The War Of The Worlds - 50th Anniversary


(4.9 stars; 8 reviews)

A slightly updated version of Howard Koch's classic script, broadcast in 1988 for the 50th Anniversary of Orson Welles' classic broadcast. Professor Richard Pierson ... Jason Robards News Anchorman ... Steve Allen Senior Commentator ... Douglas Edwards Rose Butler ... Terry Gross Carl Phillips ... Scott Simon Captain Lansing ... Rene Auberjonois The Stranger ... Hector Elizondo Gene Morgan ... Philip Proctor Charlie Wilmuth ... Sydney Walker General Smith ... Charles A. Martinet Lieutenant Voght ... Joe Paulino Newswoman ... Mary Dilts Reporter ... Don West Reporter ... Mary Fallow Reporter ... Michael Skoler Written by Howard Koch Additional Dialogue by Terry Gross. Michael Skoler and members of the Company Adapted and Directed by David Ossman Sound Design by Randy Thom Originally presented by WGBH Radio, Boston

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

Chapters

The War of the Worlds 58:44

Reviews

Wonderful Re-creation That's Faithful to the Original


(4 stars)

This is National Public Radio's 1988 updating of the original 1938 Mercury Theater Broadcast of "The War of the Worlds." There has been some minor script rewriting to make it fit NPR’s audio milieu, including the annoying pledge drive badgering. Oddly, they left in some traces of 1938 dialogue that will probably be lost even on well-educated NPR listeners. For example, “2X2L calling CQ” might only be understood by amateur radio hobbyists today. Many of the NPR stars (circa 1988) appear in the various roles. Their performances are passable but never on par with the Mercury actors, who were accustomed to the nuances of radio acting. Even when the NPR voices are in the familiar territory of news announcing, they read horrific descriptions of Marian invaders wiping out hundreds of people with a death ray like they’re reading a weather forecast. The exception is Jason Robards' performance in the Orson Wells role. Robards makes no attempt to imitate Wells but gives superior reading. Of course, we have to remember Orson was only 23 in 1938 while Robards was 66 when this update was recorded, and he is playing a character more appropriate to his age. The stereo mix of sound effects and music is an adequate but not terribly imaginative. For example, there's no attempt to bring the heat ray to life with sound effects. It’s a worthy stereo update in high fidelity.

Truly thrilling


(5 stars)

Kudos to NPR for recreating one of the most infamous radio dramas in history