Gene Barry, the great actor of both film and television has passed away at the age of 90 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, California. The grandson of Jewish emigrants from Russia, Barry whose real name was Eugene Klass went on to a great career in films such as the great WAR OF THE WORLDS(1953) and memorable TV roles as the cool and suave Western star BAT MASTERSON(1959-1961) and in BURKE"S LAW(1963-1966, 1994-1995) and other roles.
Gene Barry became a little bit type cast as the cool and dandy gambler and marshal in BAT MASTERSON. The skillful actor played the role so well that no doubt many a young boy wanted to be a coolster like him. But before that role, his 1953 role in the excellent film adaption of H.G. Welles WAR OF THE WORLDS won him huge respect. This movie was one of the best science fiction movies ever produced. It was a simply excellent film.
In the 2005 remake of WAR OF THE WORLDS with actor Tom Cruise, Gene Barry had a cameo role. Yet in so many ways, the 2005 film just did not seem as fulfilling of a story as the original 1953 version. Some science fiction classics are so good that remakes just seem unable to top them in quality. According to Rotten Tomatoes the 1953 version draws an 84% approval from critics compared to 73% for the 2005 version. Both are great films, but the original 1953 version just seems like a greater film by far to me.
The 1953 film also had some interesting and important to the story references to both faith and God in the film. Actress Ann Robinson was raised by a minister who unsuccessfully attempted to reach out to the creatures from outer space in peace. The actress later sought refuge in a church when it appeared that the end of mankind was near. And when all Earth-produced weapons failed to penetrate the protective shields of the alien invaders, it was the tiny germs produced by God that were fatal to the aliens causing them illness and ultimate death. With these heavy spiritual story elements, this original WAR OF THE WORLDS had some unique story elements not seen in later films. The film strangely seems like a nearly Biblical account of a great crisis for mankind which would have resulted in the end of the human race without the intervention of God. This unique faith element is sorely missing in the other versions of WAR OF THE WORLDS and makes them appear to be less important films for this reason. The sense of urgency in the other films also suffers somewhat from this lack of a faith center in the other films. On some many levels this film works so well that it really helped to propel Gene Barry as an actor and earn him respect.
The 1953 film also had some interesting references to current technology. In one scene, the experimental Flying Wing YB-49 aircraft was used to unsuccessfully bomb the aliens. The Flying Wing aircraft project was actually dropped some years earlier, but the strange and futuristic design added a cool element to the film.
But in 1953, when George Pal was producing this film, the FCC approval for the RCA red-blue-green electronic color system for TVs won approval over a CBS whirling color disc system. This battle for color TV standard technology was such big news that the Martians in the film strangely seemed to reflect this news. Much of their technology not only came in three's, but the Martians own eyes and camera systems were based off a three color red-blue-green color system as well. Today, that NTSC color standard still remains for television technology.
Gene Barry was a terrific actor. One of the best. He leaves a great legacy of films and TV shows behind him as a testament to his terrific skills and absolute perfection and polish. He was a versatile and very serious actor whose last role was in that 2005 remake of WAR OF THE WORLDS. This great actor will be missed.
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