Things to Come (1936)

Directed by William Cameron Menzies. Starring Raymond Massey, Ralph Richardson, Margaretta Scott, Edward Chapman, Cedric Hardwicke, Maurice Braddell, Pearl Argyle, Sophie Stewart, Kenneth Villiers, Derrick De Marney, Ann Todd.

Science fiction film, uncommonly mature and prophetic for its era, speculating the direction of civilization following a massive world war. A series of episodes spanning a hundred years or so, with characters coming, going, returning, disappearing, etc. (sometimes as progeny played by the same actor); it starts well but tends to become more naïve and fustian as it goes. Eerily prescient at times, amusingly dated at others, it combats its own austerity with histrionic performances (Richardson modeled his despotic warlord after Benito Mussolini), and forgoes narrative consistency for the ponderous purposes of its dire proposals—enough of them are imaginative and fascinating to hold interest throughout, at least. Scripted by H. G. Wells, expanded from his own novel, “The Shape of Things to Come.”

55/100