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                                  EXHIBIT 5.1


                                October 31, 1995

Applied Materials, Inc.
3050 Bowers Avenue
Santa Clara, California  95054

                 Re:      Employees' Stock Purchase Plan and Stock Purchase
                          Plan for Offshore Employees

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                 At your request, we are rendering this opinion in connection
with the proposed issuance pursuant to The Applied Materials, Inc. Employees'
Stock Purchase Plan and the Applied Materials, Inc. Stock Purchase Plan for
Offshore Employees (collectively, the "Plans"), of up to 4,000,000 shares of
common stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), of Applied Materials, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company").

                 We have examined instruments, documents, and records which we
deemed relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter
expressed.  In such examination, we have assumed the following:  (a) the
authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b)
the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and
(c) the truth, accuracy, and completeness of the information, representations,
and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments, and
certificates we have reviewed.

                 Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that the
4,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the
Plans are validly authorized shares of Common Stock, and, when issued in
accordance with the provisions of the Plans, will be legally issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable.

                 We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit
to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the use of our name wherever
it appears in said Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not
consider that we are "experts" within the meaning of such term as used in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder with respect to any part
of the Registration Statement, including this opinion, as an exhibit or
otherwise.

                                           Very truly yours,


                                           ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE





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