The Title Sequence of The War of the Worlds (1953)

 

The title sequence of The War of the Worlds (1953) is in my view one of the finest title sequences conceived. Military stenciling flashes repeatedly, hypnotically, in changing colors, fast dissolves, and swipes of various shapes, all against an unchanging black background. In fact the titles clearly were conceived to mimic or reflect the quality of the film's vast, colorful, epic battles.

Following a montage of scratched footage from both World Wars showing the evolution of weaponry, accompanied by a stirring voice-over call to arms by Paul Frees in his most solemn, adamant voice, the Leith Stevens’ impressive martial score begins with a crash and flaring horns as “The War of the Worlds” in red military stencil lettering appears in a smash cut, rising in a mere second to fill the screen; then the lettering changes into green;

This is followed by a circular iris swipe that reveals yellow stenciling “Based on the novel by H.G. Wells”;

Another circular swipe reveals the cast names in green, which then flash yellow rapidly then back to green;

A horizontal swipe from the left reveals in blue stencil “Screenplay by Barré Lyndon”;

Followed by a swipe revealing more blue lettering listing technical crew;

Another vertical swipe from the top reveals pulsating, flashing purple letters with more crew;

Another swipe from the top showing in flashing orange and yellow stenciling the composer and associate producer;

Another swipe with flashing red letters reveal the special effects artists;

Swipe again this time with flashing red and white letters “Produced by George Pal” right into “Directed by Byron Haskin.”

Now that you've read a description in words, please view the real thing. This YouTube.com site with tens of thousands of views is dedicated to presenting the 1953 The War of the Worlds title sequence: 

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