The Time Travelers (1964)

Director:

Ib Melchior

Writers:

Ib Melchior (story) and
David L. Hewitt (story) ...

Release Date:

29 October 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Step Through "The Time Portal"

Plot:

A time travel experiment that was supposed to produce a window into time turns out to be a portal instead...

Plot Keywords:

Portal | Time Travel | Post Apocalyptic | Post Nuclear War | Time Loop

Cast

Preston Foster	...	Dr. Erik von Steiner
Philip Carey	...	Dr. Steve Connors
Merry Anders	...	Carol White
John Hoyt	...	Dr. Varno
Dennis Patrick	...	Councilman Willard
Joan Woodbury	...	Gadra
Delores Wells	...	Reena (Danny's girl)
Steve Franken	...	Danny McKee, the Electrician
Berry Kroeger	...	Preston
Gloria Leslie	...	Councilwoman
Mollie Glessing	...	Android (as Molly Glessing)
Peter Strudwick	...	The Mutant
J. Edward McKinley	...	Raymond
Margaret Seldeen	...	Miss Hollister
Forrest J Ackerman	...	Square-frame technician

Also Known As:

Depths of the Unknown
The Return of the Time Traveler
The Return of the Time Travelers
This Time Tomorrow
Time Trap

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alpha Omega Studios - 821 Glendale Avenue, Glendale, California, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

His cameo appearance became the first genre film appearance for Forrest J Ackerman. This led to another facet of his career in which he would make numerous cameo appearances, and even do bit parts, in films for more than 40 years.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Out of this World Super Shock Show (2007) (V)

Window to a Wasteland.

Working secretly from a basement in an U.S.C. science building, a trio of scientists crack open a window into the future. Endeavoring to open their portal can be a tricky proposition: in light that it is next to scientifically impossible to pull off. Accidentally, the two-dimensional view screen gives way to an actual exit to another world. Danny, the meddlesome errand boy, takes the initiative and vaults himself into a devastated, futuristic time zone. (A neat special effects trick is employed here: when an actor, entering the portal, steps off to the right side of the window, disappearing for a few moments, only to reemerge, with the help of rear projection, back into the background of the scene.) The two male scientists soon follow. Mutants respond to their intrusion as only mutants can: they attack. Two of the disfigured fellows even attempt to leap into the lab, but the female scientist repels them with a handy fire extinguisher. Smashing good tactic. In the nick of time, and just before the portal closes, she also takes the plunge into the future. This is a surprisingly good special effect. It works so well that they utilize it again, later on in the movie. The rugged terrain is photographed by the legendary cinematographer, Vilmos Zsigmond, but, at the time of filming, a new comer. He renders off some excellent tracking shots through barren canyons. High shots. Long shots. And even some shots that follow directly behind our group as they search for missing Danny. Confrontation ensues. Mutants don't like stone throwers so they retreat. When Danny is found up ahead, they take sanctuary in a cave protected by an invisible force field. The tunnel dwellers soon arrive and escort them to more comfortable surroundings for some well-needed answers. John Hoyt, the leader of the council, and looking fit and dapper, gives them some answers and asks them some questions of his own. For a movie geared to kids, the film has some frank talk about sex. Reyna, Danny's girl, is a looker and has the right amount of sweetness for us to buy her as Danny's girl. There are many bright touches along the way, and an ingenious time-loop that makes sense for a change. The battle sequences between the mutants, humans and worker-androids, are violent and fiery. Blood flows. Some androids and mutants lose limbs. Rightfully so. Terrific movie to watch with the kids on a lazy afternoon in the summer. Show them how things used to be. They'll be stunned. Trust me. I was.