Synopsis
'The Night that Panicked America' depicts the story of the 1938 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast by Orson Welles' legendary Mercury Theatre. The radio broadcast alarmed American families across the country who believed the alien attack was actually occurring. The Night That Panicked America stars Paul Shenar (Scarface, The Big Blue) as Welles, Meredith Baxter-Birney ("Family Ties"), Tom Bosley ("Happy Days"), Eileen Brennan (The Sting, Private Benjamin), Vic Morrow ("Combat!," Bad News Bears), John Ritter ("Three's Company," "8 Simple Rules"), Michael Constantine (The Hustler, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Will Geer ("The Waltons"). Garnering Emmy nods for Outstanding Writing and Film Editing, the made-for-television movie won Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing. It aired annually for years on October 30 timed to the original Welles radio airing.