I’ve talked about Byron Haskin here before. Haskin had quite the varied and interesting career in Hollywood. He is perhaps best known for directing The War of the Worlds in 1953, which is one of my favorite movies.
Here I am with Ann Robinson last November. Ann is a delight to meet with and chat, and I couldn’t resist buying that model of the Martian war machine.
Haskin had a knack for coming up with quick and economical special effects. He had worked with director Frank Capra on Arsenic and Old Lace, and it’s my suspicion that he produced the outer space effect at the opening to It’s a Wonderful Life. I say that because the footage was recycled by Haskin in S1:E29 of The Outer Limits.