The director of The War of the Worlds (1953) admitted that science fiction ''was a curse'' on his career
"I was branded a mechanic, and everyone wanted me to do some kind of far-out picture with them."
Though Byron Haskin is perhaps best known as the director of The War of the Worlds (1953), he was a prolific Hollywood director with an incredibly storied background. Previously, Haskin had worked as the director on films like Marinee Ladies (1927) and Treasure Island (1950). After his work on The War of the Worlds, Haskin would go on to direct films like The Boss (1956) and Captain Sinbad (1963).
Still, the 1953 film remains a standout in Haskin’s career, for better or for worse. While many regard it as one of the most influential films of the time, Haskin felt it restricted him as a director.
“Science fiction almost ruined my career,” said Haskin during an interview with The Los Angeles Times. “It was a curse. I was branded a mechanic, and everyone wanted me to do some kind of far-out picture with them. I didn’t want to be limited to that. Actually, The War of the Worlds packed a bigger wallop without the special effects. To tell you the truth, I preferred making adventure films.”
Preference aside, working on The War of the Worlds taught Haskin a great deal about how to be the best director he could be.
“I learned to expect mistakes and to be prepared for them,” said Haskin. “Each director takes a completely different tack. The trick is to tell a story, not to be an exhibitionist. Too many directors will stop the flow of the story to do some kind of trickiness.”
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