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tmlindsey Mission Specialist
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Joined: 18 Jul 2022 Posts: 409 Location: NW Florida
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:28 am Post subject: The Time Machine (1949) BBC |
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I've known about this live 1949 production for several years, but only more recently found an article with some actual photos from the production.
Here is the link to the site the article is located on: https://colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/bbcprod.htm
Using children as the Morlocks seems odd to me, but Morlocks should look basically like Gollum, which is probably a difficult type to cast
The Machine itself is an interesting design as well.
It's a pity there were no recordings made of so many early TV productions. _________________ "Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?" |
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scotpens Starship Captain
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Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: The Time Machine (1949) BBC |
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tmlindsey wrote: |
The Machine itself is an interesting design as well.
![](https://colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/BBC%201949/Priestley%201%20BBC.jpg) |
Looks like a circa-1950 futuristic coffee maker. |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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Joined: 14 Dec 2013 Posts: 17160 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:46 am Post subject: |
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______________________________________________
I hate to say it, guys, but this is what it made me think of.
______________![](https://i.imgur.com/SlHZUuP.jpg) _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:51 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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tmlindsey Mission Specialist
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Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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So I guess the Time Traveler could call his time machine the TURDIS? _________________ "Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?" |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Mr. Lindsay, you are outrageous! ![Laughing](images/smiles/icon_lol.gif) _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958) |
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scotpens Starship Captain
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Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Looking at the full-size prop, the Time Machine actually looks more like a wheel-less scooter.
It's amazing what they were able to accomplish in the days of live television. There was no chance for retakes — everything had to be done right the first time! |
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tmlindsey Mission Specialist
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Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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scotpens wrote: | Looking at the full-size prop, the Time Machine actually looks more like a wheel-less scooter. |
Since Wells was, I believe, into bicycling at the time he wrote TTM and he used "saddle" to describe the seat of the machine, I don't think this one is a bad design. The book description sounds like a junky framework of various materials, so interpreting it is more artist's imagination than anything. _________________ "Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?" |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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The Classics Illustrated comic did a masterful job of demonstrator exactly what the novel described!
![](https://i.imgur.com/mK8Ejp6.jpg) _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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scotpens wrote: | Looking at the full-size prop, the Time Machine actually looks more like a wheel-less scooter.
It's amazing what they were able to accomplish in the days of live television. |
Gord, you're absolutely right!
Those of use old enough to remember those by-gone days should appreciate the miraculous things the pioneers of early TV did to inspire young folks like us, back in the Golden Age of Science Fiction!
Sadly we are a vanishing breed of pioneers — some of whom who have gone on to become part of the men and women that put the first man on the Moon! ![Shocked](images/smiles/icon_eek.gif) _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Mon Dec 18, 2023 11:18 am; edited 1 time in total |
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tmlindsey Mission Specialist
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:52 am Post subject: |
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The Classics Illustrated is a cool design but I wouldn't say it's exactly as the book described. More a reflection of 1950s SF design aesthetics. But still cool
"Parts were of nickel, parts of ivory, parts had certainly been filed or sawn out of rock crystal ... twisted crystalline bars lay unfinished upon the bench beside some sheets of drawings, and I took one up for a better look at it. Quartz it seemed to be.
...the machine sure enough, squat, ugly, and askew, a thing of brass, ebony, ivory, and translucent glimmering quartz."
It doesn't sound like a particularly attractive contraption, so artists already have a lot to overcome when trying to design a visual representation. _________________ "Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?" |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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Ah-ha. I stand correct, sir. Thanks.
Yes, the description only give us a list of materials from which the machine was made, and the impression that it's appearance was that of Rube Golderg device.
Clearly not what the Classics Illustrated version looks like, and the exact opposite of the elegant George Pal design. _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958) |
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tmlindsey Mission Specialist
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Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:00 am Post subject: |
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It's always interesting to see what artists' interpretations from text descriptions end up looking like.
The Time Machine sounds terribly ugly, the Nautilus from 20k sounds boring (visually) and the Martian tripod designs are all over the place.
I had, at one time, compiled a page of TM book covers to compare the different designs. Some where really interesting, some were terrible, but most were some variation of the 1960 George Pal machine.
I think a blending of the 1960 and 2002 versions would visually rock. _________________ "Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?" |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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Posted: Sun Dec 10, 2023 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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The version from the 2002 movie is stunning, and when it begins to operate, it blows me away. ![Very Happy](images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif) _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958) |
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tmlindsey Mission Specialist
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:57 am Post subject: |
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Marvel Comics did an adaptation in the mid/late 70s.
Clearly their machine was (at least slightly) influenced by the Classics Illustrated design. _________________ "Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?" |
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Bud Brewster Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
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Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2023 11:22 am Post subject: |
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The design is definitely a variation on the Classics Illustrated version, although it adds enough glitz and glitter to make it appealing in its own way. _________________ ____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958) |
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