On this day in 1936 (in the United Kingdom), the good people of London, England were treated to the original theatrical premiere of H.G. Well's Things To Come on the silver screen.
Now -- for clarity's sake -- there very well may have been a screening of the groundbreaking motion picture before this: IMDB.com indicates that there were also screenings in 1936 in both Poland and Austria, but the site does not indicate any specific date. In such cases, I've always exercised the policy here at SciFiHistory.Net of using the very first fully cited date to honor such birthdays; and that's the case today. Congrats on Things To Come for celebrating turning an incredible 89 years young today. That is quite a milestone.
I've seen Things To Come. I believe I've seen both a cable airing as well as a home video release. Frankly, it isn't the kind of flick I'd likely watch again, as I recall finding it a bit ... well ... tedious. The story is a bit cumbersome -- all of it is staged over a passage of years involving the technological and cultural development of a civilization, and it just doesn't flow like other yarns do -- but the film looks pretty damn astounding. While I don't believe it's garnered any award wins for its production design, I'd argue that it's deserving of a watch solely on the grounds that once it reaches the fictional 'future' it is a sight to behold.
Granted, there are probably a good number of far more academic or educational reasons to enjoy the picture. Rather than take my word for it, I've done a quick Google.com assessment that I'm going to copy-and-paste below for the general readership. Take a gander at it. Drink it all in. Then, you can decide if it's something worthy of greater attention.
-- EZ
Now -- for clarity's sake -- there very well may have been a screening of the groundbreaking motion picture before this: IMDB.com indicates that there were also screenings in 1936 in both Poland and Austria, but the site does not indicate any specific date. In such cases, I've always exercised the policy here at SciFiHistory.Net of using the very first fully cited date to honor such birthdays; and that's the case today. Congrats on Things To Come for celebrating turning an incredible 89 years young today. That is quite a milestone.
I've seen Things To Come. I believe I've seen both a cable airing as well as a home video release. Frankly, it isn't the kind of flick I'd likely watch again, as I recall finding it a bit ... well ... tedious. The story is a bit cumbersome -- all of it is staged over a passage of years involving the technological and cultural development of a civilization, and it just doesn't flow like other yarns do -- but the film looks pretty damn astounding. While I don't believe it's garnered any award wins for its production design, I'd argue that it's deserving of a watch solely on the grounds that once it reaches the fictional 'future' it is a sight to behold.
Granted, there are probably a good number of far more academic or educational reasons to enjoy the picture. Rather than take my word for it, I've done a quick Google.com assessment that I'm going to copy-and-paste below for the general readership. Take a gander at it. Drink it all in. Then, you can decide if it's something worthy of greater attention.
-- EZ
Question: Why Is 1936's 'Things To Come' Considered A Good Movie?
From Google.com:
"Things to Come" (1936) is considered a good movie because of its groundbreaking vision of the future, stunning Art Deco visuals, and prescient commentary on the dangers of war, all thanks to its unique perspective on humanity as a collective rather than focusing on individual characters, making it a landmark in early science fiction cinema, especially considering the time it was made; it was written by H.G. Wells himself and features remarkably accurate predictions about future conflicts and technological advancements.
Key points that make "Things to Come" noteworthy:
"Things to Come" (1936) is considered a good movie because of its groundbreaking vision of the future, stunning Art Deco visuals, and prescient commentary on the dangers of war, all thanks to its unique perspective on humanity as a collective rather than focusing on individual characters, making it a landmark in early science fiction cinema, especially considering the time it was made; it was written by H.G. Wells himself and features remarkably accurate predictions about future conflicts and technological advancements.
Key points that make "Things to Come" noteworthy:
- Forward-thinking narrative:
The film explores a century-spanning future, including a devastating war and the subsequent rebuilding of society, with details like aerial warfare and biological weapons that were eerily prophetic for the coming World War II. - Visual aesthetic:
The film's design is considered a masterpiece of Art Deco futurism, with innovative set designs and special effects that were cutting-edge for the time. - Focus on the collective:
Unlike most films, "Things to Come" doesn't center around a single protagonist, instead depicting the broad sweep of human progress and the impact of war on society as a whole. - H.G. Wells' influence:
As the writer of the source material, Wells's perspective on the potential of science and the dangers of unchecked societal issues are clearly reflected in the film.
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