I watched this film having stumbled upon it quite by accident in a late night TV broadcast. I was somewhat captivated. It is that rare thing, a Sci-Fi film which is based on a well-written short story, where the changes to the plot arguably improve the story in the film, and (tacky) special effects are largely absent.
One can only wonder if the 1970 film 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' spurred the makers of this film; parts of the plot have similar aspects; one can only imagine the discussions in script meetings as to whether the audience 'will get it' or not, with both films.
Good sci-fi (and indeed good film-making in general) requires a suspension of disbelief; special effects are not required for this to happen, and indeed things that are suggested but not seen on-screen overtly can be just as powerful in the mind of the viewer. In extremis, as one child reputedly put it; 'I love the radio, because the pictures are better'.
I think the makers of this film knew that and perhaps didn't have the budget to do otherwise. Anyway, the result is intriguing and rather good.
The 'alternate plane' is portrayed as a coherent and believable place, in which war has not forced the pace of technological development, and (in a note that must have chimed with those suffering raging inflation in the early 1970s), prices have not risen at high speed and we were still using pounds shillings and pence instead of decimal coinage.
Those with an interest in that period will note the things that were chosen to draw contrast to the 'modern now' of our plane as opposed to the alternate plane; Tom Bell drives a Jag XJ6, and Joan Collins drives a mini Clubman; both recently launched models. Bell's flat is decorated in bright orange circular motifs (ah, the '70s !!!) and is littered with electrical gadgets; Joan Collin's house is all new in the 1970s style too! Joan Collins rated this film as one of the three best performances she ever gave and I think she was right; she is rather wonderful in this film, and elevates it above the mundane with her performance. However she counted 'Dynasty' in her top three, so I'd put this in her top two.
One can only wonder if the 1970 film 'The Man Who Haunted Himself' spurred the makers of this film; parts of the plot have similar aspects; one can only imagine the discussions in script meetings as to whether the audience 'will get it' or not, with both films.
Good sci-fi (and indeed good film-making in general) requires a suspension of disbelief; special effects are not required for this to happen, and indeed things that are suggested but not seen on-screen overtly can be just as powerful in the mind of the viewer. In extremis, as one child reputedly put it; 'I love the radio, because the pictures are better'.
I think the makers of this film knew that and perhaps didn't have the budget to do otherwise. Anyway, the result is intriguing and rather good.
The 'alternate plane' is portrayed as a coherent and believable place, in which war has not forced the pace of technological development, and (in a note that must have chimed with those suffering raging inflation in the early 1970s), prices have not risen at high speed and we were still using pounds shillings and pence instead of decimal coinage.
Those with an interest in that period will note the things that were chosen to draw contrast to the 'modern now' of our plane as opposed to the alternate plane; Tom Bell drives a Jag XJ6, and Joan Collins drives a mini Clubman; both recently launched models. Bell's flat is decorated in bright orange circular motifs (ah, the '70s !!!) and is littered with electrical gadgets; Joan Collin's house is all new in the 1970s style too! Joan Collins rated this film as one of the three best performances she ever gave and I think she was right; she is rather wonderful in this film, and elevates it above the mundane with her performance. However she counted 'Dynasty' in her top three, so I'd put this in her top two.