Page 24 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 156

24 Issue #156 January 2026 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

Time Traveller

adapted screenplay, which is vividly
By Nikolai Adams brought to life by Pal, is a warning of
the dangers of wars that crop up time
ne of my favourite films as a
Oyoung boy – wholly capturing and time again in our history. Getting
my imagination, was the 1960 George a brief viewpoint of different moments
in the future each time he slows his
Pal directed sci-fi adventure The Time
Machine, based on the 1895 novel of time machine, George must witness the
the same name by iconic author H.G. horrors of World Wars One and Two, as
Wells. It is this movie that has possibly well as a vision of how the Cold War
fuelled my intrigue with clocks, pocket could have panned out (set ominously
in 1966, six years after the movie was
watches and other time oriented things
(motion pictures definitely fit within released). He also discovers other Photo Submitted
this grouping). horrors that land closer to heart and
home.
Set at the turn of the twentieth
century, specifically on two days, Winning an Academy Award for Best
Special Effects (Gene Warren and Tim other gargantuan buildings litter the that disappeared so very long ago (this
December 31st, 1899/ January 5th, natural landscape, while the Morlocks segment was set in 1932). Though it is
1900, H. George Wells (Rod Taylor) Baar), the pair, with Pal’s guidance, survive by way of machinery that not part of the original vision, one could
is an inventor and time enthusiast, a utilized time lapsed photographic effects produces oxygen below the Earth’s argue that this sequel of sorts could help
peculiar fellow who has changed quite to depict the passing of time (flowers surface – the divide between the two both sides of the predestination versus
a bit in a short amount of time – at least blooming, a candle melting, weather
changing, a female mannequin dressed factions itself came from another one of free will debate revolving around this
according to his friends. Disenchanted man’s folly-filled wars. motion picture. The documentary
by the warmongering of the British in the latest greatest fashions, and a can be found on the Blu-Ray of The
government (the Boer War) and the head rotting) – striking visions of time Touching on the subject of destiny Time Machine. It also reveals that the
ways in which technology has been used sped up. Another interesting effect, that and predestination, George is the type stunning miniature model used at the
to improve the efficiency of killing, the of a volcano erupting onto the streets of man who does not truly buy into
of a city, was done using oatmeal with the idea – hoping that he can help beginning of the movie was kept by Pal,
inventor looks to the future for hope in but was sadly lost when the director’s
humanity. orange and red food colouring. . . talk shape the future into something worth
about a real Quaker (drum roll please!). living, unlike his uninspiring present. home burnt to the ground. As a final
Inviting his colleagues for dinner In a nice touch that further develops sidenote, Alan Young makes a cameo in
on the 5th after demonstrating his When George does arrive in the the relationship between George and the less engaging 2002 remake starring
newest development (a miniature time distant future (to specify, October his best friend Filby, Taylor and Young Guy Pearce – the only actor from the
travelling device that mirrors a full sized 802,701), it is a world of unimaginable original to do so.
beauty as well as terrible horrors – reprised their respective roles thirty-
one) to best friend David Filby (Alan three years later for a PBS documentary An intriguing Cold War era time travel
Young) and his three other companions much like the time he inhabited. Caught called Time Machine: The Journey science fiction film (with some romance
on New Year’s Eve, he is late for his between a rudimentary vegetarian Back. . . though most of the film revolves to boot), The Time Machine fuses a rich
own party – leaving most of the snooty, people (like a flock of sheep) called around the making and restoration of the story with solid performances, spot on
British upperclassmen in a bit of a the Eloi and their subterranean-living
cannibalistic rulers (of sort) – the original prop. This short quasi-sequel is direction and a fascinating score by
huff. Storming in as they eat, George a nice touch, and holds true to the nature Russell Garcia (early parts use a more
is utterly dishevelled, clothing tattered Morlocks, he becomes fascinated by a of the characters as they were once traditional, time-like melody, while the
and ripped, as if he was attacked and blonde named Weena (Yvette Mimieux) written – which is not too surprising, future is envisioned with an electrical
beaten by a group of savages. – rescuing her from drowning while the
rest of her dim-witted friends ignore the as original screenwriter David Duncan sound, using a theremin and other
This is the lead-in to his outlandish horrifying event. was recruited to carry on the narrative. instruments), making for a more than
tale, as he recounts the story of how he Whit Bissell, who played another memorable adventure. So, book it and
travelled forward in time thousands of The Eloi live in what once must have one of George’s friends in the picture take a trip back, or is it forward, to see
years. Filmed at the heart of the Cold been an awe-inspiring civilization; (Walter Kemp), also makes a cameo, The Time Machine – it is still one hell
War, in many ways, David Duncan’s dilapidated sphinx-like pyramids and reminiscing about his acquaintance of a journey.