Time Machine: The Journey Back

One of the things that I really love about the topic of time travel is the possibilities that it entails for stories. The 1960 version of the Time Machine ended with the suggestion that George traveled back into the distant future to continue to try to help the Eloi escape the oppression of the Morlocks. In this documentary, Rod Taylor and Alan Young, who played George and Filby, respectively, are reunited after not having seen each other for more than 30 years, and they reprise their characters in a wonderful new scene.

George has traveled into the future, lived there for 30 years, and then returned to 30 years after the original story took place to meet up with his old friend and tell him about where he has been. Too bad he didn't just go back to 1899 so Filby wouldn't have had to wonder all those years.

There is a lot of time spent in the documentary talking about the design of the original time machine, as well as various thing that happened to it after post production, which are pretty interesting. At one point it was lost for several years, only to turn up badly damaged at a thrift store in southern California. The film details the restoration of the time machine, and talks about how it appeared in later films like World Without End and The Wizard of Speed and Time, neither of which I can find anywhere.

Rod Taylor hosts the documentary, and tells some wonderful stories about making the movie as well as cast and crew reunions years later, and pays his respects to the late George Pal. This is not just a documentary about a movie, it's a celebration of science fiction and the sub-genre as a whole, as well as the deep friendships that are often formed during and after their production.

I always loved the movie and in particular the Time Machine itself: what a wonderful design! It was surprising but somehow fitting that the sled concept came from George Pal's childhood memories of winter fun.

I wondered what had become of the Machine, who owned it. I had always assumed that like the life-creating lab equipment used in James Whale's _Frankenstein_, it had been bought by a wealthy fan for a private collection, or that it was in a film museum somewhere.

The truth revealed in _The Journey Back_ is a little sad, but also moving. The studio, not realizing the icon they had, did little to preserve the Machine. Over the years it was dismembered, auctioned, sold, damaged, and neglected by a variety of owners. The occasional people who lovingly restored the Time Traveler's seat, the control panel, or the brass railings showed the devotion and resourcefulness of custodians of a holy relic.

Ironic that a symbol of emancipation from time was so subject to its effects; uplifting too that a few fans who, like me, had admired it since childhood were able to keep it, and a sort of hope, alive.

This was an excellent documentary on the making of the film, but the part I especially loved was the scene depicting the reunion of George and David. Upon George's return, he meets up with his old friend David Filby and catches him up on what his activities are in the future. As the meeting is taking place you can see the sadness as George must hold back what he knows about the fate of his old friend. This adds something to the film and also puts a bit of closure on the story. This is a fantastic epilogue to a great film.

This is what a sequel should be. The documentary was fantastic loaded with clips and interviews. The mini sequel was nothing short of outstanding. I always had hopes that it would spawn a sequel yet again as both cast members could still portray the roles very well. But the time has past I guess. I would love to see something like this done for another Pal film, When Worlds Collide. It was a last wonderful gasp of classic Sci-Fi.

This in my opinion blows away the new movie remake that was OK. But I only watched it twice This little show I must have watched over a dozen times. I was one of the first to get the video tape in the mail and it certainly was a golden moment.

This is a semi-documentary of the the 1960, George Pal movie, The Time Machine. It is available as an extra on the DVD. The original stars, Alan Young and Rod Taylor are brought back. The documentary focuses on what become of the prop that was used in the movie. Some of the special effects are discussed. It also includes an additional scene that adds some to the movie. I particularly liked the additional scene, it was very sentimental. Young and Taylor are very talented actors.