Things to Come (1936) – A Truly Great Film

I just finished watching the 1936 adaptation of H.G. Wells story, Things to Come and must say I found this to be an excellent film. Made just before World War Two, the feeling that war palapable in Europe and this move plays on that feeling. In the movie war breaks out and is waged for so long (decades upon decades)that eventually society breaks down into feudal city states, constantly warringwith each other, and technology failing – what machinery that actually works is usually bits salvaged from other bits. 

This is a movie that shows  the bleakness that many Europeans felt on the cusp of World War II. This movie is a vision of what most likely seemed a possibility: a future of endless war and suffering. This is a great movie.

There are not many author’s that embraced trhe future in the way that H.G. Wells did. HE didn’t sugar coat it and fill it up with Utopias, butterflys and rainbows. This was a warning… of Things to Come.

The timeline of the movie spans decades – from 1940 to 2036. A war breaks out between the Axis and Allies but goes on so long that no one knows who’s winning or even if anyone is in charge. Feudal communities have broken out, with local Warlords running things.

Luckily for man, a group of scientists have created a society to keep man from descending completely into barbarity.

There is a lot to this movie, and I did not feel olike I was watching a movie from 1936, but a timeless story with a universal message. This is a movie that deserves to be watched.

This might be the best movie on this site.

Good news folks, you can watch it for free because it has slipped into the public domain.

Here is the trailer:

 And Here is the whole amazing movie: