H.G. Wells - Things to Come
starring: Raymond Massey, Edward Chapman, Ralph Richardson, Margaretta Scott, Cedric Hardwicke
directed by: William Cameron Menzies
directed by: William Cameron Menzies
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Product Description:
Studio: Image EntertainmentRelease Date: 10/03/2006Run time: 92 minutesRating: Nr
Amazon.com essential video:
Based on H.G. Wells's speculative meditation on the price of progress, this 1936 English science-fiction epic shows the painterly touch of director William Cameron Menzies, an American whose career in art direction and production design, as well as uncredited directorial work, attached him to such visual triumphs as Gone with the Wind, Alexander Korda's sumptuous 1940 Thief of Baghdad, and Menzies's better-known SF achievement as director, the original Invaders from Mars. Things to Come traces a generational saga that begins, presciently, with a global war that outlives its own political purpose, unraveling society to a Balkanized world of isolated communities. In the wake of a subsequent, devastating plague, a new technocracy arises, evolving toward Menzies's striking vision of vast, subterranean cities, rendered in matte paintings building on then-contemporaneous art-deco "streamlined" aesthetics. Driven more by theme than plot, Things to Come lacks the sheer momentum of other Wells classics brought to film (The Invisible Man, War of the Worlds, and The Time Machine, among them); but Menzies's bold look and a strong cast including Raymond Massey, Ralph Richardson, Cedric Hardwicke and a young Ann Todd explain the film's enduring appeal. --Sam Sutherland
Studio: Image EntertainmentRelease Date: 10/03/2006Run time: 92 minutesRating: Nr
Amazon.com essential video:
Based on H.G. Wells's speculative meditation on the price of progress, this 1936 English science-fiction epic shows the painterly touch of director William Cameron Menzies, an American whose career in art direction and production design, as well as uncredited directorial work, attached him to such visual triumphs as Gone with the Wind, Alexander Korda's sumptuous 1940 Thief of Baghdad, and Menzies's better-known SF achievement as director, the original Invaders from Mars. Things to Come traces a generational saga that begins, presciently, with a global war that outlives its own political purpose, unraveling society to a Balkanized world of isolated communities. In the wake of a subsequent, devastating plague, a new technocracy arises, evolving toward Menzies's striking vision of vast, subterranean cities, rendered in matte paintings building on then-contemporaneous art-deco "streamlined" aesthetics. Driven more by theme than plot, Things to Come lacks the sheer momentum of other Wells classics brought to film (The Invisible Man, War of the Worlds, and The Time Machine, among them); but Menzies's bold look and a strong cast including Raymond Massey, Ralph Richardson, Cedric Hardwicke and a young Ann Todd explain the film's enduring appeal. --Sam Sutherland
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- More interesting than entertaining
Calling the acting stiff would be an understatement, and no one in the movie ever says anything - everyone declaims, and in bold, often stentorian tones. Every point made in the movie is made with the subtlety of a jackhammer. To modern ears the result is vaguely ridiculous, and sometimes irritating.
Like everyone else in his era, Wells was a great deal too optimistic about the Wonders of Science (the capitals are essential). But the movie made a lot of good points and Wells clearly ... Read More
Rating: 
- History Repeating Itself
Great story from the past that looks strangely familiar.
This movie is a reminder of the proverb, "There is nothing new under the sun"... "All that is has already been done".
Of course another view of this is that everything they are doing to us they have done before, and have refined the same techniques through careful deliberation and much practice.It is clear that the present new world order scheme is an old world ambition for world domination and total population ... Read More
Rating: - a caucasian future
I just saw this film on TCM. For a film made in 1936--considering what happened later--it was eerily on target on some things. The dialogue was somewhat stiff and unrealistic and did anyone notice that only caucasians seemed to have survived into the future? What happened to all the Asians, Africans, and Hispanics/Latinos?
Rating: - Good Movie -- Good Restoration...
I first saw H.G. Wells "Things To Come" when I was about 12 and even then it made an indelible impression on me. The last time I saw it was in college (too many years ago to mention) for a film history class and it held up well. So this restored DVD version is only my third viewing of this flick.
But the film itself still holds up, addressing many social, political and scientific implications of a progressing society that many of us would do well to heed today. For purposes of complete ... Read More
Rating: - sci-fi, classic film
this old classic now remade by colorization has an added dimension that enhances the visuals the cinemagraphic artists would have liked to project to the audiences. Color works in this film. compared to the black and white version in the same dvd, film buffs can compare directly their likes and dislikes of the colorization process. I think the color adds a positive new dimension in this film. It doesn't work for all older films but this time I think it is a winner.
- More interesting than entertainingCalling the acting stiff would be an understatement, and no one in the movie ever says anything - everyone declaims, and in bold, often stentorian tones. Every point made in the movie is made with the subtlety of a jackhammer. To modern ears the result is vaguely ridiculous, and sometimes irritating.
Like everyone else in his era, Wells was a great deal too optimistic about the Wonders of Science (the capitals are essential). But the movie made a lot of good points and Wells clearly ... Read More
- History Repeating ItselfGreat story from the past that looks strangely familiar.
This movie is a reminder of the proverb, "There is nothing new under the sun"... "All that is has already been done".
Of course another view of this is that everything they are doing to us they have done before, and have refined the same techniques through careful deliberation and much practice.It is clear that the present new world order scheme is an old world ambition for world domination and total population ... Read More
- a caucasian futureI just saw this film on TCM. For a film made in 1936--considering what happened later--it was eerily on target on some things. The dialogue was somewhat stiff and unrealistic and did anyone notice that only caucasians seemed to have survived into the future? What happened to all the Asians, Africans, and Hispanics/Latinos?
- Good Movie -- Good Restoration...I first saw H.G. Wells "Things To Come" when I was about 12 and even then it made an indelible impression on me. The last time I saw it was in college (too many years ago to mention) for a film history class and it held up well. So this restored DVD version is only my third viewing of this flick.
But the film itself still holds up, addressing many social, political and scientific implications of a progressing society that many of us would do well to heed today. For purposes of complete ... Read More
- sci-fi, classic filmthis old classic now remade by colorization has an added dimension that enhances the visuals the cinemagraphic artists would have liked to project to the audiences. Color works in this film. compared to the black and white version in the same dvd, film buffs can compare directly their likes and dislikes of the colorization process. I think the color adds a positive new dimension in this film. It doesn't work for all older films but this time I think it is a winner.
