Beyond the Time Barrier (1960)

In 1960, a military test pilot is caught in a time warp that propels him to year 2024 where he finds a plague has sterilized the world's population.

Director:

Edgar G. Ulmer

Writer:

Arthur C. Pierce (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Clarke, Darlene Tompkins, Vladimir Sokoloff

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Clarke	...	Maj. William Allison
Darlene Tompkins	...	Princess Trirene
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	The Supreme
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Captain
Stephen Bekassy	...	Gen. Karl Kruse
Arianne Ulmer	...	Capt. Markova (as Arianne Arden)
John Van Dreelen	...	Dr. Bourman
Ken Knox	...	Col. Marty Martin
Jack Herman	...	Dr. Richman
Don Flournoy	...	Mutant
Tom Ravick	...	Mutant
James 'Ike' Altgens	...	Secretary Lloyd Patterson (as James Altgens)
William Shephard	...	Gen. York (as William Shapard)
Neil Fletcher	...	Air Force Chief
John Loughney	...	Gen. Lamont

Storyline

Experimental pilot testing a new rocket powered craft (actually a Convair F-102 interceptor) manages to fly into the future and land at the now deserted airbase he left. He ends up in a city with people who are suspicious he is a spy and who want to keep him to procreate with the rulers daughter because the majority of the inhabitants are sterile. He manages to escape and return to his own time but "with consequences".

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Plot Keywords:

escape | held at gunpoint | sterility | woman shot | mutant | 

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Taglines:

Adam and Eve of the year 2024! Only they could repopulate the world!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

The War of 1995

Filming Locations:

Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$125,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miller Consolidated Pictures (MCP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the "X-80" is actually a Convair F-102 Delta Dagger in most scenes, a few stock footage shots show an F-106 Delta Dart. The most notable difference is the shape of the vertical stabilizer, the upper portion of which is flat rather than pointed.

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Goofs

The X-80 is depicted by the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, but during re-entry, some footage of a Convair F-106 Delta Dart is used, giving the impression that the plane changed from an F-102 to an F-106 and then back again.

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Quotes

Captain: I don't trust that man. Especially his thoughts.

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Connections

Featured in Monsterama Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show Vol. 1 (1996)

User Reviews

Futuristic cities and short skirts. What a movie!

From Edgar G. Ulmer (director of `The Man from Planet X' and `The Amazing Transparent Man') comes this likable little sc-fi tale. A test pilot (Robert Clark) is catapulted into the future by a freak phenomenon, where a post World War III society lives in futuristic cities that protect them from the lingering radiation. However, the populace is having fertility problems, and the head of the government (Vladimir Sokoloff) hopes that his daughter (gorgeous Darlene Thompkins) and Clark will get together.

The costumes will meet with male approval; the women all wear short dresses and high heels (if you like it, guys, check out `World Without End').

Okay, back to the plot: a group of dissidents conspire to take over the government by releasing a horde of imprisoned mutants. They do, and the first thing the mutants do is attack all the women. Girls, be forewarned: if you dress provocatively, you'll suffer the consequences, especially if imprisoned mutants get loose.

Hats off to Ulmer for efficiency: he filmed this enjoyable effort in a matter of weeks, and he saved money on sets by using an exhibit of futuristic art-and-design at the 1959 Texas State Fair in Dallas. The interior architecture is appealing, despite being relatively simple. The doors, walls, and pillars are all based on triangles and pyramids. Don't' expect any elaborate special effects, but the film does manage to invoke a pleasant Buck Rogers feeling.

Unfortunately, I've never seen this movie shown on local or cable TV, and it doesn't seem to be avail on VHS or DVD. Dedicated sci-fi fans will have to work to get a peek at this lost gem. But it's worth the effort if you're a 1950s sci-fi fan.