| Author | Subject: john beck version |
| MrX | Posted At 22:10:19 05/09/2002
I was wondering if the vhs version of the 1980 remake is still avaliable.....what did the time machine look like??? does any one have some pictures of it??? |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 23:12:12 05/09/2002 The 1978 movie was only briefly available in the early eighties. In those days, video cassettes of movies were quite expensive, so that cassette was mostly bought by video rental stores. Nowadays, you see some of these old rentals on ebay. However, some of these are knock-offs (copies). Lots of people are looking for these so they tend to go at a high price. Most people find that adaptation rather dull. It is also based on the David Duncan screenplay but with its own set of unusual twists. This adaptation is however an "updated" version in that it starts out in modern day, not the Victorian period. Therefore, the Machine looks like a silvery "tech" device with a computer control board. It is shaped like two elongated triangles - one horizontal as the base, and the other one upright in the back of the seat. Don intends to do a page on it eventually. |
| Palmachine |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 22:33:03 05/11/2002 I have seen the 1978 version...it was shabbily produced, the only asset being the fact that one of the stars happened to be Whit Bissell, who must have possessed a love for time travel features...he appeared as Walter Kemp in the original George Pal version of "Time Machine" as well as the Irwin Allen sci-fi series "The Time Tunnel" (portraying General Heywood Kirk) from the late sixties. And lest we forget, he made a short cameo appearance in the documentary, "Time Machine: The Journey Back". John Beck, as the Time Traveler, takes his simplistic looking geometric contraption forward into the future, and as you would suspect, encounters the Wellsian world of Eloi and Morlocks, but not before making a brief stop off in the Wild, Wild West (where did they dream up that sceanario?). The whole film was a disappointment; even poorer than the recent Simon Wells film! The only reason it is collectible is that it deals with Wells' dream machine in a whole new context, and, perhaps there are some fans out there who actually wanted to see Priscilla Barnes' third rate role as Weena. I would choose to own a copy only because it does, in fact, deal with the subject matter of the machine and time travel. As a 'wanna-be' succesor to Pal's vision, however...it fails completely! |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 23:21:24 05/11/2002 The main reason why the video fetches a high price is simply that this adaptation has rarely been seen at all. Fans of The Time Machine are just curious to see another adaptation, just like Mr. X is. I think it was first shown as a TV movie in 1978. At the time, our local TV listing described it as the George Pal movie. So, I sat down, fully expecting to see my beloved movie from 1960. (Keep in mind we had no videos back then, so we had to wait until the movie was on the TV schedule or played at a repertory movie theatre.) Well, when the movie started, the action was taking place in modern times, so I thought they had the wrong movie. But as the story progressed, I started recognizing bits of the Wells story and, especially, David Duncan's screenplay. When it got to the part with the Morlocks wearing overalls and wielding light sabres (à la Star Wars - a major success the previous year), I couldn't take it anymore, so I switched channel !!! |
| Palmachine |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 21:53:27 05/12/2002 I can heartily agree on that Francois. I only wished that I had switched channels as well... Believe in te original Pal version, Mr. X...it is, by far, the best screen telling of the immortal classic! As the saying goes, it is not wise to mess with perfection, and as far as the physical semblance of H.G.Wells' sci-fi vehicle goes, the Victorian wonder of the 1960 film has no comparison! The prop guys at M.G.M's 'Projects Unlimited' did their homework! |
| MrX |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 22:44:36 05/14/2002 thanks for that guys....as you say X is just curious ..I think it would be a good laugh.. cheers |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 22:57:12 05/14/2002 You're quite right, Mr. X. Many years later, I remembered that adaptation and wondered what the rest of the movie was like. I eventually had an opportunity to see it again and watched it from beginning to end. It was tough but I did it ! It was indeed hilarious - in a bad sort of way ! |
| Palmachine |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 03:58:30 05/15/2002 From what I remember, this version with John Beck only aired once on television...I have never seen it broadcast a second time..but then, it was not worth a second viewing.The funny thing was, and I believe that I am correct in mentioning this...when it did air for the first time, it was designated under the title of "Classic Illustrated" for television! Quite a departure from the 'Classics Illustrated' comic version! Can anyone substantiate this? |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 15:12:13 05/15/2002 You are right that it never aired again. But an acquaintance of mine got the video a few years ago and a group of local fans (of the Pal movie) got together one evening and watched it. Many found it quite a downer to watch because it is so amazingly dull. But we did have some good laughs too. You are also right about the reference to Classics Illustrated. This 1978 adaptation is loosely based on the 1956 Classics Illustrated version - like the David Duncan screenplay is - but it borrows more substantially from David Duncan's screenplay, although in a very uninspired way... and everything it adds or changes is for the worse ! By the way, either at the beginning or at the end of the movie, you actually see a copy of the Classics Illustrated comic book but with the Machine redrawn to look like the one in that movie !!! |
| Forgotten Futurist |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 16:07:21 05/27/2002 Hey, looks like there's one of the 80's version of Time Machine up for auction on eBay. |
| Peter N. |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 20:31:26 05/27/2002 I think you mean the 1978 version ? Well, there is a guy that's been selling copies of it for several weeks or months on ebay. It may not be clear to all bidders that what he is selling is a copy. He probably made quite a lot of money off his one original ! |
| Forgotten Futurist |
Re: john beck version (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 14:22:30 06/02/2002 Ahh okay. I dont think I'd want to see it anyhow..the part about Morlocks wearing overalls and carrying light sabers..*groan* |