alexanderdavies-99382 If H.G Wells had lived to see his book "The Time Machine" adapted for this 1960 film, I believe he would have been happy with the final results. The film captures the essence and imagination of the novel very well. I agree with the plot being presented in a flashback form as that was how H.G Wells wrote his novel in the first place. Rod Taylor is well cast, he makes the main character of the time- travelling scientist both intelligent and also for being a man of action. The film's pace never lets up from beginning to end and the script, direction and photography are well above average. The budget for the film was certainly a respectable one and it needed to be, in order for the film to convey the details from the plot of the book.

Bruce Corneil As the gin-soaked wreckage of Errol Flynn was being swept off the Hollywood landscape in the late 1950s, a younger but more stable Aussie Adonis was training hard down on Santa Monica beach. A former lifeguard and amateur boxer, his name was Rod Taylor and movie critics of the day quickly got to the core of what the sandy-haired, blue-eyed newcomer was all about. He was soon being described as "solid", "ruggedly handsome", "charming" and, after proving himself in a string of successful pictures, "reliable".Following a succession of support roles on both the big and small screen, Taylor finally got his first crack at movie stardom in 1960 when the producer-director George Pal gave him the lead in "The Time Machine", MGM's rendering of the landmark novel of the same name by H.G.Wells.Ideally cast as George, the strong-willed inventor in late Victorian London who speculates about the possibility of being able to travel through the fourth dimension to the future, Taylor struck gold. In an effort to realize his ambition, he builds an amazing machine, a wondrous creation of brass rails, ivory and rock crystal with a red velvet seat. Launching himself in a spectacular blaze of flashing colored lights, he hurtles away and, after a blistering burst of speed, he arrives in the year 802,701 where he comes across what looks like a paradise on earth.Populated by a society of beautiful young people known as the Eloi, the air is fresh and clean and magnificent fruit grows in abundance. But he soon discovers that all is not well. The gentle Eloi are, in fact, being held virtual prisoners by a brutal colony of mutants called the Morlocks who run the place from their underground hideaway. After falling for Weena, a particularly cute Eloi girl, George snaps into hero mode and with, the damsel's life at stake, he decides to save her people from the evil ones. However, there are matters he has to attend to back in his own world. What follows is a study of divided loyalties and a moral dilemma which stretches between the ages.Unsure about making another foray in science fiction, Taylor was swayed after he met George Pal as he explained in the July,1986 edition of Starlog magazine. "George was a genius. He had a marvelous talent for illustration and I was fascinated by his pre -production drawings". Movie novice Yvette Mimieux played Weena and provided just the right look of wide-eyed innocence and vulnerability for the brave and chivalrous Taylor to defend. Other cast members included TV regular Alan Young as the inventor's closest friend David Filby together with Sebastian Cabot, Tom Helmore and Whit Bissell. Writer David Duncan supplied an intelligent and imaginative script while veteran cameraman Paul Vogel did the cinematography and Russell Garcia handled the music.Released on August 16,1960, The Time Machine became an overnight sensation at the box office, with the special effects by Gene Warren and Tim Baer going on to win an Oscar. Now considered to be a classic of the genre, both the picture in general and Taylor's contribution in particular were hailed by the critics. Pauline Kael, of the New Yorker later described it as being "one of the best of its kind". Bosley Crowther of the New York Times drew attention to the standard of the photography, saying that "The color lends exciting hues to everything from Victorian wine glasses to the Morlocks flashing green eyes". Variety called Taylor's characterization "a gem".Most significantly, it marked the beginning of Taylor's big career which, as it turned out, barely extended beyond the end of the decade.However, during his stay at the top he stood alone as Australia's only major Hollywood identity. Greatly respected for his range and versatility as an actor, he moved easily and competently between drama, comedy, romance and, later, action movies as he co - starred opposite the likes of Rock Hudson, Doris Day, John Wayne and many others.

StuOz I man travels through time.Since my 1970s childhood, science fiction has always been one of my very top interests and movies like this (and Irwin Allen TV) turned me into a sci-fi nut. In those days there was less sci-fi around so re-runs of movies like The Time Machine were big events.However, over the last 50 years or so just about everything in this film has been re-used or copied and put somewhere else. So part of the flick's impact has now been lost.I am also a very big fan of the 30 episode TV series, The Time Tunnel (1966), and I would advise all followers of this movie to see The Time Tunnel (it even has Time Machine star Whit Bissell in every episode).

clivemorrow I recently read the book "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells. It kept me from sleeping for a while because I thought the Morlocks were chasing me! This film I have loved since childhood but now I see that it differs from the book quite a lot. Nevertheless, the spirit of the novel is in this film and it is so much better than the Guy Pearce film of 2002.That film was bizarre, especially in the way it showed the Eloi living in cages on cliffs above the sea. Then there was the incomprehensible part played by Jeremy Irons.This film starred Rod Taylor and he was ideal for the part.The book was written in 1895. The film has him starting off on the last day of 1899. He sees 1917, 1940 and 1966 before going to 802,701. The world of the Eloi and the Morlocks is evoked extremely well and there is great imagination in the sets. Rod Taylor is exactly the way I imagined the Time Traveller to be when I was reading the novel.Yvette Mimieux also plays Weena in just the right way. The book ends with the narrator saying that he is glad that "mutual tenderness still lived on in the heart of man." Rod Taylor died at the beginning of this year and "The Birds" and this are the two films for which he will always be remembered. Some things have been changed, but I feel sure that if he had lived to see it H.G. Wells himself would have approved of this film.