Battle of the Worlds (1961) Claude Rains (Vintage public domain classic sci-fi)

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A stray planet on a collision course with Earth instead takes orbit around our blue marble. What seems like a dead planet suddenly launches a fleet of flying saucers which attack our space fleets.
Starring:
Claude Rains - Prof. Benson
Bill Carter - Cmdr. Bob Cole
Umberto Orsini - Dr. Fred Steele
Maya Brent - Eve Barnett

[@rexharrison6827]

Claude Rains carries this entire film on his shoulders. He's a joy to watch. He reminds me of any number of curmudgeonly characters to be found in Robert Heinlein books. The premise is interesting. Not new, and still used but the execution here is fascinating. For some reason I'm reminded of some scenes in 2001.

[@CharismaticMegafauna]

I love how Claude Rains just never stopped being adorable.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

You people who are dissing Claude Rains here; you are SO wrong. His portrayal here of an eccentric but brilliant scientist is AMAZING.

[@MatthewOfLondon]

PointyTailofSatan exactly. And made it watchable.

[@antidotenyhc6562]

Claude Rains, what a treasure. He started acting in films kind of late, in his 30s or so..was acting instructor for Golden Age of Hollyoods best actors..and was convinced by them to start getting into films. The Invisible Man, Mystery of Edwin Drood, Angel on My Shoulder (plays Lucifer), are 3 of his best.

[@barrymcgovern3666]

What a brilliantly eccentric performance from Claude Rains.

[@DrQuadrivium]

Claude Rains held this movie together but my favourite character is the dog. Long may a copy survive... Gyroscopes at full power :-) !!!

[@CarlMakesItEasy]

1:22:38 Doggie! :'( Love the way these old movies ended with the "closing music".. it's something special about these classic films especially sci-fi and drama!

[@paulchristman2456]

These old Italian space operas are actually pretty cool. They have an eccentric charm all their own. Their weakest suit is the clumsy English dubbing. Antonio Margheriti directed some impressive films. His forte, however, was gothic horror, and not so much science fiction, although this film is thoroughly enjoyable.

[@wolfmannoon]

I love these foreign Sci-Fi movies think they're great many thanks for posting!!!

[@graemesmith6721]

Rains is absolutely wonderful, a mathematical genius who so disdains machines he even lights his cigars the old-fashioned way, with a match. He dwells in a world of pure thought, occasionally descending from that lofty sphere to grant the rest of us mere mortals some paltry scrap of his towering insight. And yet, he displays the child-like joy of knowing, even in the face of death, for as he says at the end, "what importance does life have...if to live means not to know?"

[@evansalik1331]

The character you describe is the Masonic Lucifer. Lives in a realm of pure thought, decends down with information for us mortals. The lighting of the cigar with a match is the clencher, that definitely deserves the light bearer, but something tells me you already knew that.

[@Carly8Corday]

@@evansalik1331 I dunno, something told me he DIDN'T know that, that he may believe the actor and the character are one. Like how George Reeve had x-ray vision. Oftentimes, deeply invested hardcore fans do in fact insist on ascribing character traits from a movie to the hapless gifted thespian who played her/him. You can't tell what's kidding and what's not, these days. There's no APP for that. (Yeah, I just had to say it. Now to go scrub my typing finger with a Brillo pad.)

[@akiraman26]

poor dog at the end knew his friends gone

[@JunoPeter2]

ThankYou for up loading this I haventb seen it for years. one of the best Italan scifi rocket movies

[@orange70383]

Claude Rains redeems this movie.

[@fabulousgerro661]

Claude did make some good movies. Lest we forget..

[@Carly8Corday]

Nobody has forgotten Claude Rains, are you serious? (I once even saw in KZbin comments a tearful lament as to how underrated Bette Davis was... Yep. We people here, believe it or not, are not a fan base unto ourselves. We're barely the tips of the ice burgs. Lest we forget.)

