Invaders from Mars and Beyond

The Martians are Coming!!! The Martians are Coming!!!

Today marks the seventy-eighth anniversary of Orson Welles’ infamous 1938 Radio broadcast that panicked America. In order to commemorate this anniversary, and wish our dear readers a Happy Halloween, we would like to offer you a very unique triple treat of panic and mayhem.

Our first treat for you today the movie titled "The Night That Panicked America" an American made-for-television movie that was originally broadcast on the ABC network on October 31, 1975. The movie dramatizes events surrounding Orson Welles’ infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast (based on the novel of the same name by English author H.G. Wells) of October 30, 1938, which had led some people to believe that an invasion of Martians was actually happening in Grover's Mill, New Jersey.

Our second and third video features for today are two documentaries that recently aired which take a scientific look at the possible motivations behind an alien invasion of our world and how humanity may hope to defend itself.

"The Night That Panicked America" WNEW 5 New York Big Apple Movie

The Night That Panicked America is an American made-for-television movie that was originally broadcast on the ABC network on October 31, 1975. The movie dramatizes events surrounding Orson Welles' famous - and infamous - War of the Worlds radio broadcast (based on the novel of the same name by English author H.G. Wells) of October 30, 1938, which had led some Americans to believe that an invasion of Martians was occurring in New Jersey.
The Night That Panicked America tells the story of the 1938 broadcast from the point of view of Welles and his associates as they create the broadcast live, as well as from the points of view of a number of different fictional American families, in a variety of locations and from a variety of social classes, who listened to the broadcast and believed the imaginary Martian invasion was actually occurring, with some people even committing suicide.

The movie starred, among others, Michael Constantine, Meredith Baxter-Birney, Tom Bosley, Eileen Brennan, Vic Morrow, Will Geer, and John Ritter. Paul Shenar played Orson Welles.

Some local stations in various areas of the United States have annually rebroadcast this made-for-TV movie on October 30, the anniversary of the original radio broadcast or on October 31, which is Halloween. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction praised the film's recreation of events in the radio studio, but was unimpressed by its depiction of the resulting panic, calling it "a routine disaster movie with hackneyed characters reacting in predictable ways."
The film has never been issued on home video in any format.

The Welles broadcast and the reaction to it had earlier been dramatized in The Night America Trembled, a live presentation that aired on Studio One (September 9, 1957). The cast of this top-rated TV recreation of Welles' radio broadcast included Alexander Scourby, Ed Asner and Warren Oates. James Coburn made his television debut, and John Astin appeared uncredited as a reporter. In one of his earliest acting roles, Warren Beatty appeared in the bit part of a card-playing college student.

The National Geographic Channel's When Aliens Attack

What if an extra-terrestrial force attacked Earth? What might they look like and how will the people of Earth respond? Consulting a cast of world-renowned scientists (physicist Travis Taylor), survival experts and defence experts (Nick Pope), this two-hour special, Alien Invasion explores this frightening scenario.

National Geographic - When Aliens Attack 

WHEN ALIENS ATTACK - Alien/UFO/Extraterrestrial... by artforall101


Curiosity "Alien Invasion: Are We Ready?

We've read the books, we've seen the movies. War of the Worlds, V, Independence Day. But they're all fiction, right? Well, probably not. New science is suggesting that aliens may be very real, and that they may not be as cuddly as E.T. Host Michelle Rodriguez (Avatar, Battle: LA) brings together top scientists, military strategists and writers to dramatize what would happen if and when aliens attacked.

Curiosity - S01E02 - Alien Invasion Are We Ready by bdtmz Copyright Disclaimer Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.