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Post by mikef6 on Jul 22, 2020 18:14:45 GMT
The Time Machine / George Pal. Its U.S. premiere in the U.S. was July 22, 1960 in Chicago. One of my absolute favorite films from my high school years. Another bright and lively George Pal sci-fi adaptation. Full of primary colors; the action and surprises don’t slow down for a second. Often in my life I quote movies in conversation. Most of the time no one gets it but sometimes someone will. On night at work (this was about 10 years ago) after we had closed up and the last customer had finally left, I turned to the gathered staff and said in a monotone voice, “The all clear has sounded. There is nothing to fear." Three people got the allusion and laughed, one exclaimed, “That’s my favorite movie!” That is how important this film was to teens from that era. Rod Taylor does very well as H.G. Wells’ TM inventor. Four delightful character actor faces make up his dinner companions who hear the story of his time adventures. Alan Young, fine Scots actor now famous for acting opposite a talking horse (“Mr. Ed”), is the viewer surrogate and has the famous line at the very end. Sebastian Cabot is most well-known for the TV series “Checkmate” and “Family Affair.” Tom Helmore, who played Gavin Elster in “Vertigo,” plays his character with a slightly sloshed ironic detachment. He comes close to actually believing his friend’s wild tale. Last, two words: Whit Bissell. Has he been in every movie ever made? His biography says that he died in 1996 but sometimes I think I can catch a glimpse of him in new movies. And speaking of falling in love with actresses (were we?), I guess I don’t have to tell you the effect Yvette Mimieux had on adolescent boys. “I’ll protect you, Weena.” I can’t get away, though, without talking about the stop-motion special effects. What a kick we got out of the changing fashions of the mannequin in the window. The mountain growing up around and then weathering away from the Time Machine. The changing seasons. The decaying corpse of the Morlock. Spectacular. Wonderful. A beautiful film worthy of love and devotion.      
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Post by claudius on Jul 22, 2020 18:44:45 GMT
Pongo, Bagheera, and Scrooge McDuck.
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Post by MCDemuth on Jul 22, 2020 18:56:06 GMT
Great Movie, but I never liked his reason... "I don't like the time I was born into"... for building the time machine. I thought the remake in 2002 was better... Building the machine to save the woman he loved from being murdered. Did you ever see "The Journey Back", which had a short film sequel to the original film, Where George came back to try to save JAMES Filby from dying in WWI? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Machine:_The_Journey_Back |
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Post by mattgarth on Jul 22, 2020 19:44:30 GMT
This was my selection in the high school course I taught in 'Mystery and Science Fiction'
Half of the semester was the mystery section (MALTESE FALCON, EVIL UNDER THE SUN, etc.)
For the second half -- the Sci-Fi portion always began with TIME MACHINE.
Thanks for the memories, Mike.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jul 22, 2020 21:00:48 GMT
I re-watched it earlier this year--the Morlocks seem to be Paul Williams groupies.
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Post by mikef6 on Jul 22, 2020 21:20:16 GMT
Great Movie, but I never liked his reason... "I don't like the time I was born into"... for building the time machine. I thought the remake in 2002 was better... Building the machine to save the woman he loved from being murdered. Did you ever see "The Journey Back", which had a short film sequel to the original film, Where George came back to try to save JAMES Filby from dying in WWI? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Machine:_The_Journey_BackInteresting story about The Journey Back. I'll watch it soon. Didn't think the 2002 attempt had much to offer. Very little, in fact. |
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Post by Catman on Jul 22, 2020 21:22:01 GMT
Catman greatly enjoys this movie each time he watches it, though he does keep thinking of Mr. Ed during certain scenes.
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Post by wmcclain on Jul 22, 2020 22:45:03 GMT
The Time Machine (1960), produced and directed by George Pal. When imagining the very far future, just about anything goes. With the rise and fall of civilizations you can have any arrangement of culture and scene. See Doctor Who. Since reading Wells in my youth I have always imagined a pastoral future of scattered people living in the ruins. But: don't go out at night. The Time Machine itself is a fine bit of Victorian SF paraphernalia. Its operation with the days blurring by is nicely shown. I'm less happy with the shop window fashion conceit, but I'm guessing it works well enough to elicit audience appreciation. Surely the premise could have been developed a bit faster, leaving us more time for actual SF adventure. It's 26m until time travel begins, and 45m until we reach the far future (800,000 something AD, where the Eloi still speak halting English -- a movie convention Wells did not use in his book). In this version the two races split because of a terrible war. That's contrary to the author's vision: it is a natural development of class distinctions, between those who labor and those who enjoy the resulting benefits. Available on Blu-ray. Some good images, but many soft ones too. 
