The Time Machine (1960)

A Victorian Englishman travels to the far future and finds that humanity has divided into two hostile species.

Director:

George Pal

Writers:

David Duncan (screenplay), H.G. Wells (novel)

Stars:

Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rod Taylor	...	H. George Wells
Alan Young	...	David Filby / James Filby
Yvette Mimieux	...	Weena
Sebastian Cabot	...	Dr. Philip Hillyer
Tom Helmore	...	Anthony Bridewell
Whit Bissell	...	Walter Kemp
Doris Lloyd	...	Mrs. Watchett

Storyline

On January 5, 1900, a disheveled looking H.G. Wells - George to his friends - arrives late to his own dinner party. He tells his guests of his travels in his time machine, the work about which his friends knew. They were also unbelieving, and skeptical of any practical use if it did indeed work. George knew that his machine was stationary in geographic position, but he did not account for changes in what happens over time to that location. He also learns that the machine is not impervious and he is not immune to those who do not understand him or the machine's purpose. George tells his friends that he did not find the Utopian society he so wished had developed. He mentions specifically a civilization several thousand years into the future which consists of the subterranean morlocks and the surface dwelling eloi, who on first glance lead a carefree life. Despite all these issues, love can still bloom over the spread of millennia.

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Plot Keywords:

future | time machine | morlock | living underground | 1900s | 

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Taglines:

The Time Machine whirls you to a world of amazing adventure in the year 800,000!

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

H.G. Wells' The Time Machine

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

George Pal Productions, Galaxy Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 89 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm optical prints) 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) (35 mm magnetic prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Whit Bissell, who played Walter Kemp, later played Lt. Gen. Kirk in "The Time Tunnel," the idea for which came from George Pal's movie. However, producer Irwin Allen forgot Bissell played in "The Time Machine" and, instead, based his hiring on Bissell's calm -under-pressure roles in "I Was A Teenaged Werewolf" and "Creature From the Black Lagoon."

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Goofs

When George returns from the future, as he is breaking into the conservatory, a clock is heard striking the hour, but at the same time, a clock inside the conservatory shows 8:03. George wouldn't have allowed any of his clocks to be that inaccurate.

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Quotes

Filby: Which three books would you have taken?

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Connections

Featured in The Sci-Fi Boys (2006)

User Reviews

Fourth Time Was A Charm: A Thought-Provoking Film That Looks Better Than Ever On DVD

Boy, did a nice DVD transfer of this not only mak me appreciate the visuals in here more but made the story seem better, too, for some reason. I only acquired the DVD as a memento, so to speak. I had to have at least one movie which had the woman I had a crush on back in the early '60s: Yvettte Mimieux. She still looks great, too. The main thing, however, is how I now viewed this story and how much more I wound up liking it than in the past. This was my fourth look at this movie over a 45-year span and I enjoyed it the most this last time.

Since time travel stories always fascinate me, my favorite part of the film is when "George" (Rod Taylor) is actually in his time machine and experiments with it, slowing it down here and then and then stopping it a couple of times to observe World War I and then WWII. Then, he stops in 1966 when supposedly there was a nuclear attack. (Apparently, scare-mongers back in '60 thought that was a short-term likelihood.)

Anyway, when "George" (H.G. Wells, the author of this story) finally stops, in the year 200,000-something, the story loses some of its momentum. However, it's a fairly interesting study of a group of ultra-passive people being dominated by others who live underground and then literally eat the good people. Taylor is astounded that mankind has not progressed as he had figured but seemed to have regressed.

The message I got on this last look is that man is still man, meaning sinful and capable of anything bad as well as good, and to put one's faith totally in man is a mistake. It's only going to lead to disappointments as "George" found out on each of his stops. (Notice he never stopped during a peaceful, progressive period.) Yet, "George" is still an optimist and wants to be one to help initiate change for the better. There's always hope for a better world and people like George, with his idealism put to action, can make a difference.

Overall, an entertaining and thought-provoking film.