BEYOND THE TIME BARRIER (1960)
Tagline: Adam and Eve of the year 2024! Only they could repopulate the world!
(Sci-Fi, Romance, Speed Can Get You to The Future) [PG]
Note: This movie never received an MPAA rating. It likely would have landed a PG rating due to some of the darker concepts. It was released theatrically as part of a double feature with THE ANGRY RED PLANET which was previously released 8 months earlier in 1959.
Major, I must tell you the truth, understandably not an easy thing for me to do. Everything they say about us is true. We are sick and dying. You can imagine with the envy I look upon you, Kruse, Dr. Bourman. I myself am in the first stages of mutation.
The plot here follows a test pilot Major William Allison taking a rocket-powered aircraft into space when he suddenly breaks the “time barrier”. Upon landing back at his base, everything is destroyed. After some wandering, he discovers a futuristic city where “The Supreme” wants him to make babies with his daughter. It’s the distant future year 2024 and most of the people there are deaf and mute and can’t procreate. There was also a plague caused by cosmic radiation and of course nuclear testing that affected most of the population, so everything pretty much sucks.
This movie was done on a very low budget, but they did manage to use some leftover exhibitions from the Texas State Fair in 1959 which fit this movie's goals perfectly. Even by today’s standards, “The Citadel” in the movie is actually very cool looking. There are actually numerous sets in this film that are visually pretty fantastic. This movie does have a romantic side which is complicated by the fact that Princess Trirene can’t talk. She can read William’s mind, but she communicates via nods and gestures, and photos. Having said that, it goes to show that love can overcome a great multitude of things.
Acting wise this is a good outing for Robert Clarke who plays Major William Allison. Clarke is probably best known for THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON but was in several 1950s sci-fi flicks. The two lead females played by Arianne Ulmer (Captain Markova) and Darlene Tompkins (Princess Trirene) both had short Hollywood careers. Tompkins opted for motherhood which is awesome, it’s possible Ulmer made the same decision. She stopped acting for about 9 years between 1961 and 1970 but in 1970 did only one more movie before leaving acting for good. Vladimir Sokoloff who plays “The Supreme” was known for movies like MONSTER FROM GREEN HELL and I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF. He wasn’t in this movie very much, but he was a great fit for the role.
Okay, so I am going to be open about this. I usually can’t stand “time-travel” movies. At least not where time travel is used as a “fix-all”. It’s one of the reasons I have AVENGERS: ENDGAME at a 4 out of 7. This one however is better than average even giving us a few twists and turns. The ending sequence and stunts are all actually pretty well done for the time and the final act packs a punch but does feel a bit more like a TWILIGHT ZONE episode than I expected it would.
For me, this is a 5 out of 7 looking at other films from the era. Like a lot of sci-fi that doesn’t involve an alien or monster getting killed, the conclusion is a bit of a downer, but it does get you to think which I know was the whole point.
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