Review of Things to Come (1936) by Christopher B — 13 Sep 2013

H.G. Wells wrote the screenplay himself for this film adaptation of his novel. The film is a visual feast and tells a sprawling story of a 100 year war that on the outset leaves the world a desolate wasteland ravaged by plague, famine and anarchy.

Civilization does eventually recover and technology advances from barbarism to the space age, but people are still petty and war-like, which creates com thing of an endless cycle. Wells has a great imagination and it really shows here, particularly aided by some fabulous special effects and production design, along with stylish direction by William Cameron Menzies.

The main fault of the film is that it lacks any real characterizations or emotion, but that is clearly not what Wells was interested in here. And it's also fun to see a super young Ralph Richardson.