ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

Here are some interesting personal recollections from Jimbo Berkey about a movie that came out a decade earlier than the ones I've shared so far from his website, Free Classic Movies, one of the rare science fiction films from the 1940s, a film called Time Flies.

I'm watching the download from Jimbo's website right now — and eating fresh popcorn!
_____________________________________________

______________

I do not remember the exact year or teacher, but I vividly recall one day in one of my first school years when the teacher discussed the future.

She was telling us about a far off event . . . the changing from one century to the next . . . in the year 2000. She discussed some of the previous centuries, and the history of time as it moves from century to century.

__

My young imagination tried to picture what life would be like in the new century, and I distinctly remember counting the years from that day until the year 2000, then determining how old I would be if I survived to that ripe old age.

__

I remember debating with my vivid imagination whether or not I would still have my wits about me and would recognize and appreciate the 21st century. Surely if I was still alive in that far off year, I might be so old that I would be senile and could not appreciate that a new century had arrived.

__

Well, that century is now more than a decade old, and inside my mind I still feel like I did when I was in my mid-twenties, regardless of the white whiskers on my chin that tell me otherwise. And despite what some of my friends say, I still have a bit of my wits about me even in this twenty first century.

__

Ever since watching the original Star Trek on channel 43 in Cleveland Ohio when I really was in my twenties, I have enjoyed science fiction and journeys into space and time. And now thanks to cable television with hundreds of channels I can enjoy Dr. Who from Britain on the BBC America channel.

__

Always a leader in science fiction, this British movie brings us the very first motion picture that featured a time machine, and along with some believable science fiction, a huge dose of the unbeatable British word humor. Their use of the language for double entendre and the effective use of meaningful synonyms, like when one of our stars is headed for a visit to the Queen's court and states, "any court in a storm."

__

Grab a big bowl of home-popped white kernel popcorn drizzled with lots of warm melted butter, and enjoy a blast from the past as our heroes travel back in time to the England of Queen Elizabeth the first.


____Jimbo Berkey
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

___________________________________

[Gord Green]

Well now, I'm going to have to watch this movie!

Thanks Bud!
_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.

[Bud Brewster]

________________________________

I read the posts above today and remembered that the time machine and sets in this movie (along with some impressive special effects) were worth making screen grabs for a posts.

* * * * * * * * * SPOILER ALERT * * * * * * * * * *

First of all, the time machine is a large metal ball, similar to the one in the short-lived series Timeless!





When the two comic characters are running from a group cops, they stumble into the laboratory where the time sphere is located.







Inside there are two levels and some impressive dials, controls, and pieces of equipment, but I couldn't do them justice with soft-focus screen grabs, so I'll let you guys watch the movie to see those.

The professor and a lovely blond (Evelyn Dall) are already inside the time machine when the guys who are running from the cops enter the lab.





The two fugitives accidentally activate it when they go inside to hide from the cops. Notice that when the hatch is closed before the cops rush in, there's no seam!





When the machine activates, it doesn't just disappear — it floats up into the air and passes right through the wall of the lab while the cops watch in awe! Then is flies out over the city and goes out into space!





The professors sets the time circuits for a visit to Queen Elizabeth during her reign, and the sphere lands gently in a snowy forest near London.





During the time travels visit in the court of Elizabeth, the superstitious British citizens decide that these strange people and their bizarre orb are all part of witchcraft, so they try burn them . . . time machine an all!

But the professor cranks up the time machine, and it floats up from the courtyard, heads out into space again, and finally returns to the lab. (Oddly enough, we DO see the seam of the closed hatch in the miniature. )







Notice that the shot of the Earth is different from the first one above, not just a repeat shot.

Remember, this a comedy, so despite the impressive sci-fi elements, expect lots of gags and even a few songs from the lovely blond who accompanies the men. And the ending is definitely not serious (or very satisfying, sci-fi wise, I'm sorry to say).

But over all, the movie is loads of fun, so download it from Jimbo Berkey's site, pop up the corn, and run the movie!
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Eadie]

AND it may have been the inspiration for the Time Sphere in the old Rip Hunter — Time Master comics!


_________________
____________
Art Should Comfort the Disturbed and Disturb the Comfortable.

[Bud Brewster]

________________________________

Miss Eadie, I beg your forgiveness for overlooking your wonderful post above . . . for the last five years!

The comic you shared has excellent artwork, and Wikipedia says that the character, portrayed by Arthur Darvill, appears in the first three seasons of the CW's television series Legends of Tomorrow.

Thanks for pointing out this interesting connenction!
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)