The Time Machine (1960)

Even as a child, I have always had an enormous amount of love for this film. It's hard to explain why. Not a lot happens, but it's presentation, colours and love for the source material possibly make it hard to ignore. 

No, this is not the most accurate representation of HG Wells' classic novel, but as adventures into the unknown go, you could do a lot worse than this one. 

Rod Taylor plays HG Wells, George for his friends. He has invited them over to dinner, yet when they arrive, he is nowhere to be found. Suddenly, a dishevelled George bursts in. Of course, his friends are curious to know where he has been and what has happened. 

It turns out George has invented a time machine and because he wants to discover what the future will be like, he heads in that direction. His first stops don't prove too encouraging: at first, the First World War is raging and he finds his closest friend Filby has died. Then, he moves on a little in time, only to find that yet another war is raging, this time the Second World War. When he slows to a halt somewhere in a very fictitious 60s, yet again, there is conflict as atomic bombs drop all around and he escapes in the nick of time (yes, puns!). He is encased in rock and now has to wait until it all erodes. When that finally happens, the Earth is a verdant green, but the buildings are dilapidated. The people he discovers are all young and beautiful. They are also rather stupid, as they never ask questions about anything and don't have any empathy towards others. George discovers this when a girl is about to drown and no one reacts but him. This girl, named Weena, is a little more vibrant than the others and she explains to him that the Eloi (the young people), basically do nothing and the Morlocks (who live underground), control the technology and provide food for the Eloi. George discovers along the way that the Morlocks cannibalize the Eloi for sustenance, as they have devolved into dwellers in darkness. But what will George do?

This film does not paint a very bright picture of the future and also has a poignant message that curiosity and humane behaviour needs to be upheld. But the main attraction of this all is Rod Taylor. He carries the entire film on his hunky shoulders and he manages to have that wondrous talent of being inquisitive and full of zest, even when he discovers that human history has its dark chapters. Yvette Mimieux is nice as Weena, but she doesn't have a lot to do except be pretty (at which she excels, though). 

The only drawbacks are some of the sets that look too artificial. Yes, I know that in the 60s, they couldn't do everything, but the underground lair of the Morlocks suffers a little in comparison with most of the other surroundings. Also, some still shots of the sky and sun are blatantly obvious, which is weird, as much was shot outdoors. And yes, you can argue that the Morlock costumes are a little goofy, but as a young kid, they still scared me and at times; this film is fairly gruesome for 60s mainstream standards. If you don't believe me, the scene of the rapidly decomposing Morlock is not only well done, but also pretty "Yikes!".

All in all, 'The Time Machine' is a great ride and a film that leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. A shame not more films try to emulate this nowadays. 

Oh, and please forget about the godawful remake with Guy Pearce.