Things to Come

A war beginning in 1940 lasts thirty years and brings civilisation down. The era of plague, ruin and local warlords ends when engineers descend from the sky and install a technocratic order. The film closes in 2036, with people arguing about being fired at the Moon. William Cameron Menzies directed, Alexander Korda produced. H.G. Wells adapted his own book and involved himself in every stage of production. The visual design is the real legacy: white, wide, glass underground cities and enormous machines. That design language influenced science fiction cinema for a long time. One prediction landed hard: the film foresaw a war breaking out in 1940 and destroying cities from the air. The characters are thin and the speeches are frankly manifestos; Wells wants to convey the idea rather than the story. Arthur Bliss composed the score before shooting and scenes were cut to the music. Who it is for: viewers curious about early science fiction design and thirties British studio film. Who it is not for: anyone looking for character; the film is interested in eras, not people.