Download War of the Worlds PPT

War of the Worlds
Radio Drama
A brief overview …
War of The Worlds
Radio Dramatisation
Where:
•
Recorded on the 20th Floor of a high
rise in New York City.
•
BBC Studio.
•
1939 as a Halloween special
performance.
What:
• Dramatisation of novel by HG Wells of
explosions on Mars and an extra-terrestrial
attack (martians!) on New York City.
• Begins with a UFO (cylindrical object)
landing in a farm paddock in Grover’s Mill
(real location)
How:
• Recorded as a radio play with sound
effects. Fake news reports regularly
interrupted a musical performance giving
terrifying updates as the cylinder opened
and a creature emerged … and attacked.
Ends famously with a news reporter,
broadcasting from atop the CBS building,
describing the Martian invasion of New
York City – “five great machines” wading
across the Hudson River, poison smoke
drifting over the city, people running and
diving into the East River “like rats” others
“falling like flies” – until he too succumbs
to the poison gas.
Finally, a despairing ham radio operator is
heard calling:
”2X2L calling CQ. Isn’t there anyone on the
air? Isn’t there anyone on the air? Isn’t
there … anyone?”
Why was it so Effective?
• Atmosphere in US at the time was one of
tension and anxiety (prior to WWII)
• Realistic descriptions (Words/Images are
so powerful)
• Effective sound techniques.
How did the people react?
Due to pre-war atmosphere, people
believed it was an actual news broadcast.
Newspapers reported further.
Panic ensued with people calling CBS,
newspapers and police which added to the
confusion.
Across the Northeastern United States and
Canada people fled their homes (and
committed suicide).
What did the Radio Station Do?
They tried to reassure panicked listeners
that it was only a play.
BUT, people now suspected that the radio
station was simply trying to cover up the
truth.
Panic caused phone lines to become
blocked and a short circuit at a power
station caused electricity to go out …
which further added to the chaos.
How did it end?
Within one month, newspapers had
published 12,50 articles about the
broadcast and its impact.
Adolf Hitler (remember, this was 1939) used
this chaos and panic to his advantage by
stating it was, “evidence of the decadence
and corrupt condition of (U.S) democracy”
View/Listen
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf6omu
z1MrM&feature=fvwrel