[@PointyTailofSatan]

Rains is AWESOME in this movie. Wonderous!

[@wotan237]

Love how everyone falls over themselves to offer Claude a light......

[@MegaWam1]

Nothing like using a sound weapon in outer space.

[@jamiewillkner8742]

The explosion at the end was like the beginning of Crawling Hand!

[@Alfa011]

Nice movie. Appreciate its upload very much.

[@erreemebeerreemebe8178]

Claude Rains makes an awesome character.

[@marcbrasse747]

IN DEFENCE OF THIS MOVIE: I could write a whole essay about this but in short: In spite of its cheap and cheerfull look and some bad acting it is actually rather sceintificaly correct and also makes some deep comments about the human condition. One of the best oneliner gems in it is: "It is easy to tell the truth but it is impossible to be believed!" (26:30 min) And what about its references towards power struggle politics? Of course (Spoiler Alert!) the military will rather blow up the alien planet even after it has been proven that the threat no longer exists. So there goes another brlliant mind and an endless treasure chest of advanced alien knowledge. Nowadays most poeple would probbaly want to solve a conflict by blowing everything up. Oops, now that is actually what still happens in every war, now is it? Ecce Homo! So my advice is: Leave behind your preconceptions and watch it again!

[@orange70383]

Bad acting, Claude Rains is outstanding.

[@davidvanbrink9347]

This is one of my favorite movies. Everything you said. Also: It's actually good science fiction. Also: Music!

[@082207]

Scientific.

[@Alan-rh1el]

That was an unexpected treat as stated in other comments Claude Rains was brilliant,thanks for posting.

[@MegaWam1]

They sent the professor's mug to the dog pound. Nobody claimed it. Now he is with the professor. Light up a cigar!

[@wpankey57]

Had to ace this one 6 minutes in.

[@antonnym214]

Wonderful! Thank you!

[@25411959]

I love that great opening theme!

[@rossklatte7073]

@ 59:48 "It's a terrible drawn-out agony for the whole world." My dear, are you referring to this movie?

[@1Cruzer4u]

For the time Special Effects were impressive.

[@Moronvideos-dk2ib]

Love these old Japanese movies .........!!!!

[@orange70383]

At 1:09:50 their simulated walking by bobbing side to side is one of the most rediculas things I've seen in a movie.

[@Carly8Corday]

Not to mention RIDICULOUS.

[@marciareuter1264]

The classic move are the best

[@jeffdowler9130]

people do you remember an old sci-fi that these people were in this automobile trying every which way to go down roads, up an down hills and they always ended up facing this tall tower that was going to destroy everything. And the time kept getting shorter an shorter.

[@keylock9064]

I was hit by a large overdose of Gama Rays and a very cold and dry Martini when I watched this. I believe the music is what did me in.

[@JohnSmith-td7hd]

That classic sudden ending.

[@eddstarr2185]

Amazing! A movie from 1961 showing the Earth threatened by an alien computer. The aliens are dead but their autopilot lives on!

[@sansserif8839]

SPOILER

[@eyecomeinpeace2707]

Interesting how the outsider parallels a strange object that is passing through our solar system now in 2017. A strange 1400 meter long and 40 meter wide thing is travelling through space at incredible speeds and will pass by earth at a safe distance and will exit our solar system safely.

[@the3rdreichneverdied758]

Yes, a very good movie from the good old days.

[@williamleahy8385]

I'm shocked to learn that gambling is going on in this space ship.

[@mjc11a]

Entertaining film. Thanks for posting.

[@blipcat3382]

The most tangible characters in this movie, were the plants in the arboretum.

[@godgunsandgoldens]

Wow, first scene man hears woman calling to him from under water.😊

[@LordZontar]

One of those movies that's bad enough to be laughable, yet has a fairly good idea at the core of it, so it's still worth watching. Would've made good fodder for MST3K.

