The War of the Worlds is an impressive and spectacular example of science-fiction hokum with just enough moments of adult horror to merit its "X" certificate. But I shudder to think of what will happen to us should the Martians ever learn to gargle.

Gaudily dressed in Technicolor, directed with all stops out by Byron Haskin, The War of the Worlds has been equipped by Barre Lyndon with a script Wells would probably be only too anxious to disown were he still around.

The War of the Worlds is designed for the credulous, the adolescent and the reader of make-believe "science" fiction. But it also has its moments for those who like to laugh at the strange and weird machinations of the Hollywood script writers.

Though the terrifying effect of the movie version has been somewhat lessened by the frequency of similar interplanetary yarns, it's still a wildly imaginative thing that'll give the science-fiction fans a good workout.