BATTLE OF THE WORLDS On Blu-ray From The Film Detective

 

In 2017, I wrote a blog post on BATTLE OF THE WORLDS, a 1963 American version of a Italian science-fiction film directed by Antonio Margheriti (under the name Anthony Dawson). In that post I stated that the film needed a proper official Blu-ray release. It now has one, courtesy of The Film Detective. 

BATTLE OF THE WORLDS is mostly known for two things: the numerous public domain home video releases of it, and the fact that it starred the great English actor Claude Rains. Rains plays a curmudgeonly scientist, who, in an unspecified future, uses his genius to help save Earth from an oncoming planet-like body he calls "The Outsider". 

BATTLE OF THE WORLDS isn't as flamboyant as Margheriti's later "Gamma One" series of sci-fi adventure films, but it has a few low-budget charms of its own, mainly Rains' performance. You can debate over whether Rains should have been in a movie like this, but there's no disputing that the grand actor gives his all for the production. 

The Film Detective's presentation of BATTLE OF THE WORLDS is stated to come from an original 35mm archival print, and it is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Visually I have to say that the colors lack vibrancy. It's better looking than the public domain versions and what you can find on YouTube, but the picture quality isn't spectacular. 

The disc does come with some nice extras. Inside the case is a ten-page booklet featuring an essay entitled "Margheriti's World" by Don Stradley. The essay is a casual discussion of BATTLE OF THE WORLDS and Antonio Margheriti's film making career, accompanied by shots from the film. 

Also included is a featurette called "A Cinematic Outsider: The Fantastical Worlds of Antonio Margheriti", produced by Ballyhoo Pictures. Tim Lucas narrates this half-hour program, which has plenty of stills and facts on Margheriti and his sci-fi output. It's very well done, and one wishes that it had been longer, and delved into Margheriti's entire life and overall career. 

Finally there's a new audio commentary by Justin Humphreys, who gives out plenty of info, analysis, and observation on just about everything involved in the production. It's a fine talk, helped by the fact that Humphreys is an admirer of the movie. 

BATTLE OF THE WORLDS isn't STAR WARS--heck, it's not even WILD, WILD PLANET--but where else are you going to be able to see Claude Rains in a full spacesuit?? The real reason to get this Blu-ray over the public domain versions are the extras--any serious discussions about Antonio Margheriti are welcome (and needed). Hopefully The Film Detective has plans to release other lesser-known science-fiction films from the mid-20th Century.