The War of the Worlds (1953)

The War of the Worlds Movie Poster Country United States Directed by Byron Haskin Release Date April 3, 1953 Language English Studio Paramount Pictures Distributor Paramount Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Doctor Clayton Forrester Gene Barry Sylvia van Buren Ann Robinson Major General Mann Les Tremayne Doctor Pryor Bob Cornthwaite Doctor Bilderbeck Sandro Giglio Doctor Matthew Collins Lewis Martin

The War of the Worlds is the 1953 film adaptation of the famous H.G. Wells novel of the same name. Widely regarded as one of the best science-fiction novel-to-film adaptations, the film does take several creative liberties with the original story, namely the location of the film taking place in California instead of the United Kingdom, the setting in the then-present day 1950s rather than the 1890s, and many of the title characters that appear in the novel being completely absent in the film adaptation. Nevertheless, the film garnered much critical acclaim and status that still continues to this day.

Another film adaptation starring Tom Cruise and directed by Steven Spielberg was released in 2005.

The following weapons were used in the film The War of the Worlds:

Rifles

M1 Carbine

M1 Carbines are used by the USMC and the US Army soldiers.

World War II-era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WW2, shown with khaki sling and Magazine pouch for buttstock

US Army soldiers are seen armed with their M1 Carbines.

M1 Garand

USMC and US Army soldiers also carry M1 Garand.

M1 Garand with leather M1917 sling - .30-06 Springfield

Machine Guns

Browning M1919A4

Browning M1919A4s are used by the USMC Machine Gun Platoon.

Browning M1919 .30-06 on M2 tripod

Several USMC personnel are seen with their Browning M1919s at the ready in anticipation for the upcoming battle.

Browning M1919A4 on an M31C pedestal mount - .30-06

The Browning M1919A4 as seen folded up on the Jeep as the US military prepares to set up a base of operations at the crash site of the Martian meteor.

Browning M2HB

Used by the USMC machine gun platoon.

Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG

Other

M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)

M20 "Super Bazooka" launchers are used by the USMC and the US Army soldiers.

Chinese Type 51, a copy of the M20A1 "Super Bazooka" - 3.5"

Several US soldiers fire their M20 "Super Bazookas" at the Martian war machines during the first battle in the film.

Mortar

A USMC Mortar Platoon is equipped with mortars.

M2 60mm Mortar

The USMC soldiers fire their M2 Mortars at the Martian war machines during the first battle in the film.

Trivia

• The "Flying Wing" is a Northrop YB-49 which predates the present-day B-2 Spirit of the same manufacturer. The flight scenes are original test flight footage.