Question

Why does the radio version of The War of the Worlds include an interview with the U.S. secretary of the interior?

Answer 1

To make the broadcast seem more credible

There was no intention of making the radio version seem real but only realistic

Answer 2

There is an interview with the U.S. secretary of the interior in the radio version to make the play more realistic and also to set that the events were happening on American soil.

Step-by-step explanation:

The radio version was an adaptation of the novel with the same name written by H.G. Wells, the adaptation was made by Orson Welles and was broadcast on 1939. Some differences between the novel and the radio version were the place of the events and the tense in which they were told. I believe that Orson Welles added the interview to make clear the difference I mentioned before.

Firstly by interviewing an actor that represents the U.S. secretary of the interior, he was clarifying that the action took place on American soil. And last but not least the live interview showed that the actions were taken place at that same time so it was in the present tense, unlike the novel that is written in the past tense.

I hope this answer helps you.