Warner Home Video
Length:
103 mins.
Rated:
G
Region:
1
Format: Anamorphic
Widescreen · 1.78:1
Languages: English, French
Subtitles: English,
French
Extras:
Documentary Theatrical Trailer Talent Files
Rod Taylor .... George (H. G. Wells)
Alan Young .... Filby (David & James)
Yvette Mimieux .... Weena
Sebastian Cabot .... Dr. Philip Hillyer
Tom Helmore .... Anthony Bridewell
Whit Bissell .... Walter Kemp
Doris Lloyd .... Mrs. Watchett
rest of cast listed alphabetically
Bob Barran .... Eloi Man (uncredited)
Paul Frees .... Talking Rings (uncredited) (voice)
Josephine Powell .... Eloi girl (uncredited)
James Skelly .... Second Eloi Man (uncredited)
Directed by
George Pal
Writing credits
H.G. Wells (novel) David Duncan
Produced by…George Pal
Original music by…Russell Garcia
Cinematography by…Paul Vogel (as Paul C. Vogel)
Film Editing by…George Tomasini
Art Direction by…George W. Davis (as George Davis) William Ferrari
Set Decoration by…F. Keogh Gleason (as Keogh Gleason) Henry Grace
Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff.... hair stylist
William Tuttle.... makeup artist
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Shanks .... assistant director
Art Department
Mentor C. Huebner ....
production illustrator (uncredited)
Sound Department
Franklin Milton ....
recording supervisor
Special Effects by
Wah Chang .... special photographic
effects
Gene Warren .... special
photographic effects
Visual Effects by
Howard A. Anderson.... additional special effects/optical effects (uncredited)
Bill Brace.... matte artist (uncredited)
Other crew
Tim Barr .... special photo
effects (uncredited)
Jim Danforth .... assistant
animator (uncredited)
Charles K. Hagedon .... color
consultant
David Pal .... animator:
stop-motion (uncredited)
George Pal .... morlock
designer (uncredited)
David Sahlin .... animator:
stop-motion (uncredited)
Don Sahlin .... stop-motion
animator
‘The Time Machine’ is producer/director George Pal’s cinematic
interpretation of H.G. Wells’s classic tale of time travel. H. G. Wells work
has suffered many film versions – some of them quite terrible – and while
Pal’s production departs from Wells’s storyline in many places, it remains
true to the spirit to the original and has become something of a classic in its
own right. With this stunning DVD release, Warner Home Video has given fans of
the film, and science fiction in general, something truly special.
‘The
Time Machine’ opens with guests arriving for a dinner party (Alan Young in the
roles of father and son David and James Filby, Sebastian Cabot as Dr. Philip
Hillyer Tom Helmore as Anthony Bridewell, Whit Bissell as Walter Kemp and Doris
Lloyd as Mrs. Watchett the housekeeper) at the home of inventor George Wells
(Rod Taylor). When he has not
appeared by 8 o’clock Mrs Watchett announces that they are to start without
him. Just as the meal is due
to start in staggers a dishevelled George.
He then tells them what has happened since they last met 5 days ago on
New Years’ Eve 1899….
He had invited them there to witness the unveiling of a small prototype of his
newest creation – the time machine. As he demonstrates the device, George
becomes increasingly agitated by the seeming indifference of his friends who are
unable to comprehend why a man would ever wish to travel through time. But
Wells, whose pacifist nature has been strained by the ongoing Boer War, has
hopes for a brighter future for mankind and, after bidding farewell to his
guests, he secretly decides to take his full-scale time machine for a test.
As George slowly moves forward through time he becomes increasingly bold
and jumps ahead ever further. With brief stops in 1918 and 1940, he bears
witness to a Great Britain once again at war. With
another stop in 1966, George sees nuclear satellites rain out of the sky and
destroy the city around him. A volcano erupts and – just in time – he jams
the time travel lever full ahead as the lava covers him. Travelling forward in
time until the mountain around him has eroded away he comes to a stop in the
year 802,701. George stumbles upon what at first appears to be a perfect Eden
populated by the gentle Eloi – whose every want and need is mysteriously and
magically fulfilled. Thinking that
he has found the true apex of man’s evolution, he cannot understand why no one
but him will help Weena (Yvette Mimieux), when she falls in the river and nearly
drowns.
This Eden is only a mirage that conceals the darker secret of mankind’s
development. For the real power rests with the hideous Morlocks, who live in an
underground lair and feast upon their flock of placid Eloi.
It is after saving his Time Machine from the Morlocks that George is back
in his own home. As George
has fallen in love with Weena he must decide if he should say in his own time or
go ‘back to the future’ and help what is left of the human race regain their
humanity.
‘The Time Machine’ is presented in its original 1.78:1 format and is
anamorphically enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions. This transfer is quite
exquisite. Colours are wonderfully deep, and display the full glory of the late
1950’s early 1960’s colour processes (in this case Metrocolor) when people
such as ‘Charles K. Hagedon Colour Consultant’ would appear in the credits.
Blacks are solid as well with even the finest gradations remaining separate. The
image is very sharp, without resorting to edge enhancement, and all the smallest
details, from the texture of a man’s suit to the individual petals of a
flower, really stand out. There are a few small imperfections in the source
elements that pop up as small white specks but this is never terribly 
distracting.
The audio on the disc is a Dolby Digital 5.1 remix of the film’s stereo
soundtrack. As far as 5.1 remixes
go, this one is fairly good. Dialogue is always clear and anchored firmly to the
centre channel. The score has very nice range and spreads to envelop the entire
front soundstage. In only a few instances do the rear speakers come alive with
the sounds of aircraft and bombs overhead. All in all the audio is very good and
the new mix doesn’t try to stretch the original materials too far beyond their
means.
As for extras, ‘The Time Machine’ contains a documentary entitled ‘The
Time Machine: The Journey Back,’ which is hosted by Rod Taylor and features
appearances by Alan Young and Whit Bissell, among others. This 50-minute feature
covers many aspects of the film’s production from the wonderful special
effects (done on a very small budget but quite impressive nonetheless) to an
exploration of the theme of time travel in the movies. Rod Taylor obviously has
a soft spot for ‘The Time Machine’ and his enthusiasm is infectious.
Rounding out the extras is the very entertaining original theatrical trailer and
talent files on the major stars and George Pal.
Now we get to the only real complaint with this DVD. The packaging lists a
music-only track as a bonus feature but, said track is nowhere to be found. It
doesn’t matter that the feature had to be left out, but it is incumbent upon
studios to make sure that the packaging reflects any last-minute changes. After
all someone could buy the disk particularly for that ‘extra’.
We see errors like this slip by far too often and it is grossly unfair
that consumers are mislead in such a manner.
‘The Time Machine’ is classic science fiction at its very best. The themes
it explores are well thought out and amply illustrated by George Pal’s
signature miniature and effects work. From the lush matte paintings – to the
time-lapse passing of time for the traveller – to the stop-motion construction
and destruction of entire new worlds, the special effects are perfectly
integrated into the story and never seem out of place – even though you will
never once mistake them for real. If only you could say the same about some of
the latest CGI-filled films. Wonderful acting by all involved has ensured that
over the years many others have marvelled at the ‘brave new world’ and
fallen for the 18 year old Yvette Mimieux in only her 3rd film.
‘The Time Machine’ is a classic that can be enjoyed by all but the youngest
members of the family (The Morlocks and some scenes of decomposition may be a
bit extreme for the very young ones). Warner Home Video has really delivered the
goods with this DVD release and given this gem of a movie the care it so richly
deserves (missing isolated score not withstanding).
Back to DVD List