[@jimmyduncan7650]

LordZontar don't laugh. nibiru is on its way............ha ha!! 🚀

[@nerd1059]

New sub. Great job. Please find more dusty archives to post. Thanks!

[@yuckfooh9299]

Concept of gyroscopes at maximum misunderstanding.

[@marcbrasse747]

+Yuck Fooh I have to be carefull I used the exact sceintific terms but this is how I understand it: A gyroscope can be used to turn a spaceship because only a little bit of inertia is enough to move or re-allign an object in zero gravity. Basically you could move a planet with your little finger if you where the only force working on it. So spin up a gyroscope and then suddenly force it out of it's plane of rotation. Since action is equal to reaction the inertia will then turn the ship. Not a very quick way though. That's probbaly why chemical thrusters where used in true space flight. So no wonder they have trouble turning in time. The principle is still sound though.

[@yuckfooh9299]

+Marc Brassé _(Just a silly joke Marc)_

[@marcbrasse747]

I sure hope you where! :-)

[@lindalcoomes]

At least the poor pup is ok.

[@billywheaton9952]

oldclassics.tv is no longer in existence

[@moogdome2562]

When the Aliens land in Italy, they can look forward to Ice cream, Pizza, spaghetti, ravioli, Sophia Loren, and Gina Lorabrigida.Bella Bella.Why do I think of ED Wood jnr while watching this?

[@antidotenyhc6562]

If I was Steele, I'd trade calculus groupie Eve in for some of that Black Widow in a fraction of a light year.

[@antidotenyhc6562]

It's the same in all Sci-fi films of the era, man finally encounters alien life and civilization, and can't find enough ways to destroy it fast enough. Techno jealousy, fear of higher intelligence.

[@tomj54]

"I have one advantage over all of you: calculus." 10:16

[@christrotter3052]

.....where his heart should've been.... Mind....blown

[@Cyberdactyl]

This was originally titled, _"Flight of the old geezers"_

[@Carly8Corday]

Redundant! One of those would have to go in the destructor tunnel, and that always seems so cruel, so much kinder to avoid redundancies in the first place, as if the accidental extra life were your own.

[@auroreboreale]

Same spaceships and effects as in "War between the planets" !

[@tomhamilton1562]

A good nice movie

[@DavidRobertLewis]

If the opened up his chest, the would have found a formula where his heart should have been." Wonderfully dramatic 60s scifi shlock.

[@darylcumming7119]

Spaghetti , or former Soviet / American low budget sci- fi ?

[@moogdome2562]

Seems work for Claude ''RAINS,'' dried up when he was in sunny Italy.

[@Carly8Corday]

He should have consulted you about that. Too bad.

[@davidcarlson2152]

Wikipedia says the language is Italian, but the lips are pronouncing English words. I haven't been so bewildered since yesterday.

[@yuckfooh9299]

+David Carlson I found that odd too, but what I find more baffling is why these heroes who saved our World are not even acknowledged, except in this rather poorly made documentary.

[@davidcarlson2152]

Yuck Fooh Good point.

[@marcbrasse747]

+David Carlson Bee boop! Claude Rains is a british actor. His Itialian was probably not up to scratch. It was actually done more often this way then one would think since almost all Italian filmswhere actually sychronized anyway, even those in Italian, probably becuase they found it easier and cheaper to do then always secure total set silence. Imagine Cinecita in it's heyday. Your astronaut dangles out in space and suddenly you can hear "Ave Ceasar" being yelled through the cardboard starry sky because they are making a sword and sandal movie next door. Want another funny example? Have a look at Starcrash: At the end of about the only sentence spoken by The Hoff that was not re-synchrionized in the english version you can hear how loud all those fake leather thight space suits creacked:-)

[@yuckfooh9299]

Marc Brassé _(pssst Marc, Mr Carlson was making a funny joke)._ Aside from that did you enjoy the film? I love this era sci-fi.

