The Great Martian War 1913–1917

The Great Martian War 1913–1917
Promotional poster
Genre	Alternate History Science Fiction
Based on	The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
Written by	Steve Maher Stephen Sarossy
Directed by	Mike Slee
Starring	Jock McLeod Joan Gregson Ian Downie Thomas Gough
Narrated by	Mark Strong
Country of origin	Canada, United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Michael Kot Steve Maher Mike Slee
Cinematography	Christopher Romeike
Running time	120 minutes
Release
Original network	History (European TV channel)
Original release	8 December 2013
External links
Website

The Great Martian War 1913–1917 is a 2013 Canadian/UK made-for-television science fiction film docudrama, produced by Michael Kot, Steve Maher, and Mike Slee, and also directed by Mike Slee, that unfolds in the style of an episode from the History TV Channel.

The film is, as presented, an alternate history of World War I in which Europe and its allies, including America, fight Martian invaders instead of Germany and its allies.

The film is based on the 1897 science fiction novel The War of the Worlds, by English author H. G. Wells, and includes both new and digitally altered film footage shot during the War to End All Wars to establish the scope of the interplanetary conflict. The film's original UK broadcast on 8 December 2013 happened during the first year of the World War I centennial; the film's 2014 US cable TV broadcast during the second year followed almost nine months later.

Combining period archive materials with state-of-the-art special effects, The Great Martian War 1913–1917 features "previously recorded" interviews with now aging or dead war veterans while looking back at the entire sweep of the interplanetary conflict. The war begins in the depths of Germany's Bohemian Forest, following a massive explosion and shock wave that is felt by the rest of Europe. Elements of the German army are sent to investigate and are wiped out. The German government makes a panicked appeal for military assistance in fighting what turns out to be a powerful, non-human invading force thought to be from Mars.

As the conflict unfolds, the film showcases the devastation of Western Europe, where a rag-tag human alliance digs in against monstrous Martian fighting machines, unaware that deep flaws exist in their military leadership's central battle strategy. Across the Atlantic, the film outlines the political battle for the White House as president Woodrow Wilson struggles to maintain U. S. neutrality, all the while sending aid to the beleaguered European alliance. From the skies over central London, where biplanes battle a towering alien tripod, to the war’s catastrophic final act, the Allies, now standing on the brink of total defeat by the alien invaders, must decide if launching an untested and potentially devastating secret weapon is worth risking the lives of millions and causing a global pandemic.