This is a Powerful, yet spooky and somewhat cheesy science fiction film made in 1936, produced by Alexander Korda based on the H. G. Wells classic book & brought to the silver screen as a vision of what warfare will bring mankind in the century to follow. That is to say the century that has now gone. The story shows the destructive nature of war and how is will catapult us back to a state of barbarism, warlords, and another Black Deathesque plague called the "Wandering Sickness." However, because MAN clings to science, MAN will rise above all this and create a new, modern society free of warfare. (again?) The film does have a lot of historical inaccuracies to its "dis"credit, but much of what is preaches is scarily plausible, and much of it has become prophetic. The theme that man can prevail and keep discovering/conquering new vistas is a laughable in hindsight. The film shows that progress and science are the things which advance us as a people. Personally I love the idea that the scientists and/or inventors had formed their own civilization, free of corruption and violence. I just wonder who does the cleaning up. The pace of the film is a little slow at times, but have watched it several times it is still very very compelling. The set designs are outstanding in the futuristic world of 2036(where they valiantly try to put a rocket in space to make a preliminary orbit around the moon). The acting is rather good considering the time it was made. (Having just come out of "talkies" and still having a tendency to chew the scenery and everything within a 5 mile radius.) Raymond Massey and Cedric Hardwicke giving great performances, but it is Ralph Richardson as a "Boss" who deserves the most praise for giving a powerful performance of a man with inherent human traits that just ruin progress. A thought provoking film and quite spooky in it's observation of human nature. Of course HG Wells was a genius indeed!
