The Night That Panicked America (1975): Cast & Plot
The Night That Panicked America is a 1975 drama directed by Joseph Sargent, starring Paul Shenar as Orson Welles, Ron Rifkin and John Ritter. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 32m (92 min)
- Director
- Joseph Sargent
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- The Culzean Corporation
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Night That Panicked America About?
The premise of The Night That Panicked America without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A dramatization of the Oct. 30, 1938 mass panic that Orson Welles’ radio play, “The War of the Worlds” accidentally provoked.
The Night That Panicked America Cast & Characters
Paul Shenar leads the cast as Orson Welles, with Ron Rifkin as Mercury Theatre Player and John Ritter as Walter Wingate. Directed by Joseph Sargent; 28 actors are credited in all.
- Director Joseph Sargent
- Paul Shenar as Orson Welles
-
Ron Rifkin as Mercury Theatre Player -
John Ritter as Walter Wingate - Walter McGinn as Paul Stewart
Also Starring in The Night That Panicked America
· 24 more- Vic Morrow Hank Muldoon
- Michelle Stacy Hank Muldoon's Daughter (uncredited)
- Eileen Brennan Ann Muldoon
- Meredith Baxter Linda Davis
- Michael Constantine Jess Wingate
- Burton Gilliam Tex
- Will Geer Reverend Davis
- Cliff DeYoung Stefan Grubowski
- Bob Harks News Vendor (uncredited)
- Tom Bosley Norman Smith
- Casey Kasem Mercury Theatre Player
- Walker Edmiston Mercury Theatre Player
- Hanna Landy Maid
- Liam Dunn Charlie
- Tracy Brooks Swope Kelly
- Shelley Morrison Toni
Show all 28 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Joshua Bryant Howard Koch
- Clarke Gordon Matlock
- Granville Van Dusen Carl Phillips
- Ed Bakey Vanderhoff
- Byron Webster Harrison
- Robert Lussier Arnie
- Linda Dano Secretary
- Marcus J. Grapes Mercury Theatre Player
More from Joseph Sargent
More films directed by Joseph Sargent, best-rated first: White Lightning, Jaws: The Revenge, Sweet Nothing in My Ear and Sybil.
The Night That Panicked America Plot Summary
What happens in The Night That Panicked America from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The Night That Panicked America recounts the 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast by weaving two closely connected threads: the live creation led by Orson Welles, Paul Shenar, and his Mercury Theatre on the Air team, and the experiences of a diverse array of American families across cities, suburbs, and rural towns who tune in and fearfully believe the imagined Martian invasion is unfolding around them. The drama inside the studio sits against the backdrop of real-life life, where everyday listeners bring their own routines, worries, and hopes to a moment that feels like it could alter history.
Full summary
The whole story of The Night That Panicked America, scene by scene
The Night That Panicked America Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Night That Panicked America.
How Well Do You Know The Night That Panicked America?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What real historical event does the film dramatize?
The Night That Panicked America Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “La nuit qui terrifia l'Amérique” and “Die Nacht als die Marsmenschen Amerika angriffen”.
- Also known as
-
- La nuit qui terrifia l'Amérique
- Die Nacht als die Marsmenschen Amerika angriffen
- Yö jolloin Amerikka kauhistui
- Amerika pánikban
- La notte in cui l'America ebbe paura
- La noche que aterrorizó a América
Seen The Night That Panicked America?
The Night That Panicked America FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Night That Panicked America, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Night That Panicked America?
The Night That Panicked America runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).
When was The Night That Panicked America released?
The Night That Panicked America was released on October 31, 1975.
Who directed The Night That Panicked America?
The Night That Panicked America was directed by Joseph Sargent.
More films by Joseph Sargent Who is in the cast of The Night That Panicked America?
The Night That Panicked America stars Paul Shenar as Orson Welles, Ron Rifkin as Mercury Theatre Player and John Ritter as Walter Wingate, among 28 credited actors.
Does The Night That Panicked America have a post-credit scene?
No. The Night That Panicked America has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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