To promote the release of the film Me and Orson Welles, the producers have conjured up a clever publicity move by broadcasting the original Welles' "panic in the streets" radio program of War of the Worlds. It may not seem like much now, but back in 1938 the convincing faux news broadcast of martians landing on earth had a good portion of the American public sh*tting in their oversized undergarments. I remember my grandfather telling me a story about how he had to shake some good sense back into his aunt after she started running around the house screaming, "The aliens are coming! The aliens are coming!" But she was also a drunk, so there's a good chance she didn't even hear the broadcast.

You can listen to the 60-minute radio play in its entirety at waroftheworldstribute.com exactly 71 years later, to the minute, tonight, Friday, October 30th at 8pm EST. Gather the family around the glow of the radio (computer), put some Jiffy Pop on the stove, tie your aunt securely to something bolted into the floor, and enjoy a classic.

Me and Orson Welles, starring Zac Efron and a brilliant performance by Christian McKay as Orson, is about a teenager who is cast in the Mercury Theatre production of "Julius Caesar" directed by a young Orson Welles in 1937. It comes out in limited release on November 25th. It's directed by Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, Slacker) and you can watch the, dare I say charming, trailer below. 

Me and Orson Welles - Watch more Funny Videos

[via First Showing]

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