On this day in  1953, PARAMOUNT PICTURES released THE WAR OF THE WORLDS. Directed by BYRON HASKIN, this big-screen adaptation of the H.G. WELLS story told on radio by ORSON WELLS’ MERCURY THEATER spun the tale of Earth’s invasion by Martians. Heading up the cast were GENE BARRY, LES TREMAINE, ANN ROBINSON, PAUL FREES and JACK KRUSCHEN. Classic 50’s sci-fi.