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Post by politicidal on Jul 22, 2020 23:36:15 GMT
7/10.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Jul 22, 2020 23:41:07 GMT
Fun re-watchable movie .... another one for a BIG BIG Screen to fully appreciate that Futuristic Metrocolor ! +3.jpg) |
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Post by phantomparticle on Jul 23, 2020 0:06:36 GMT
There were four major science fiction epics between 1953 and 1960. Forbidden Planet was the supreme opus, followed by War of the Worlds, The Time Machine and This Island Earth. I'm leaving out Pal's Conquest of Space which looked good but was crippled by an inferior script.
The Time Machine capped the prolific decade of the 1950's. There wouldn't be anything to rival it until Fantastic Voyage (1966) after which Kubrick altered the sci-fi landscape forever. It was a thrilling adventure when it was new and is one of those movies that gets better with each viewing. Modern audiences, who generally dismiss everything made before 1980, still have a good opinion of the film.
Rod Taylor makes a likable and somewhat stalwart Time Traveler, intrigued and slightly bemused by his discoveries in the world of 802,701, before reality sets in and he begins to understand the tragedy of the separation of civilizations into cannibalistic Morlocks and their chief source of food, the complacent Eloi who are unable to work up enough interest to save a drowning girl floating past them. There is a maddening visit to what may have been a library where ancient books crumble into dust when touched.
Yvette Mimieux as the vacuous Weena is stunningly beautiful. She wasn't a great actress, but I did enjoy her work in Light in the Piazza and Where the Boys Are. While questioning The Time Traveler about women in his world, she naively asks "How do they wear their hair?" It's a line that always gets a laugh from me because it is so indicative of the sexual attitudes of the era, and because I imagine feminists clawing their eyes out in sheer exasperation.
I can't say enough about Alan Young, the heart of the movie. His performance is so warm and moving I wish The Time Traveler had taken him along on the journey. After hearing the story about his friend's journey, does the fact that he knows he will perish in WWI mean that he will take steps to avoid it? Can he alter his own future? It's a question as important as his last line to the audience before leaving the house.
A fine musical score accompanies the movie, especially the melancholy refrain that closes the picture.
The WB dvd I have presents the movie in widescreen and comes with a making of documentary and the short feature, The Way Back. There is no second audio track for a film that absolutely deserves one
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Post by Prime etc. on Jul 23, 2020 0:59:54 GMT
Wow I didn't know about that sequel.
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Post by teleadm on Jul 24, 2020 20:09:46 GMT
Personal recollection
Seeing this on Swedish Television in early 1970's, was an imagination that was beyond belief, Swedish Television and old MGM had a unique deal of around 100 rights of old MGM movies, many musicals, but this one too.
Summer 1972/1973, my father hired a cottage in the woods, with a nearby village road, with many trees around, very tight growing trees, and as the cruel big brother I was, and whenever there were lights on that small village road in the evenings, I scared my younger brother, it's the Murlocks!!!! Trying to get you!!!
Just becuase of this specific movie...
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Post by mattgarth on Jul 24, 2020 20:29:11 GMT
I trust you don't use any Morlock recipes in your own tasty treats, Tele.
Or get any ideas for additional ingredients after watching SOYLENT GREEN.
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Post by Isapop on Jul 24, 2020 23:43:03 GMT
It's that moment in the film, I'm sure, that won the movie its Oscar for special effects. Startling and unforgettable.
I saw The Time Machine on its first run (at a drive-in movie - Dad took us), and went back to an indoor theater later to see it again.
Loved it then, and still love it.
Rod Taylor showed his potential as a major star in this movie. It seems he got kind of complacent though, and he never achieved the level of stardom he could have.
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Post by rudeboy on Jul 29, 2020 3:21:02 GMT
I loved it as a kid. As an adult, I think it starts out brilliant, and I love the period trappings and the design of the time machine itself, but I must admit it loses me a little when we travel into the far future. Truth be told, I felt more or less the same way about the book. It’s still good fun, though.
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Post by taylorfirst1 on Jul 29, 2020 21:39:04 GMT
Great movie and essential viewing for science fiction fans.
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