The residents of a small town are excited when a flaming meteor lands in the hills, until they discover it is the first of many transport devices from Mars bringing an army of invaders invincible to any man-made weapon, even the atomic bomb.

As one of the defining blueprints for science fiction and alien invasion movies, H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds (1953) is a stunning thriller that blends visual style with meaningful themes. Set in a small American town, scientist Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry) and Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson) come in contact with a meteor. Suddenly, a horrifying Martian invasion takes place and overtakes the humans! What follows next is a deep reflection on war anxiety in the 1950s and the everlasting question of humanity’s place in the universe. Made for the big screen in glorious Technicolor, this magnificent film is renowned for its groundbreaking and Academy Award-winning special effects, as well as its indelible stamp on the sci-fi genre. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience it on the big screen! -TORONTO FILM SOCIETY