[oowolf]

I haven't seen this landmark film mentioned here which is rather odd since it contains what is possibly the earliest depiction of urban life in a post-carbon world; complete with neomedieval lifestyle, scavenging, warlords fighting endless battles over energy resources, and nostalgia for the good old pertoleum days. 40 years before Mad Max.

For the first time ever, this neglected classic is available in a decent transfer by Legend Films. If you're a doomer and haven't seen this film I highly recommend it. Wells was well aware that civilization could survive wars and plagues but not oil depletion, and makes it obvious.

He also predicted the destruction of London by firebombing 4 years before it happened. So what? In 1936 most people thought Hitler, with his Charlie Chaplin moustache, apoplectic tirades, and goose-stepping storm troopers was a buffoon out of some comic operetta and Winston Churchill, (who was desperately trying to convince the world otherwise) was a paranoid has-been--his political career toast.

The "Cornucopian" city of the future turns out to be a stifling underground Art Deco Jetson-land (complete with air-conditioning, artificial sunlight, two way wrist radios, and giant screen teevees) where the launching of the first manned moon rocket sets off a neoLuddite rampage of destruction.

Don't be tempted to buy one of the earlier transfers. They were made from butchered 16mm prints and REALLY SUCK.

Also, I'm no fan of colorizing, but this DVD also has the B&W version.

Also, Sir Arthur Bliss' score is one of the best sci-fi scores ever.

[Ludi]

My husband and I refer to "cornucopians" here on po.com as "Mr Wings Over Your Wits," a joke only to be understood by those familiar with this film.

[Revi]

It sounds like a real classic. The "space gun" is going to shoot a person to the moon in 2036. I think it's more likely that we will be back into the medieval world by then, but who knows?

Maybe Wings of the World will come along and save us.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Things_to_Come

[mos6507]

Last time I saw this on TV the quality of the print was truly awful. We're talking Flash Gordon Serial awful. If the new DVD is a big improvement I'll have to check it out.