Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHcKm5rnFD8
Critic Josh Macphearson’s essay on 3 versions of War of the Worlds better than Jeff Wayne’s adaptation, Sherwood Studios radio version, Timothy Hines’ War of the Worlds The True Story and Orson Welles 1938 radio bradcast.
Ask anyone in the UK who wrote The War of the Worlds and you are bound to hear not “H. G. Wells” but “Jeff Wayne”. For in 1978 expatriate Wayne went from lucrative jingle writing to compose a British musical version based on H. G. Wells’ novel, and aptly named it “Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds.” This musical adaptation is a stand-alone masterpiece that has influenced generations of Britain’s youth in the 70’s and 80’s. It is also a testament to Wayne’s marketing skills to massively saturate every available medium with his outstanding theatrical piece that has thrived in all kinds of formats for over 30 years.
Above: Jeff Wayne stands with Key Art from “Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds”, one of the most successful arena spectaculars and greatest albums of all time. It’s hit song “Forever Autumn” song by Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues was a sensational Top 10 hit in 1978 and the musical has continued to delight audiences for 30 years. Images copyright
Yet now with H. G. Wells’ novel in public domain, MacPhearson reports on three unique adaptations that rise above and capture Wells’ pivot tale of surviving, love and sacrifice with far greater satisfaction than Wayne’s super saturated theatrics.
Above and below: Sherwood Sound Studios who have produced a very ambitious and faithful audio re-enaction of the original novel titled The Coming Of The Martians.
MacPhearson introduces Sherwood Sound Studios who have produced a very ambitious and faithful audio re-enaction of the original novel titled The Coming Of The Martians. “This is very impressive,” says MacPhearson. “It’s a slow start yes, but when it gets into the grit of the story itself the sound and acting keeps you glued to your headphones from start to finish.”
Above: The award winning universally acclaimed, “War Of The Worlds The True Story,” on Amazon Prime.
Next MacPhearson shares the astonishing history of Pendragon Pictures’ adaptation (which includes backstory of the director and his family being stalked by fans and competitors) that leads to the best of all adaptations ever made, War of the Worlds The True Story; famed scifi feminist director Timothy Hines’ quintessential triumphant.
Above: The award winning universally acclaimed, “War Of The Worlds The True Story,” on Amazon Prime.
“This work which makes volumes for man’s ability not only to adapt but to persevere” professes MacPhearson. “War of the Worlds The True Story basically re-edits everything from the original film into a masterpiece mockumentary surrounding the interview of the last survivor of the martian invasion, knitted together with found footage declassified from British vaults. The effects were updated and spliced with footage from Pendragon’s original film and old film to create a very powerful and moving piece that emotionally grabs you from start to finish and it’s worthy of every award received and Hines deserves much praise for creating a Magnus Opus…”
Above: The award winning universally acclaimed, “War Of The Worlds The True Story,” on Amazon Prime.
MacPhearson goes on to praise Timothy Hines for his perseverance in creating the most beloved movie version of War of the Worlds, “This work which makes volumes for the man’s (Hines’) out of what to all intents and purposes was originally a disaster even his most vile critics could not help be impressed by this work which makes volumes for the man’s ability not only to adapt but to persevere i put this on the list for several reasons.
Above: The award winning universally acclaimed, “War Of The Worlds The True Story,” on Amazon Prime.
“1: Fans of the Great Martian War take heed, Tim (Hines) did it first and he did it more realistically with half the budget. 2: I’m emotionally invested in the survivor story. It’s not a mere narration of doom and gloom, it’s a genuine retelling of his experiences which will genuinely make you cry at the end. And 3 it’s an inspiring piece of work that will inspire any young budding director that no matter how much they fall down no matter how much they might fail, to keep going, to keep learning and to never, ever give up on your perfect dream
“War of the Worlds The True Story is as close to a perfect film adaptation of The War of the Worlds you’re ever going to get. And given half the chance, one viewing of this should give your praise to the musical some run for its money.”
Above: Orson Welles infamous radio broadcast of The War Of The Worlds on Halloween eve 1938.
Finally MacPhearson goes straight back to the Orson Welles radio show adaptation, the first world popular adaptation of War of the Worlds, “Orson Welles original production broadcast Halloween night in 1938 bought the entire north west of America to a standstill. Geniusly crafted as an up to the minute live broadcast presented with dramatized news broadcast and the odd interruption of musical interludes,
one cannot fault the acting, the sound effects, the very atmosphere of a world falling apart in real time around your ears.
Above: You might say the first fake news was when Orson Welles broadcast a version the HG Wells classic story presented as a series of news reports and people believed it was real.
“The eerie house of the fighting machine says they march up in New York street spreading their black dust down onto a screaming population mixed in with the sound of panicking car horns and boat horns still haunts me to this day and remember all this was done literally live and on set in real time no cuts no redos no second chances if they messed up and they didn’t not a beat is missed in this nightmarish retelling of the martian holocaust.”
Media Contact
Company Name: Pendragon Pictures
Contact Person: Susan Goforth
Email: Send Email
Phone: 1+ 310-480-0837
City: Los Angeles
State: CA
Country: United States
Website: www.pendragonpictures.com