Film Review: Things to Come (1936)

The Great War was the war to end all wars. At least that is what people in 1920s and 1930s believed, still reeling from the previously unimaginable carnage and destruction that had shaken faith in civilisation and progress. Thought of another world war, and even more so of another world war starting in very near future, was too depressive for may so there weren’t that much films trying to deal with the subject. One of the rare that did was Thing to Come, 1936 British science fiction film directed by William Cameron Menzies, these days less known for its prophetic qualities and more as one of the genre’s greatest classics.

Things to Come is based on Shape of the Things to Come, 1933 novel by H. G. Wells, one of the authors considered the fathers of modern science fiction. The plot begins “Everytown”, city that very much looks like London, on Christmas Eve of 1940. People celebrate, most of them ignoring news about diplomatic crisis that would escalate in the global war. Businessman John Cabal (played by Raymond Massey) is concerned, and so is young physician Dr. Harding (played by Maurice Braddell), but their friend Pipa Passworth (played by Edward Chapman) is more optimistic. Cabal’s concerns were proven right when the war is declared, Everytown is bombed and Cabal gets mobilised and forced to serve as fighter pilot. War goes on for years and, later, decades, with participants gradually forgetting what they are fighting for. In late 1960s world is struck by “wandering sickness” disease that would wipe out half of humanity. After that pandemic peters out, most of the world is run by petty warlords, like Rudolf “the Boss” (played by Ralph Richardson) who rules what remained of Everytown. In 1970 his little fiefdom is visited by plane piloted by Cabal, who explains that he is part of Wings Over the World, organisation of world’s pilots that have joined resource to preserve aircraft, technology and civilisation and are gradually taking over the world by eliminating nation states and warlords. Rudolf opposes this but his rule is ended when Wings Over the World drops sleeping gas. In 2036 Everytown is high-tech underground metropolis run by Cabal’s grandson Oswald (also played by Massey). Although citizens live in peace and prosperity, some of them are unhappy, like sculptor Theotocopulous (played by Cedric Hardwicke) who finds progress too dangerous and leads movement to prevent Oswald from launching expedition to the Moon.

Shape of the Things to Come is one of the lesser known Wells’ works and it is less of a novel and more of an essay in which author espouses his socialist, pacifist and technocratic views. The book has nevertheless left a strong impression on Alexander Korda, Hungarian immigrant who by mid 1930s became Britain’s first film mogul. He invested over 200,000 £ (over 1,000,000 US$) in the production, making it the most expensive British film by this date. is shown in the film, especially in the last segment that depict distant future through special effects that were quite impressive for 1930s standards and even more by innovative production design. The latter isn’t that surprising because William Cameron Menzies was better known as Hollywood’s top production designer than as director. He does a solid job, helped a lot by strong cast, led by Canadian actor Raymond Massey who would later play a number of respectable character roles in Hollywood films. Among the rest of the cast Ralph Richardson stands out in the role of arrogant and pompous warlord whom he allegedly portrayed based on Mussolini. However, all those fine acting talents often have to deal with the dialogues written by Wells himself that are, especially in the case of Cabal, incredibly preachy and might have looked like a cheap propaganda even to less cynical audience in 1930s.

Another problem for Things to Come is that it is made of three segments with varying qualities. The first part is the best, since it is the most accurate in depiction of the near future. Bombing of Everytown is eerily similar to the bombing of London that would happen four years after the film’s premiere. While Wells’ vision of Second World War turned more apocalyptic than what history would show – there wasn’t any gas being dropped on civilian targets and it wasn’t lasting for decades – it proved convincing in showing how civilisation, when confronted with long, exhazsting war can vanish gradually. Second part of the film is also prophetic, although not showing actual future but future that would be portrayed by future film makers – “wandering sickness” that looks very much like Zombie Apocalypse and post-apocalyptic society that looks very much like the one depicted in Mad Max films. Second part has the most drama and conflict, but it is resolved in simple deus ex machina manner, with noble, technologically superior Wings Over the World bringing their technocratic utopia to the primitive masses in the same manner Bolsheviks brought benefits of scientific socialism to Eurasia. Third part is the most impressive visually and even has some accurate predictions about technology – like the use of flat screens, but the plot seems rushed and it is never actually explained why artists like Theotocopulous would rebel against technocratic utopia nor why would someone object against space exploration. Things to Come, despite those flaws and despite being dated, is still impressive film and can make modern audience think about important subject, although, in light of certain latest developments, some of the conclusions about all-knowing science-worshipping technocrats ruling the world might not be those that Wells would have liked. Things to Come is nevertheless considered science fiction classic and among the most important films of the genre in the first half of 20th Century. In 1979 Wells’ novel was adapted in Canada in rather forgettable space opera H. G. Wells’ ‘The Shape of Things to Come’ starring Jack Palance.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
Leofinance blog https://leofinance.io/@drax.leo

Unstoppable Domains: https://unstoppabledomains.com/?ref=3fc23fc42c1b417
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Bitcoin Lightning HIVE donations: https://v4v.app/v1/lnurlp/qrcode/drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7