"The Infinite Worlds of H.G. Wells" (2001) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Robert Young

Writers (WGA):

H.G. Wells (short stories)
Nick Willing (format and story)

Release Date:

5 August 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

With stunning recreations of the 19th century London, awe inspiring special effects, and a timeless love story at its heart, The Infinite Worlds of H.G.Wells is a dazzling tribute to the grandmaster of science-fiction.

Plot:

H.G. Wells foresaw the future in such visionary novels as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds...

Plot Keywords:

Science | College | TV Mini-Series | Writer

Cast

Tom Ward	...	H. G. Wells
Katy Carmichael	...	Jane Robins
Eve Best	...	Ellen McGillvray
Nicholas Rowe	...	Professor Gibberne
Matthew Cottle	...	Whittaker
Barry Stanton	...	Dean Frederick Masterman
Raymond Coulthard	...	Mark Radcliffe
Mark Lewis Jones	...	Arthur Brownlow
Stephen Critchlow	...	William Cave
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Rosa Cave
Dominic Cooper	...	Sidney Davidson
Jeffrey Wickham	...	Dr. Symonds
Michael Fitzgerald	...	Albert Pyecraft
Pip Torrens	...	Mark Pattison
Nicholas Boulton	...	Keating

Runtime:

265 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Hallmark Entertainment

Yes, I'm a Wells fan - but there's more to this gem....

Happily, the screens - small and large - have (mostly) been kind to H G Wells. I'm a fan so I attribute it to the charming quality of "human-ness" and compassion that ran through his writing (and not just his sci-fi either). I'll keep clear of the Time Machine remake and the tragedy of casting Guy Pearce in the lead. What's intriguing is that H G Wells himself has often been written into period pieces as a character - always a sensitive new-age kinda guy - and why not?- he really was years ahead of the time he lived in. And "Infinite Worlds" does it well. The screenwriters do not let Wells' short stories down as they weave a gentle romance and equally gentle humour in with stories like The Stolen Bacillus, The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes and others. The period style is light and the well-directed cast play their parts with none of the embarrassment that often dogs smaller productions. Add a soundtrack that matches the mood of "Infinite Worlds" and you've got a warm evening's viewing (or two - the version I saw was in three parts on cable and even without the ads it was a few enjoyable hours worth).