The Time Machine
Directed by	George Pál
Produced by	George Pál
Written by	H. G. Wells (novel) David Duncan
Starring	Rod Taylor Alan Young Yvette Mimieux Sebastian Cabot Whit Bissell
Music by	Russell Garcia
Editing by	George Tomasini
Release date(s)	17 August 1960
Running time	103 min
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	approx $850,000
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

The Time Machine (sometimes known as H.G. Wells' The Time Machine) is a 1960 science fiction film based on The Time Machine, an 1895 novel by H. G. Wells about a man from Victorian England who travels far into the future. It was made by George Pál, who also filmed a famous 1953 version of Wells' The War of the Worlds. It starred Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux. The screenplay was written by Daniel Duncan and the musical score was composed by Russell Garcia. George Pál in 1979 George Pal (February 1, 1908 – May 2, 1980) (birth name: Györgi Pál Marczincsák) was a Hungarian-born animator and film producer, principally associated with the science fiction genre. ... George Pál in 1979 George Pal (February 1, 1908 – May 2, 1980) (birth name: Györgi Pál Marczincsák) was a Hungarian-born animator and film producer, principally associated with the science fiction genre. ... Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 – August 13, 1946), better known as H. G. Wells, was an English writer best known for such science fiction novels as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon and The Island of Doctor Moreau. ... Rod Taylor (born January 11, 1930) is an actor. ... For the football (soccer) player, see Allan Young. ... Yvette Mimieux (born January 8, 1942 in Los Angeles, California) is an actress with a French father and a Mexican mother. ... Sebastian Cabot (July 6, 1918 â€“ August 22, 1977) was a film and television actor, best remembered as a gently composed gentlemans gentleman in the 1960s situation comedy Family Affair, but his sonorous voice and understated style belied his frequent typecasting as an Englishman trying to make sense of America. ... Whit Bissell in the 1948 film He Walked by Night Whitner Nutting Bissell (25 October 1909 – 5 March 1996) was an American character actor. ... Russell Garcia is a motion picture composer born April 12, 1916 in Oakland, California. ... George Tomasini (born April 20, 1909, died November 22, 1964) was the genius American film editor who often worked with very closely with film director Alfred Hitchcock. ... is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Science fiction film is a film genre that uses speculative, science-based depictions of imaginary phenomena such as extra-terrestrial lifeforms, alien worlds, and time travel, often along with technological elements such as futuristic spacecraft, robots, or other technologies. ... The Time Machine is a novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1895, later made into two films of the same title. ... Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 – August 13, 1946), better known as H. G. Wells, was an English writer best known for such science fiction novels as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon and The Island of Doctor Moreau. ... redirect Victorian eramonkey ... George Pál in 1979 George Pal (February 1, 1908 – May 2, 1980) (birth name: Györgi Pál Marczincsák) was a Hungarian-born animator and film producer, principally associated with the science fiction genre. ... The War of the Worlds (also sometimes known as H.G. Wells The War of the Worlds) is a 1953 science fiction film produced by George Pál and directed by Byron Haskin from a script by Barré Lyndon based on the H. G. Wells novel of the same name. ... Rod Taylor (born Rodney Sturt Taylor on January 11, 1930) is an Australian-born film and television actor. ... Yvette Mimieux (born January 8, 1942 in Los Angeles, California) is an actress with a French father and a Mexican mother. ... Sample from a screenplay, showing dialogue and action descriptions. ... Russell Garcia is a motion picture composer born April 12, 1916 in Oakland, California. ...

The film received a 1961 Oscar for its then-novel use of time lapse photographic effects to show the world around the Time Traveller changing at breakneck speed. Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The flower of a geranium opening over a period of about two hours. ...

Pal always wanted to make a sequel to the 1960 film. But it was only remade in 2002 with the same title directed by Wells' great-grandson Simon Wells. The Time Machine is a 2002 science fiction film directed by Simon Wells as a remake of The Time Machine (1960), and starring Guy Pearce, Jeremy Irons, Orlando Jones, Samantha Mumba, Mark Addy, Sienna Guillory, and Phyllida Law with a cameo by Alan Young from the earlier film. ... Simon Wells is the great-great grandson of H.G. Wells. ...

