The Time Machine 1960

Hanspostcard is hosting a movie draft from 12 different genres…this is my Scifi entry.

I have always liked Time Travel movies and this one is one of the best  I’ve watched. The movie was based on the H.G. Wells book The Time Machine published in 1895. The way they present it is believable.

I somehow missed this movie until 2005. It stars Rod Taylor as George Wells, Alan Young as David Filby/James Filby , and the beautiful Yvette Mimieux as Weena and Alan Young. It also has Sebastian Cabot as Dr. Philip Hillyer.

Rod Taylor portrays George Wells, and he builds a Time Machine. Other than the Tardis (Doctor Who) it’s the coolest time machine I’ve seen. He builds a miniature one and while his friends watch, he turns the small machine on and it disappears into the future. His friends don’t really believe it. They question what good it will do if it really works? Who would buy it? George gets aggravated and takes off. I can’t say I blame him.

This time machine doesn’t physically move but just occupies the same space in the time.

He takes the machine for a test ride into the future. They had no CGI but they get across time travel fine. To show time passing they set up a mannequin across the street to show different clothing styles passing by with the time which is brilliant. Sometimes subtle ways are better than obvious ones.

George’s journey began on December 31, 1899 and he goes to October 12, 802,701 with some stops on the way. He witnesses some of the first and second World War and nuclear destruction. When he gets to 802,701 the adventure begins.

He ends up in a future society where all the people are young. They do nothing all day but play and eat…hmmm millennials? Just kidding…George shows this society there is a price they pay for playing all day. The young people there have no clue on what is going on. No laws, curiosity, and no anxiety for the future. They are sheep and they don’t even know or seem to care.

My favorite part of the movie is the creatures called the Morlocks with glowing eyes that live underground because they could not stand light. They provide the clueless land dwellers with food for obvious reasons. This is a truly classic movie. Don’t’ bother with the remake in 2002…get this version.

Alan Young does a great job as David Filby…George’s best friend and later David’s son…

My son watched this when he was 8 and feared the Morlocks but kept watching. He still watches it now. It was filmed in 1960 and the film won an Oscar for Best Effects, Special Effects. Does it measure up to today’s special effects? No,  but it gets the story across so if you like classic sci-fi you might like this one. I’ve seen it many times and never got tired of it.

CAST

• Rod Taylor as H. George Wells
• Alan Young as David Filby/James Filby
• Yvette Mimieux as Weena
• Sebastian Cabot as Dr. Philip Hillyer
• Tom Helmore as Anthony Bridewell
• Whit Bissell as Walter Kemp
• Doris Lloyd as Mrs. Watchett
• Paul Frees as voice of the Rings (uncredited)

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball fan, old movie and tv show fan... and a songwriter, bass and guitar player. View all posts by Badfinger (Max)