[@marcbrasse747]

I din't take what he wrote wrong either. Like I said: It's a movie that has a lot to offer under it's seemingly cliched surface. :-)

[@MegaWam1]

Inversion course Captain! We up sheets creek Captain. Aaaaeeeeee! Boom! Captain.

[@MegaWam1]

I want a piece of that Black Widow! Mama Mia!

[@higgsmerino3925]

So bad, it's a wonder no one breaks character and laughs. Truly wretched. Try it. "Gyroscope at maximum, too. . . Inversion!" "Don't look at me like that. I'm not insane!"

[@60Pagoda]

Part of the Gamma 1 Quadrilogy from director Antonio Margheriti. If you like it or are otherwise interested a quick google search will reveal info on 4 of the Best-worst scifi movies ever made.

[@joshxkerrigan]

jenova 7 & mr moods 1:01:20

[@mediatom98]

Spartan King yang

[@protagonistsguild1497]

soundcloud.com/jenova-7/smooth-jazz-backup

[@mikeshvulco]

cheers

[@mikeshvulco]

1:02:15

[@ronaldstokes4841]

What a shame to see an actor of the stature of Claude Rains in such a low budget movie.

[@letunityblossom5733]

Poor professor :(

[@WakandaBabe]

Claude Rains must have needed the money.

[@CaptainTripp]

Ya know ,this movie isn't half bad after a coupla good bowls....

[@m50halifax5]

sounds like planet x

[@miked1311]

Watch SPACE THING INVADES EARTH

[@DenisMorissetteJFK]

2:56: Fixing her underwears.

[@alphaomega8373]

Denis doesn't miss anything lol

[@orgami100]

Hope it's "Victoria Secret"

[@ufoengines]

Cool! Thanks for this post . I remember as a kid models of these various spacecraft could be bought mail order with a Cheerios box top or something so I suppose it was some sort of a merchandise tie in to this flick . I asked my mom if she would get me one and she said if I helped her out with some house work chores she kick in with the dough to place the order. I decided I didn't want one that bad and went outside to ride my bike . Not all us boomer had Steve Jobs drive and ambition. TO INFINITY AND BEYOUND! Patents 672256, 3190554, 3013505 .

[@Carly8Corday]

You take the trophy for Understatement of the Decade, LOLOL, and a gold medal for saying something RIGHT OUT that went WITHOUT SAYING.

[@tomj54]

that was my point.

[@mirandamoonshine]

I only needed a few tokes Mr WatMeWorry...but damned funny what? !

[@bartroberts3634]

the 56 thumbs down must be shocked by all the violence and sex within the first 5 mins!Don't ya hate it when that happens?

[@1950boots]

So Corny, they are great!

[@SilentiaLunae]

Almost in time for Dec. 21 and the end of the world.... here come the aliens! I dare you to watch the whole thing! Some of the worst acting I've ever seen, but gives an interesting look at the technology and attitudes towards extra-terrestrials from the early 1960s. Also a good exercise for my intermediate English students. - the Prof.

[@jeffreyremick4387]

SilentiaLunae 3

[@OneSon744]

Filmed 2D fuzzz vision. Nope!

[@royseibel511]

Spaghetti SciFi

[@ConcupiscentCalamity]

mi scusi, mah bruddera issa una asshola. Duh lasta tenna secondi shure fuckuppa dah moovi - dey arra duh mosta lame tenna secondi inna moovi historia.... for alla time!

[@roybennett1411]

Terrible film but, I love it.

[@Lazarus0357]

Not even Claude Rains can make this crap work! Regards

[@deathmerchant8662]

260p really?? and I thought the movie was old👎👎👎

[@RangerInParadise]

OMG this is a TERRIBLE movie! LOL But, being a lover of 50s and 60s low-budget, B, camp-galore flicks I love it! And no I do not love self-flagellation too.

[@jeffcopestake7863]

I didn't think it was very good when I saw it in the 60's,and my opinion hasn't changed !

