October 30, 1938. A dynamic and highly dramatic contemporary adaptation of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" performed live on the radio by Orson Welles (a fine and credible portrayal by Paul Shenar) and the Mercury Theatre company causes mass panic all over the United States after many listeners mistake it for a real live broadcast.Director Joseph Sargent not only keeps the gripping story moving along at a snappy pace, but also builds a good deal of tension as well as offers a flavorsome and meticulous evocation of the late 1930's period setting. Moreover, the smart and compelling script by Nicholas Meyer and Anthony Wilson astutely captures the tense and paranoid atmosphere of a country that was on the cusp of World War II. The sturdy acting by the tip-top cast rates as another significant asset, with especially stand-out contributions from Vic Morrow as the sour Hank Muldoon, Eileen Brennan as the distraught Ann, Michael Constantine as no-nonsense farmer Jess Wingate, John Ritter as Wingate's eager son Walter, Will Geer as the stern Reverend Davis, Tom Bosley as antsy producer Norman Smith, and Burton Gilliam as the excitable Tex. Casey Kasem and Walter Edmiston are both terrific as members of the Mercury Theatre group. The sharp cinematography by Jules Brenner boasts several very impressive crane and tracking shots. An on the money TV movie.

In October of 1938, the world was on the brink of war and in the midst of a depression. People were frightened about the present an frightened about the future. One part of this movie, at least, is about fear - the fear felt by people facing tough situations and how easy it is to tap into that fear."The Night That Panicked America" is the story (accurately told for the most part) of the night of October 30, 1938. The CBS Radio Network and Orson Welles broadcast their version of H.G. Wells' "The War Of The Worlds." Largely taking the form of news broadcasts, and with people tuning in and out and not necessarily catching the disclaimer at the start, panic began to spread, as people heard the fake news reports and actually believed that Martians were attacking. The portrayal of mass hysteria is very interesting; how easy it was to convince people that this was real was actually rather frightening. I've seen estimates that about 6 million people heard the broadcast, 1.7 million of them believed it and 1.2 million were actually very frightened by what they thought was happening. Fascinating to think how easily manipulated the masses could be by someone deliberately setting out to do it - and, in 1938, CBS wasn't setting out to manipulate; they were just setting out to entertain with a scary Halloween Eve broadcast. Fascinating.The other interesting aspect of the movie is the technical side. It was also fascinating to see the re-creation of how a 1938 radio show was put together. That alone made this worthwhile viewing - especially to see what they did for something that we today would think of as being as simple as sound effects.Is this is a great movie? Probably not. It's not exactly what I would call riveting. But it is a good look both at early radio and at the phenomenon of mass hysteria. (7/10)

Had heard of the Radio Broadcast, and was intrigued by Orson Welles causing so much panic for the people who tuned in late. Enjoyed the hectic panic shown in the movie. This was also a good starring vehicle for Eileen Brennan, who attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts,at the same time as myself. She has a good comic ability, and handled herself well as one who is truly panicked. I felt the movie was a good laugh riot from start to finish. After seeing the movie, It made me even more sad for missing the original on Radio.

This was a very good movie. The acting was good, not too cheesy and not to serious. The characters were a bit shallow, but the movie rightfully paid more attention to the broadcast and the reactions, not character's motives.Great job by Paul Shenar as Orson Welles, and honorable mentions to both De Young and Bosley. Watch it if you can find it!