TIME MACHINE

   One of the early key items of sf TERMINOLOGY, first used by H.G. WELLS in the title of THE TIME MACHINE (1895). It is, of course, a machine used for TIME TRAVEL.

   PN

The TIME MACHINE

   Film (1960). Galaxy Films/MGM. Prod/dir George PAL, starring Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot. Screenplay David DUNCAN, based on THE TIME MACHINE (1895) by H.G. WELLS. 103 mins. Colour.

   Unlike Pal's WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953), TTM is set in the Victorian era - at least at the beginning of the film - and it is these sequences, with the inventor demonstrating his creation to his disbelieving friends amid the Victorian bric-a-brac of their cosy world, that work the best. After avisually interesting journey through time (special effects by Wah Chang and Gene Warren), pausing occasionally - for example, to note the nuclear bombardment of London in 1966 - the film reduces Wells's angry parable to a Hollywood sf formula. The parallels between the troglodytic Morlocks and the Victorian working class and between the beautiful but thoughtless Eloi and the Victorian upper class are lost. The Time Traveller becomes a confident, romantic hero, successfully rousing the Eloi to battle against their ape-like devourers. The disturbing evolutionary perspectives of the end of Wells's book are also missing. William Ferrari's charming design for the TIME MACHINE does not compensate for the vulgarization of the story.

   JB/PN