[@irish89055]

How did Mr Rains get involved with this turd...? Well, at least the next year he got in on Lawrence of Arabia

[@Carly8Corday]

What happened was, pure and simple and obvious, Mr. Rains forgot to consult you about the project, and VOILA! (Edging its way into the dictionary under "Walla!" owing to heavy use in very recent times what with people being "smarter than we were." Dammit, the language is being decimated! Good new is, it is NOT being decimated at all, because that is not the correct definition for decimate/decimation, but give it time, I'd says no more than days.

[@jscottupton]

Claude must have fallen fast and hard.

[@Carly8Corday]

It's good when you can keep your opinions in just two long columns, one for "either" and the other for "or," and that by being just one of many other pretentious deciders in our culture, you're able to cherish and believe every word you say by simply considering the source. Now read up a little bit on the Dunning-Kruger effect. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt! It's almost unheard-of for a narcissist to spot himself.

[@fritagogo1]

;-)

[@robertszvetics210]

oh my god claude you should of retired

[@michaelpage7691]

Academy award material…..NOT. I admit it’s funny. 🤣

[@haroldmcbroom7807]

A lot of cultic overtones in this film. The "Outsider" is just an esoteric reference to the word they intentionally refrain from using, "Lucifer". In the Bible it says the anti-Christ will come disguised as an "Angel of Light" and it was implied by Professor Benson that if you open up this thing, you'll find the populous of the race, along with the reference to whom they could possibly be, why they left, and why they are attracted to Earth. There is a myth, I'm not quite sure of it's origin, that is in relation to the great battle in heaven, and what we do know from the Word of God, is that Satan was cast out of Heaven and given his kingdom, because he couldn't take it from God, but there are adaptations to the story to deceive people, claims that there was a rebellion among slaves in God's Kingdom... The rest of the story I'm not familiar with, nor do I waste my time with old Kabala fairytales, but base my knowledge of only what is in the Word of God, for God did not give to the Jews anything secret that He has not shared with the Gentiles; Salvation came to the Gentiles through the disobedience of Israel, that we may bring them to jealousy, that they will accept Jesus Christ, because they have said in their hearts, "We have God, and God is all that we need!", but if you do not have the Son, as well you do not have the Father, but he who has the Son, has the Father as well.

[@davidmartin123]

Jeremiah 31:37 Thus says the Lord: If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, says the Lord. (Amp)

[@antidotenyhc6562]

If Christianity is about 'Love and Forgiveness of Sins', where's Lucifers love and forgiveness at? Doesn't the devil, the anthropomorphic being responsible for the creation of Christianity, who without him in the role of Eternal Scapegoat would not even have reason to exist, merit any forgiveness?

[@wynecrawford9826]

Thers always bad acting in Spaghetti sci fi movies

[@johnanton6095]

This really sucks bad

[@davemorin-if3wk]

this movie sucked

[@heru-deshet359]

I can't believe the Great Claude Rains would stoop to be in such a horrible production!

[@curtisclary9911]

The science in this is poor at best. Planet enter solar system from other "galaxies ". How ignorant. 🤯

[@Carly8Corday]

You must gave missed SPACE PROBE TAURUS (1965). It would drive the "ignorance" that got splashed on you plumb out of your head right from the start as it narrates majestically, "Far beyond Earth's universe..." and schools young moviegoers as to how the planets in our solar system are each separated by billions of miles and how an unattractive guy can make himself "puckish" (Adj. that means "elfin" and "funster" and "the guy everybody loves") by rubbing the front of himself up against the back of the only woman on board, a beauty half his age. Besides...who the hell says no planet ever entered our solar system from another galaxy? I hereby declare and adjudge you a fully obnoxious example of the ancient schoolyard proverb, what-you-say-is-what-you-are.

[@bckm54]

hehe...gawd that was awful... :)

[@maneater119]

Couldn't get past 5 mins. I hope both worlds were obliviated.

[@lissaleggs4136]

Promethius....1.0