The Time Machine (1978 TV Movie) User Reviews

OK - here we go again...

[LisaLisa85 · 6/10 · 11 June 2008]

I had to post a comment about this adaptation of The Time Machine after reading the very harsh review by "Anonymous" from Sacramento.

This 1978 version was never intended as a remake to the 1960 version; in the 1960 film, MGM took a lot of liberties with the original book material, and in fact this version is a much more faithful adaptation of the book, and much closer to HG Wells' vision.

Whereas the 1960 version had a number of "key events" included that were not actually in the book at all, and also several key issues omitted, this version largely stays true to the book in all aspects.

While John Beck is not as confident or assured (or even as "arrogant") in his role as Rod Taylor, his more laid-back performance is far more reminiscent of the Time Traveller from the book than Taylor's. A couple of other famous faces (including the John A. Doucette, Priscilla Barnes and even Whit Bissell, who also starred in the 1960 version, are all pleasant enough in their supporting roles.

The effects are not brilliant, but then this was a cheap budget production made in the Star Wars era, so in comparison there was no way the effects were ever going to match up with productions from the likes of MGM or 20th Century Fox for that time! In short, while nothing special, and not as entertaining as the 1960 version, this 1978 adaptation is not absolutely disastrous either.

When it comes to accurately depicting HG Wells' original book, the 1960 "Time Machine" film is the weaker version, not this one

Only Saw First Half, Not Bad

[domnogin · 5/10 · 18 June 2007]

A power outage kept me from seeing more than half of this on ABC (American Broadcasting Network). I remember the hero being burned, presumably as a witch though that punishment was reserved for heretics. Sure, it didn't stick to the original novel, which I have read in two different forms; so what. I kept hoping it would be shown again. Maybe someone has uploaded the video.

I made the mistake of asking ABC for help in finding their eight-episode series PROBE (1988) starring Parker Stevenson (previously of THE HARDY BOYS) and Ashley Crow (currently of HEROES). They disavowed any knowledge of its existence; the show was a victim of a writers' strike. I never bothered to ask about this movie.

It wasn't all that bad.

[electric_postcard · 24 April 2004]

Ok, I'll admit, it didn't have oscar winning special effects. But at least this "update" to the 1960's Time Machine existed in 1978 and now the more recent remake of Time Machine. The movie script was fairly decent, and the special effects were somewhat realistic. I think if you give the 1978 remake a chance, that it comes across fairly nice on a whole. The ending was good in that at least they brought closure to the character in meeting back up with Weena in the future. This believe it or not is a very rare film. You don't see it on DVD or VHS anywhere and they don't replay it on TV or cable that I've seen at all, which is a real shame. I lucked out and taped it years ago on VHS. I always enjoy looking at it from time to time. Sure, I know the quality of the effects aren't great, but hey, it's nice to check out every now and then.

The worst remake ever made.

[jeff747 · 1/10 · 17 March 1999]

The 1960 film is so wonderful. Why would they remake it so badly?

The effects aren't perfect in the original Film, but they are a hundred times worse in the TV movie.

The actors are annoying.

The costumes on the Morlocks are amazingly just as bad as the worst sci-fi flicks of the 50's.

Sorry if you like this movie. I just think it's awful.

Perhaps The Worst Film Adaptation Of Any Book Ever

[Theo Robertson · 1/10 · 16 April 2011]

Apparently this is based on HG Wells The Time Machine but one can't help wondering if the producers read another book with the same title ? Perhaps some of the commentators here also read that book because as someone who did read Wells original novel I can state without any embarrassment and reservation that the first half of this TVM has absolutely nothing in common with the book except for a vague premise of having someone building a time machine

The story takes place in a contemporary setting where a Soviet satellite falls out of orbit and threatens Los Angles and scientist Neil Perry saves the day but coming to the conclusion that because there's too many people in the control room their body heat is interfering with the missile sent up to destroy the satellite . Does this make sense ? The lack of credibility is exaggerated by casting John Beck as Perry since he looks like a 70s porn star , think of John Holmes with a sensible haircut and you've got the idea

Some military type then takes Perry side and asks him what he's done with the $20 million dollars he's received from the government and you can't blame him because if you' look like a porn star and flirt with a secretary old enough to be your grandmother you might have the instinctive fear that it's been blown on cocaine . Thankfully Porno Perry has invested it all in to a time machine which he's just tried out

I might have to re-read the book but I'm pretty certain that in the original novel the protagonist didn't get tied to the stake by 17th century puritans and almost burned alive . The puritans were considerate enough to have Perry sit in his machine while the flames take hold so he's able to literally use his head to escape . I had thought for a moment Porno Perry might have used another part of his anatomy to use his controls but this is an American TVM so no offence is allowed - except offending anyone who has read the book

It's not Perry's day however because he soon finds himself caught up in the California gold rush , imprisoned and escapes town while there's a gunfight between good guys and bad guys . It's at this point you think the only bad guys in the world are the people who produced this aberration of literature claiming it's based upon a novel by the most influential writer of the 20th Century . We're now half way through the TVM and there's not been one single scene that has been taken directly from the book

Thankfully Perry now travels in to the future where he gets involved with the Eloi and Molochs thereby showing at long last showing at long last why this travesty might owe anything to HG Wells and in keeping with the rest of the TVM it's bland and uninvolving replacing Darwinian subtext with pacifist agitprop

Some people may claim the 1960 and 2002 movie versions did change Wells text to a large degree but this was justified . Both films were highly entertaining and the 1960 version especially had lots of charm along with Rod Taylor's time traveler being disgusted as to what mankind had become , he was still recognizably a Wellsian character . Here however we're watching a very cheap and charmless production with not very good actors slumming it in a script devoid of any intellect . Wells must have been turning in his grave and this is possibly the worst film adaptation of any book brought to screen

Cheesy tv remake

[HotToastyRag · 2/10 · 6 October 2023]

This television remake of The Time Machine has a very cute bit of casting in it: Whit Bissell played one of Rod Taylor's dinner guests back in the 1960 original, and nearly twenty years later, he also plays one of the men who listens to the time traveling tale. Besides that, this version isn't very cute.

