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IMDbPro

The Shape of Things to Come

  • 1979
  • PG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
3.2/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
Home Video Trailer from Blue Underground, Inc
Play trailer0:30
1 Video
26 Photos
AdventureSci-FiThriller

Some time in the future, man has set up colonies on the Moon, when Earth becomes uninhabitable. A madman decides to destroy the Moon colonies with his robots and automated ships, and only th... Read allSome time in the future, man has set up colonies on the Moon, when Earth becomes uninhabitable. A madman decides to destroy the Moon colonies with his robots and automated ships, and only three people and their robot can stop him.Some time in the future, man has set up colonies on the Moon, when Earth becomes uninhabitable. A madman decides to destroy the Moon colonies with his robots and automated ships, and only three people and their robot can stop him.

  • Director
    • George McCowan
  • Writers
    • H.G. Wells
    • Martin Lager
  • Stars
    • Jack Palance
    • Carol Lynley
    • Barry Morse
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    3.2/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George McCowan
    • Writers
      • H.G. Wells
      • Martin Lager
    • Stars
      • Jack Palance
      • Carol Lynley
      • Barry Morse
    • 32User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Shape of Things to Come
    Trailer 0:30
    Watch The Shape of Things to Come

    Photos26

    The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    Barry Morse in The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    Barry Morse in The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    Nicholas Campbell in The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    Jack Palance in The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    Barry Morse in The Shape of Things to Come (1979)
    The Shape of Things to Come (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Palance
    Jack Palance
    • Omus
    Carol Lynley
    Carol Lynley
    • Niki
    Barry Morse
    Barry Morse
    • Dr. John Caball
    John Ireland
    John Ireland
    • Senator Smedley
    Nicholas Campbell
    Nicholas Campbell
    • Jason Caball
    Anne-Marie Martin
    Anne-Marie Martin
    • Kim Smedley
    • (as Eddie Benton)
    Greg Swanson
    • Sparks
    • (voice)
    Mark Parr
    • Sparks
    William Hutt
    • Lomax
    • (voice)
    Ardon Bess
    • Merrick
    Lynda Mason Green
    • Lunar Technician
    • (as Lynn Green)
    Albert Humphries
    • Robot Technician
    Bill Lake
    Bill Lake
    • Spacesuited Man
    Michael Klingbell
    • Robot
    Jonathan Hartman
    Jonathan Hartman
    • Robot
    Wili Liberman
    • Robot
    Rob McEwan
    • Robot
    Angelo Pedari
    • Robot
    • Director
      • George McCowan
    • Writers
      • H.G. Wells
      • Martin Lager
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite being credited as such, the film has nothing to do with the HG Wells novel other than the names of a couple of characters.
    • Goofs
      In the opening lines of text with which the film begins, the word "it's" is misused (??"Man has moved onto the moon, colonised it's surface and erected..."). It should be "its" ("Man has moved onto the moon, colonised its surface...").
    • Quotes

      Dr. John Caball: You spoke to us of a new technology, of peace, not war.

      Omus: Don't you understand? Once you accept me as ruler, there will be no acts of aggression, only peace. Under my rule, the people will want for nothing.

      Dr. John Caball: Except, freedom! Well, the Moon Colony will never accept a dictator. That's one thing we've learned at least from the history of the planet Earth.

      Omus: You insult me, Doctor.

      Omus: You are the one who inspired me, taught me to place science above all else.

      Dr. John Caball: But not above humanity! If I didn't teach you that, then I failed you miserably. Omus, give up; give up this insane plan of yours.

      Omus: But I am Omus! Emperor of Delta Three! I don't want to hear any more. I don't think I even know you; you're some sentimental old fool who doesn't understand anything. I, I am the world of the future, you're back in some dark past. People are no longer necessary. Even I someday may no longer be necessary. And you, poor Dr. Caball are certainly no longer necessary.

      Dr. John Caball: Omus, you're a sick man. Let me help you.

      Omus: No, Doctor. Let me help you. Let me give you your last lesson on the power of science.

    • Crazy credits
      [Prologue] The time is the tomorrow after tomorrow. Earth has been polluted and devastated by the great robot wars and is all but deserted. Man has moved onto the moon, colonised its surface and erected vast cities in what was once wasteland. Ranging further out into deep space he has embarked on an even greater era of adventure and discovery. But the survival of mankind is dependent on a continuing supply of the miracle drug RADIC-Q-2.....And RADIC-Q-2 is produced only on the distant planet DELTA THREE.
    • Connections
      Edited into Rifftrax: The Shape of Things to Come (2020)

    User reviews32

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    You do have to be pretty forgiving with this one.
    "The Shape of Things to Come" is the second screen adaptation of the H.G. Welles story, after the 1936 film "Things to Come". It stars a few veterans (Jack Palance, John Ireland, Barry Morse, Carol Lynley) and two Canadians who were then up-and-comers: Nicholas Campbell ('Da Vinci's Inquest') and Anne-Marie Martin ("Prom Night" 1980). Bright young Jason (Campbell) and his scientist father (Morse) venture into space with Kim (Martin), the daughter of a senator (Ireland), in a future setting where robot wars have decimated Planet Earth and humans live in colonies on the moon. Their self-appointed mission is to throw a monkey wrench into the plans of nefarious villain Omus (Palance), a power hungry would-be dictator who once studied under Morse.

    This one does seem to be mostly disliked, and the reason why is clear early on. This was obviously done on a limited budget, and the filmmaking (direction by Canadian born George McCowan, "Frogs") definitely lacks distinction. This is admittedly minor league fare with low grade effects, and is an unmemorable adaptation of the story, but this viewer found it impossible to actively hate it. It's all appealing enough, ultra cheap effects and all. Even the robot characters, as extremely clunky looking as they are, are endearing in a hearkening- back-to-sci fi-B-pictures-of-the-50s sort of way. The main robot character "Sparks", voiced by Greg Swanson and performed by Mark Parr, is endearing.

    Palance and Ireland are just picking up paychecks here. Both Lynley and Martin are simply gorgeous. Martin and Campbell are very sincere and likable. Morse has more to work with than his other veteran co-stars and gives the best performance in the movie.

    If you're a die hard science fiction buff, you may want to see it for completions' sake.

    Five out of 10.
    helpful•8
    1
    • Hey_Sweden
    • Sep 11, 2016

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • H.G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come
    • Filming locations
      • Montréal, Québec, Canada(location)
    • Production companies
      • SOTTC Film Productions Ltd.
      • CFI Investments
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • CA$3,200,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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