The Time Machine (1960)

A man's vision for a utopian society is disillusioned when travelling forward into time reveals a dark and dangerous society.

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:

post apocalypse | dystopia | future | distant future | morlock | 

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Taglines:

You Will Orbit into the Fantastic Future!

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Genres:

Adventure | Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the last film to be shown on New York station WNBC-TV's (Channel 4) afternoon movie showcase, "Movie 4", on 26 April 1974.

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Goofs

During the fight with the Morlocks in the cave, George tells Weena to get the torch and she picks it up. Earlier in the movie it was established that she did not know what fire was and even had she learned what it was, she would not know what a torch was. However, it appears that she has good cognitive reasoning. She wonders what he means, looks around, discovers something with fire on it and by process of elimination deduces that it is indeed the torch he is talking about since it is the only thing out of the ordinary on the ground.

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Quotes

Filby: If that machine can do what you say it can do, destroy it, George! Destroy it before it destroys you!

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Connections

Referenced in The Deconstructor: Time Travel (2008)

User Reviews

The special effects are still remarkable after more than 40 years!

This is a very well-done adaptation of the H. G. Wells novella, with an Oscar for the special effects that are still impressive more than 40 years later. Good performances by an ensemble cast and a good script also help. One interesting side note: character actor Whit Bissell was in both the 1960 version here and the version done for television in 1978, playing essentially the same part with two different character names! Recommended.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 1960 (Canada)

Also Known As:

H. G. Wells' The Time Machine

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,902

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