Steven Spieberg’s adaptation of “War of the Worlds” opens in theaters across the country today. The original novel by H.G. Wells detailed an alien invasion in Victorian England, a subversive undermining in the golden age of the British Empire.

Orson Welles created the infamous 1938 radio broadcast, which sent listeners into a state of panic when they believed that the news reports were real. The 1953 movie “The War of the Worlds” capitalized on the Cold War communist scare.

The events of 9/11 act as a backdrop to Steven Spielberg’s adaptation, which features an American family’s struggle to survive in a world of terrorists, and now, alien invaders.

Tune in for a conversation about H.G. Wells’ classic “War of the Worlds” and its meaning for the nation in different times of war.

Guests:

Sean Smith, senior writer, Newsweek;

Dan Dinello, independent filmmaker and film professor, Columbia College and author of the forthcoming book “Technophobia: Science Fiction Visions of Post Human Technology”;
Alex Lubertozzi, co-editor of “The Complete War of the Worlds”;
Michele Hilmes, professor of communications at the University of Wisconsin and author of “Radio Voices: American Broadcasting, 1922-1952.”