The War of the Worlds was one of a handful of high-prestige science fiction productions in a low-budget era, and initiated modern cinema's reliance on screen-filling special effects. Barry Forshaw analyses and celebrates this key science fiction film of the 1950s, exploring its literary origins and numerous film progeny.

1. Introduction.- 2. End of the World: The Original Novel.- 3. Wells by Welles: The Broadcast That Panicked America.- 4. The Invasions That Never Happened.- 5. Wells Refashioned: The George Pal Movie.- 6. Spawn of Mars: Offspring, offshoots, other versions.- 7. Remnants of Wells.- Bibliography.- Cast and Crew.- Index.

George Pal's adaptation of H D Wells seminal science fiction novel is more of a cult movie than a classic, notable for its special effects and model work. However, Forshaw makes a compelling case for its reassesment... by the end he has rekindled the reader's desire to see it again, and that is surely the primary purpose of such a book.' - Good Book Guide

"An indispensable part of every cineaste's bookcase" - Total Film"Possibly the most bountiful book series in the history of film criticism." - Jonathan Rosenbaum, Film Comment"Magnificently concentrated examples of flowing freeform critical poetry." - Uncut"The series is a landmark in film criticism." - Quarterly Review of Film and Video"A formidable body of work collectively generating some fascinating insights into the evolution of cinema." -Times Higher EducationCelebrating film for over 30 yearsThe BFI Film Classics series introduces, interprets and celebrates landmarks of world cinema. Each volume offers an argument for the film's 'classic' status, together with discussion of its production and reception history, its place within a genre or national cinema, an account of its technical and aesthetic importance, and in many cases, the author's personal response to the film.