Plot summary

In 1899 London, George (Rod Taylor) discusses the subject of time as the fourth dimension with some of his friends, among them David Filby (Alan Young) and Dr. Philip Hillyer (Sebastian Cabot). He then shows them a tiny machine that he claims can travel in time. When activated, the device first blurs, then disappears. The others are incredulous, but dismiss what they have witnessed as a parlour trick and leave. Before he departs, Filby warns George that it is not for them "to tempt the laws of providence." They agree to meet again next Friday. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Time Traveller is the fictional protagonist in H. G. Wellss The Time Machine, a novel published in 1895. ... Rod Taylor (born January 11, 1930) is an actor. ... For the football (soccer) player, see Allan Young. ... Sebastian Cabot may refer to: Sebastian Cabot (1476-1557), Italian explorer Sebastian Cabot (1918-1977), British actor This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

George sits in his time machine

Unbeknownst to the others, George has constructed a full-scale model of his time machine, one capable of transporting a man. He sits in it, the dial reading "December 31, 1899", pushes the lever forward, and watches time pass at an accelerated rate around him. To his amusement, he sees the changing of women's fashion on a mannequin in the window of a dress shop across the street. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A wooden mannequin For other uses, see Mannequin (disambiguation). ...

Eventually, he stops the machine at September 13, 1917 to see what has become of the world. He meets a man in uniform whom he mistakes for his old friend, David Filby; it turns out to be his son James. He informs George that his father had died recently in the "Great War". George returns to the machine and travels to June 19, 1940. There are barrage balloons in the sky and sounds of bombing, leading him to believe, "It must be the new war." His next stop is August 18, 1966. He is puzzled to see several people hurrying past him into a fallout shelter amidst the blare of air raid sirens. An older, grey-haired James Filby tries to get him to enter the shelter as "the mushrooms will be sprouting" before fleeing. There is an explosion, the sky turns red, and hot lava begins to ooze down the street. George restarts the machine, just in time to avoid being incinerated. The lava covers the machine, cools and hardens, forcing George to travel far into the future before it erodes away. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... US Marine Corps barrage balloon, Parris Island, May 1942 A barrage balloon is a large balloon tethered with metal cables, used to defend against bombardment by aircraft by damaging the aircraft on collision with the cables. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... A sign pointing to an old fallout shelter in New York City. ... It has been suggested that Nuclear explosive be merged into this article or section. ...

He stops the machine abruptly on October 12, in the year 802,701, next to a low building with a large, grotesque sphinx on top of it. George explores the idyllic pastoral paradise. He spots some young adults by a river. A young woman is drowning, but the others are strangely indifferent to her plight. George rescues her himself. She calls herself Weena (Yvette Mimieux) and her people the Eloi. She is very interested in him. For other uses, see Sphinx (disambiguation). ... The Eloi are one of the two post-human races in H. G. Wells 1895 novel The Time Machine. ...

George is outraged to find out that the Eloi have no government, no laws, and little curiosity. Their books lay mouldering on a few shelves. He shouts, "A million years of sensitive men dying for their dreams, for what? So you can... dance and play." He decides to return to his own time, but tracks indicate that the time machine has been dragged into the building, behind a pair of locked metal doors.

Weena and George listen to the talking rings

Weena takes George to a small museum, where talking rings tell of a centuries-long East-West nuclear war. One group of survivors chose to remain in the shelters, while the rest decided to "take their chances in the sunlight, slim as those chances might be." Later, Weena tells George that the Morlocks live in the building. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the H. G. Wells characters. ...

At night,Weena insists that George and her go back inside, for fear of the Morlocks. While they stay outside, he shows her a fire, and tells her a little about the past. As George tries to recover his machine, one of the Morlocks grabs Weena, but George saves her again. The next day, Weena shows George openings in the ground which look like air-shafts. George starts climbing down one of them, but then a siren sounds and he climbs back up. Weena and rest of the Eloi start walking towards the front of the building as if in a trance, seeking refuge from a non-existent attack. Before George can find her, the sirens stop and the doors close, trapping Weena and several others inside.

The Morlocks.

George climbs down an air-shaft, reaching a big artificial cave. In one chamber he sees a number of human skeletons strewn carelessly about and learns the horrifying truth: the Morlocks eat the Eloi. The Morlocks are finally shown to be hideous hominid, ape-like creatures. George finds that they are sensitive to light; he uses matches to keep them at bay, before lighting an improvised torch. At one point, a Morlock knocks it away, but one of the male Eloi summons up enough courage to punch the Morlock. Weena pitches in as well. They set fire to the flammable material in the cave, driving off the Morlocks. Then the Eloi escape through the air-shafts. Under George's guidance, they drop tree branches into the shafts to feed the fire. There is an explosion, and the entire area caves in. Image File history File links Morlocks. ... Image File history File links Morlocks. ...

