG Well's War of the Worlds.

I had been watching excerpts on YT - in Spanish - over the last month or so. It looks like the UK was the last to televise the show, even though it was made here and funded in part by UK license payers..oh well..

In any case, I'm a huge fan of the novel, and Jeff Wayne's musical version of the story, so I couldn't wait to see an adaptation that was at least a little closer to the book. The two US versions, one from 1953, and the Tom Cruise film from 2005 were both very good films in their own right, but just NOT recognisable as War of the Worlds IMO.

The BBC adaptation is set in Edwardian England, the period that Jeff Waynes version was set in, and although the geographical locations were the same as the book, the characters were more 'up to date' Needless to say the BBC wanted to make it more contemporary, at least thematically so, addressing issues of prejudice and social exclusion, with the two main characters; an unmarried couple living 'in sin' while the male characters estranged wife refused to sign divorce papers. It was a rather pointless subplot, but anyway....

It was pretty good start, with surprising good effects for a BBC show, and some gripping moments.

Anyone else see it, and have any comments on this log awaited adaptation of a classic Sci-Fi tale?

WOTW

Edited by Blacksword - November 18 2019 at 04:16

Blacksword wrote: Last night the BBC televised the first installment of it's new mini series, a period adaptation of HG Well's War of the Worlds. ...

moshkito wrote: Blacksword wrote: Last night the BBC televised the first installment of it's new mini series, a period adaptation of HG Well's War of the Worlds. ... Haven't seen this yet, but I have to tell you that the original, with Orson Welles is radio history for a real reason, and something that most folks are not going to "listen" to, because we have become so visually tied to things in this day and age. Sad, because the visuals you get from Orson Wells and that troupe are excellent, and I am not sure that any movie will ever be able to bring those images out! I do want to see this since the ability to do things with video and digital animation has taken a very important and strong turn in the past 10 years ... but those voices of the radio broadcast ... still live in my mind!

I heard the Orson Wells radio broadcast when I was about 11. BBC Radio 4 broadacst it one night in 1980. You have to remember that when it aired in the 1930's, many people thought it was real, and panicked thinking they were rally being invaded. This gives that version an extra sinister edge. It's a well told story, very dramatic and does evoke quite striking mental images, but I think for someone of my age who grew up with the book and the musical version, the radio broadcast did less for me.

Atavachron wrote: chopper wrote: The only thing that puzzles me is, if Martians wanted to invade earth why would they start with Woking? The '05 film is just bad.   The '53 version is an absolute classic of American sci-fi/horror.   Neither are much like the Wells story.   I'd like to hear the full 1938 radio drama that many people thought was covering a real invasion.   Genius.

I have the Orson Wells 1938 broadcast on CD. It's great David. See if you can find it on youtube if you have the time. 

Here's the Orson Wells broadcast..

Orson Wells WOTW

Edited by Blacksword - November 19 2019 at 04:36

Blacksword wrote: ... I heard the Orson Wells radio broadcast when I was about 11. BBC Radio 4 broadacst it one night in 1980. You have to remember that when it aired in the 1930's, many people thought it was real, and panicked thinking they were rally being invaded. This gives that version an extra sinister edge. It's a well told story, very dramatic and does evoke quite striking mental images, but I think for someone of my age who grew up with the book and the musical version, the radio broadcast did less for me.