THE TIME TRAVELERS (1964, USA, 84m, PG) ***
Sci-Fi
dist. American International Pictures (AIP) (USA), Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (UK); pr co. Cal Cine / Dobil Productions; d. Ib Melchior; w. Ib Melchior (based on a story by Ib Melchior & David L. Hewitt); pr. Bill Redlin; ph. Vilmos Zsigmond (Pathécolor | 1.85:1); m. Richard LaSalle; ed. Hal Dennis; ad. Ray Storey.
cast: Preston Foster (Dr. Erik von Steiner), Philip Carey (Steve Connors), Merry Anders (Carol White), John Hoyt (Varno), Dennis Patrick (Councilman Willard), Joan Woodbury (Gadra), Delores Wells (Reena), Steve Franken (Danny McKee), Berry Kroeger (Preston), Gloria Leslie (Councilwoman), Molly Glessing (Android), Peter Strudwick (The Mutant), J. Edward McKinley (Raymond), Margaret Seldeen (Miss Hollister), Forrest J. Ackerman (Square-frame technician).
Colourful and imaginative sci-fi in which a group of researchers working on a visual portal through time find they succeeded too well, as they can physically step a century into the future. There they find a dying Earth ravaged by mutants, with civilization’s remnants trying to flee the planet. Can the temporally trapped scientists make their way back to their era and avert the catastrophe to come? The performances are uneven and there are some misguided attempts at comic relief, but the project is enthusiastically helmed by cult director Melchior and the climax is both imaginative and chilling. The film inspired the TV series The Time Tunnel (1966) and was remade as JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TIME (1967).