For starters, this isn't a period piece. John Beck plays a modern scientist in 1978, working on a time machine in his spare time. When he finally explains his invention to his colleagues, Whit, Andrew Duggan and Jack Kruschen, he tells tales of his journeys back in time while testing the machine. He gets chased during a witch hunt, accused of a bank robbery in the Wild West, and finally decides to go into the future. He can't have the same adventures as Rod Taylor did because he's not starting from 1900.

The production values aren't that great, the screenplay isn't that great, and if you love the story, you'll probably end up turning it off. The 1970s were notorious for producing cheesy tv movies, and this one isn't an exception.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When he uses the time machine, the camera blurs a little and has some flashing lights, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Good

[gsnoorky-732-223572 · 7/10 · 7 July 2013]

I, too, wish that this were available on DVD. Maybe it will be put onto some budget sci-fi collection DVD, someday--why not? I'm not certain that I still have this on VHS--it's been awhile for viewing, unfortunately.

This film shares a similar problem with the lesser-regarded special effects of the theatrical film "Clash of the Titans"--a work from the same era--that version of the film starred Harry Hamlin, Laurence Olivier, and other legendary Brit actors. Many people wish that some of today's digital wizardry then proved available for such lesser-supported works. Some of that magic might have made this a great TV movie, after all. (Sometimes, though, improbable modern special effects may prove tedious.)

I like Rod Taylor and his movie, too. Really, though, the late '70s is an era in which time travel would have proved more likely to succeed. Thus, the "time-ship," lab, and other prop features appear to be much more "accurate" and likely to succeed at such a task. They're pretty cool! Really, I don't see a problem with John Beck as "scientist," either. He portrays a fellow who proves to be quite calm, logical, and collected.

(Linking John to porn proves very insulting. He proved very highly valued in the '70s and '80s. John was one of the few guys in this biz whom, women--after an initial "shock and awe"--never forget! Really, he's etched forever, easily, as one of the most handsome guys ever to grace a screen. Apparently, that's something which John's harsh critics--mostly men--never will understand.)

Did Not Like It

[djbrown-00897 · 2/10 · 27 March 2020]

This is without question the worst version of The Time Machine. I have seen both the Rod Taylor and Guy Pearce versions and they are superior. The Pearce version is very much a remake of this film and if you saw it, you know there is a happy ending ( just like here). I read some comments, and one person said this is the worst movie version of a novel ever ( I would certainly say Valley Of The Dolls was worse, but that is not saying much. It is not all time bad movie, but it is not good. The highlight is Priscilla Barnes who is certainly hot to look at. I give it 2 stars. Both for Barnes

Not worth your time..

[eskovan2 · 1/10 · 18 February 2023]

I remember watching this when it aired in '78. Even though I was only 13 years old it was so bad I turned it off halfway thru. Some have said it's closer to the novel, but who cares? It's an incredibly lame, cheap, uninspired bit of forgettable nonsense.

It's not actually shot on videotape, but who knows, that might have helped. The 'special' effects are just video generated overlays. I guess the plot kind of follows the book, except it takes place in current times (1978). The high-tech government agency that the guy works for builds such laughably evil projects as 'DEATHRAY LASER' (that's literally what it's called on-screen). Get it, they're evil!

He first travels briefly to the pilgrim past where he's almost burnt as a witch. When he gets back, upon discovering that his time machine actually works, his govt superiors discuss being able to get the jump on all important inventions and patents of the future, the two of them practically foaming at the mouth at the opportunity! Of course the altruistic inventory is disgusted by this so he steals the machine and travels to the distant future.

Then it's just a low-rent version of Wells' novel, passive Ewoks, sorry, Eloi, live a simple carefree life but are actually bred by the sewer-dwelling Morlocks to be eaten blah blah blah...

Don't believe me? It's available completely free to watch on YouTube. I found the included commercials of the time much more interesting!

Conveys a powerful anti-war message

[leftistcritic · 9/10 · 25 January 2019]

After watching the 2002 rendition of The Time Machine, I thought I would watch this as well. While it is clearly in a 1970s frame and dated in that way, it contrasts with the 2002 movie. In that film, the protagonist is self-centered, only caring about saving a person he would have loved. Kinda pathetic. While this movie lacks in graphics in terms of time travel, almost like you are going through a sort of drug trip when time traveling, and is perhaps too selective on the time periods shown (he only travels to the 1692, 1855, and an unknown time in the future), portrays the Eloi as White (why?), and shows the Morlocks as people literally wearing cheap masks, it has a powerful and staying anti-war theme. That makes it a positive in my book. So for that, I would recommend the film.

Saying all of this, I would say that this made-for-TV film had John Beck, playing as a protagonist, Dr. Neil Perry, was strong, but the effects are as bad as some of those Star Trek episodes from the 1960s with cheesy sets. Perhaps the anti-war message was more important than not, although it is depressing in the sense that those working at the military corporation he is part of (the Mega corporation) only care about using the time machine to gain advantage over their enemies. But this, generally to be expected. It follows the typical happy ending of Hollyweird films. Otherwise, I don't have anything more to say about this film.

With that, I give this film a rating of 9 out of 10.