Things to Come
The future is here!
1936 | 100m | English
Popularity: 2 (history)
| Director: | William Cameron Menzies |
|---|---|
| Writer: | H.G. Wells |
| Staring: |
| The story of a century: a decades-long second World War leaves plague and anarchy, then a rational state rebuilds civilization and attempts space travel. | |
| Release Date: | Mar 31, 1936 |
|---|---|
| Director: | William Cameron Menzies |
| Writer: | H.G. Wells |
| Genres: | Science Fiction, Drama |
| Keywords | future, progress, black and white, scientist |
| Production Companies | United Artists, London Films Productions |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jul 30, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Raymond Massey | John Cabal / Oswald Cabal |
| Edward Chapman | Pippa Passworthy / Raymond Passworthy |
| Ralph Richardson | The Boss |
| Margaretta Scott | Roxana / Rowena |
| Cedric Hardwicke | Theotocopulos |
| Maurice Braddell | Dr. Harding |
| Sophie Stewart | Mrs. Cabal |
| Derrick De Marney | Richard Gordon |
| Ann Todd | Mary Gordon |
| Pearl Argyle | Catherine Cabal |
| Kenneth Villiers | Maurice Passworthy |
| Ivan Brandt | Morden Mitani |
| Anne McLaren | The Child |
| Patricia Hilliard | Janet Gordon |
| Charles Carson | Great Grandfather |
| Patrick Barr | World Transport Official (uncredited) |
| Noel Brophy | Irishman (uncredited) |
| John Clements | The Airman (uncredited) |
| Anthony Holles | Simon Burton (uncredited) |
| Allan Jeayes | Mr. Cabal (uncredited) |
| Pickles Livingston | Horrie Passworthy (uncredited) |
| George Sanders | Celestial Body (uncredited) |
| Abraham Sofaer | The Jew (uncredited) |
| Terry-Thomas | Man of the Future (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| William Cameron Menzies | Director |
| Georges Périnal | Director of Photography |
| Charles Crichton | Editor |
| Francis D. Lyon | Editor |
| Arthur Bliss | Original Music Composer |
| Vincent Korda | Art Direction |
| John Armstrong | Costume Design |
| René Hubert | Costume Design |
| Cathleen Mann | Costume Design |
| Sam Williams | Costume Design |
| David B. Cunynghame | Production Manager |
| Geoffrey Boothby | Assistant Director |
| Ned Mann | Special Effects |
| Muir Mathieson | Music Director |
| A.W. Watkins | Recording Supervision |
| Frank Wells | Assistant Art Director |
| Nigel Tangye | Technical Advisor |
| William Hornbeck | Supervising Editor |
| Edward Cohen | Special Effects |
| Lawrence W. Butler | Special Effects Assistant |
| H.G. Wells | Novel, Screenplay |
| Robert Krasker | Camera Operator |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Alexander Korda | Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 25 | 47 | 14 |
| 2024 | 5 | 58 | 69 | 45 |
| 2024 | 6 | 35 | 69 | 10 |
| 2024 | 7 | 18 | 38 | 11 |
| 2024 | 8 | 15 | 31 | 10 |
| 2024 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 7 |
| 2024 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 8 |
| 2024 | 11 | 12 | 26 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 | 14 | 36 | 8 |
| 2025 | 1 | 11 | 26 | 7 |
| 2025 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2025 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Trending Position
This is a rather fanciful adaptation of the HG Wells tale. Mankind is all but obliterated by war; reduced to tribal existences - under the overly theatrical leadership of Ralph Richardson and Margaretta Scott - fighting plague, tyranny and the elements. Then they encounter Daniel Massey ("John Cabal ... ") who helps reconcile and rebuild society to an almost Utopian level. It manages to intertwine megalomania with human aspiration; an overpoweringly rousing score and some truly Shakesperian style soliloquy. It comes to force a future upon us that is eerily portentous of an Orwellian style dictatorship; of interstellar exploration to spread our plague of self-destructive ambition to other worlds - and all, broadly speaking with the consent of the masses. Sadly, i saw a colourised version which robbed this film of almost every element of potency; indeed it rendered it little better than a very poor cartoon. It's still just about worth watching; but Massey is no Olivier and I found it all rather preposterous.