Finding the metal doors now open, George goes in to get his machine, but the doors close behind him. A Morlock attacks, but George activates his machine and travels into the future, watching the Morlock die and turn to dust. Then George travels back to January 5th, 1900. He tells his story to his friends, but only Filby believes him. After George's friends leave, Filby returns, but by the time he reaches the laboratory, it is too late: George has left again. The housekeeper, Mrs. Watchett (Doris Lloyd) notes that he took three books with him. Filby asks her which three she would take with her to restart a civilization. She asks Filby if they will ever see George again; Filby replies, "One cannot choose but wonder, You see, he has all the time in the world." Doris Lloyd (3 July 1896 – 21 May 1968), was an English actress. ...

Cast

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

* Not credited on-screen. Rod Taylor (born January 11, 1930) is an actor. ... For the football (soccer) player, see Allan Young. ... Yvette Mimieux (born January 8, 1942 in Los Angeles, California) is an actress with a French father and a Mexican mother. ... Sebastian Cabot (July 6, 1918 â€“ August 22, 1977) was a film and television actor, best remembered as a gently composed gentlemans gentleman in the 1960s situation comedy Family Affair, but his sonorous voice and understated style belied his frequent typecasting as an Englishman trying to make sense of America. ... Tom Helmore (4 January 1904 – 12 September 1995), was a British film actor. ... Whit Bissell in the 1948 film He Walked by Night Whitner Nutting Bissell (25 October 1909 – 5 March 1996) was an American character actor. ... Doris Lloyd (3 July 1896 – 21 May 1968), was an English actress. ... Paul Frees (June 22, 1920 - November 2, 1986) was a voice actor born in Chicago. ...

Production

Pál was already famous for his pioneering work with animation. He was nominated for an Oscar almost yearly during the 1940s. Unable to sell Hollywood on the screenplay, he found the British MGM studio (where he had filmed Tom Thumb) much friendlier. The bouncing ball animation (below) consists of these 6 frames. ... The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949. ... Tom Thumb hitches a ride on a butterfly Tom Thumb is the name of a traditional hero in English folklore who was no bigger than his fathers thumb. ...

MGM art director Bill Ferrari invented the Machine, combining a sled-like design with a big, radarlike wheel. The original Machine prop would later reappear in animator Mike Jittlov's short Time Tripper, and thus in his feature film version of The Wizard of Speed and Time which incorporated it. It is also seen in the film Gremlins along with Robby the Robot at the inventor's convention. Mike Jittlov is the creator of many inventive movies using stop-motion animation, also known as pixilation. ... Animato is a compilation of short films by Mike Jittlov, using extensive use of Stop motion, pixilation, kinestasis, animation, and multiple exposures. ... The Wizard of Speed and Time is a low-budget movie written, directed, and starring animator Mike Jittlov. ... For other uses, see Gremlin (disambiguation). ...

1993 sequel/documentary

In 1993, a combination sequel/documentary short, Time Machine: The Journey Back, directed by Clyde Lucas, was produced. In the third part, Michael J. Fox talks about his experience with Time Machines from Back to The Future. In the last part, written by original screenwriter David Duncan, the film's original actors Rod Taylor, Alan Young and Whit Bissell reprised their roles. With Bissell's opening narration, the Time Traveler returns to his laboratory in 1916 and finds David Filby (dressed in a World War I army uniform) there. Knowing that Filby is destined to die during the Great War, George tries to prevent this by encouraging his friend to join him in the far future – but Filby has doubts. Eventually, George departs in the time machine alone – no doubt having learned that he cannot change the course of history... but will give it one more try. Filby dies May 16, 1916, so he'll go back to May 15... (Time Machine: The Journey Back is featured as an extra on the DVD release of the 1960 film.) This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other persons named Michael Fox, see Michael Fox (disambiguation). ... This article is about the first film in the Back to the Future trilogy. ... David Duncan (born 1960), is the United States governments star witness in the Arthur Andersen trial. ...

Awards and nominations

• Academy Award for Best Effects, Special Effects winner (1961) - Gene Warren and Tim Baar
• Hugo Award nomination (1961)

The Academy Award for Visual Effects is an Oscar given to one film each year that shows highest achievement in visual effects. ... Gene Warren, Sr. ... The Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation is one of the annual Hugo Award categories, presented by members of the World Science Fiction Convention. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

The Time Machine (1960 film)

• The Time Machine at the Internet Movie Database
• The Time Machine at Allmovie
• "Time Machine The Journey Back Official Website"
• Colemanzone.com: A tribute to the classic 1960 MGM movie The Time Machine
• The Time Machine - synopsis of film scenes
• Turner Classic Movies description
• Script (scifimoviepage.com)
• Cinematographic analysis of The Time Machine