The Time Travelers (1964)

In 1964, a group of scientists create a portal that takes them to a barren, mutant inhabited, Earth in the year 2071.

Director:

Ib Melchior

Writers:

Ib Melchior (screenplay), Ib Melchior (story)

Stars:

Preston Foster, Philip Carey, Merry Anders

Cast

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

Storyline

In 1964, a team of scientists is trying to develop a view screen into the future. What they in fact get is a portal and they soon find themselves on the other side, 107 years into the future in the year 2071, when the portal collapses. The Earth of the future is barren and they are soon attacked by mutated humans but rescued by a group of scientists who are building a spaceship to take them to a new planet. They learn that much of Earth was destroyed as the result of a nuclear war. When it's determined that the visitors from the past cannot be included in the planned voyage, they work furiously to rebuild the portal and return to their own time before departure day. Meanwhile, always under the threat of attack from the mutants , friendships are formed and they learn of life in the future including the use of robots for menial tasks.

---

Plot Keywords:

mutant | year 2071 | post thermonuclear war | nuclear explosion | hydroponics | 

---

Taglines:

Step Through "The Time Portal" beyond the crack in Space and Time where the fantastic world of the Future will freeze your blood with its weird horrors!

---

Genres:

Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 October 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Depths of the Unknown

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cal Cine,Dobil Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producer Ray Dorn "borrowed" much of this movie for Journey to the Center of Time (1967). Irwin Allen also borrowed much of the concept for his TV series The Time Tunnel (1966). Director Ib Melchior declined to make waves so he would continue getting work in Hollywood.

---

Goofs

When everyone returns to the campus, and everything is moving so slowly that it seems to be stationary, the tops of the trees are still moving in the breeze.

---

Quotes

Councilman Willard: We must consider the greater good. I must do what I think is right.
Dr. Steve Connors: And what about us?
Councilman Willard: Nobody invited you here.
Dr. Erik von Steiner: At least give us a chance to try to find a solution.
Councilman Willard: It's impossible!
Dr. Steve Connors: Until you have tried and failed, nothing is impossible!

---

Connections

Referenced in The Chronic Rift: Time Loop-de-Loops (2018)

User Reviews

Decent 1960's Time Travel film

The first time I saw this movie was on a weekend afternoon on one of the UHF stations out of Sacramento. I only saw the first five minutes or so. Up to the part where the characters actually take their first steps forward, and then the family had to go somewhere.

Throughout the years I'd catch the same beginning time and again, but was always drawn away from it.

Well, I finally saw it all last year, and where it wasn't sterling scifi fare, it was decent for a 1960s reminisce-blast from scifi film making of days of yore. Finally being able to see this full film in its entirety put a smile on my face. The same kind of feeling I got when I saw other films that I had often heard about, but had never fully seen, just bits and pieces here and there on broadcast TV back in the 70s and 80s.

But, to the movie; it's standard science fiction time travel stuff. Throw in a few mutants, some robots, and you got yourself a movie. There's a romantic subplot of sorts, some rocket ships, a fight for survival, a battle of good and evil, all the things that make great science fiction great. Only this film isn't exactly the greatest thing ever, it's just decent enough to be watchable.

Lots of basic shots, mostly standard master shots and two shots to push the narrative forward. There are no or few dramatic closeups, no rapid machinegun editing, and a score that's your standard "danger of the unknown" music so prominent of scifi of the 50s and 60s.

It's the kind of movie that someone thought would be a good thing for people to see, and that scifi aficionados like myself thought would be worth seeing once or twice. And the film delivers on that account.

I'm so glad I finally saw it after decades of just catching snippits of it. I'm not sure I'll buy the DVD or bluray to add to my collection, but I'm glad it's out there for all to see.

If you're a scifi fan, then maybe give this film a chance on the player of your choice. Enjoy.