Search - The Time Machine on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Excellent For Children Movie Release: 1960 DVD Release: 10/03/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 43 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 22 Genres: Science Fiction, Costume Adventure, Fantasy Adventure See Also: H.G. Wells' The Time Machine [Special Edition Collector's Box]

In George Pal's version of the H.G. Wells classic, Rod Taylor stars as George, a young scientist fascinated with the concept of time travel. On December 31, 1899, George seats himself in his jerry-built time machine and thrusts himself forward into 1917. A dyed-in-the-wool pacifist, George is distressed to see that World War I is raging all about him. He moves past the 1920s and 1930s into the 1940s, only to be confronted by another, even more terrible war. Next he stops in 1966, just as London is destroyed in a nuclear explosion. Retreating to his Time Machine, George is sealed in his cellar by molten lava. By the time he and his machine manage to escape their tomb, the year is 802,701. Looking around, George observes a seemingly idyllic world populated by gentle people. But he also notices that the citizens of the future, known as "Elois," behave more like mindless sheep than human beings. Befriending the lovely Weena (Yvette Mimieux), George learns to his dismay that humankind has forgotten all that it has learned through the centuries, preferring instead to frolic endlessly under the sun. Plot holes and inconsistencies abound in The Time Machine, but the film's true selling points was its Oscar-winning special effects; in this respect, producer-director Pal succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Another plus: the haunting musical score by Russell Garcia. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rod Taylor - George, H. G. Wells
Alan Young - David Filby/James Filby
Yvette Mimieux - Weena
Sebastian Cabot - Dr. Philip Hillyer
Tom Helmore - Anthony Bridewell

George Pal presents the adaptation of H.G. Wells' sci-fi book -The Time Machine. Warner's work on this 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation is very good considering the age of the film. While there are a few brief moments of edge enhancement in the image, overall this is a very fine-looking transfer with solid colors and well-saturated black levels. The audio is presented in a newly created Dolby Digital 5.1 remix in English as well as a French Dolby Mono soundtrack. The new 5.1 soundtrack utilizes some directional effects, though the bulk of the mix is filtered though the front and center speakers. All aspects of the soundtrack are free and clear of any excessive hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are subtitles in French and English. The extra features on =The Time Machine include the very extensive 47-minute documentary A Look Back: The Time Machine, hosted by Rod Tyler, and footage with Alan Young and Michael J. Fox. This is a very in-depth look at the film which should please fans hoping for insight into the production and themes. Also included on this disc is a list of awards the film won, some cast and crew info, and a theatrical trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide