This episode of "Studio One" can be great fun for fans of early television just by providing an early glimpse at some future stars. We relive what happened to the population in the Eastern U.S.A. on the night of Orson Welles radio broadcast of "The War of the Worlds." The show features really an epic cast of characters, with no one storyline dominating the proceedings.
We experience the effect the broadcast had on various elements of society, including a group of card-playing frat boys, some policemen and most poignantly, a young girl babysitting some children. The story itself can actually hold one's interest, but unfortunately the action comes to a halt when Ed Murrow steps in to put the story in context. He even at times seems ready to crack up or at least break a smile, especially when he cuts in on scenes of Martian-fearing citizens.
And how amazing is it that this was all done live, with no second chances for anyone either in front of or behind the cameras. This also gives the show and immediacy and more than a little nervous electricity. And much fun can be had by spotting all the familiar faces.
We experience the effect the broadcast had on various elements of society, including a group of card-playing frat boys, some policemen and most poignantly, a young girl babysitting some children. The story itself can actually hold one's interest, but unfortunately the action comes to a halt when Ed Murrow steps in to put the story in context. He even at times seems ready to crack up or at least break a smile, especially when he cuts in on scenes of Martian-fearing citizens.
And how amazing is it that this was all done live, with no second chances for anyone either in front of or behind the cameras. This also gives the show and immediacy and more than a little nervous electricity. And much fun can be had by spotting all the familiar faces.