MovieChat Forums > Beyond the Time Barrier Discussion > This is grade 'C' schlock

This is grade 'C' schlock

posted 12 years ago by celestemekent
11 replies | jump to latest

So many short cuts were taken that the whole plot is unbelievable where did they get actors to play these roles? Some list of desperately unemployed? (which I guess includes most actors in their early years.)

This was done within a few short years of the original Star Trek but with such a small budget just could not offer anything worthwhile. It figure this is a total waste of time unless your purpose is to make fun of it (which is easily done.)

[–] babettegillette 11 years ago

I thought the main roles were well acted.

[–] babettegillette 11 years ago

Unusual sets(Texas State Fair), some bleak post apocalyptic scenery, and a couple of decent performances prevent this from being one of the worst. :)

[–] LJ27 11 years ago

I find it a tad dull in places but I like this little movie. The filmmakers did the best they could with what little they had. The destroyed air force base scenes are pretty eerie. The sets shot at the State Fair are pretty cool too. The plot is basically a steal from and a twist on H.G. Wells THE TIME MACHINE. I now have it on DVD and am happy it's in my collection. It's one I will dust off and play again from time to time.

[–] dgates64 11 years ago

This was just reconstituted Twilight Zone material. And yet TZ did more with one week's production and less money.

[–] essex9999 9 years ago

This was just reconstituted Twilight Zone material. And yet TZ did more with one week's production and less money.

Well, that's not quite fair. First of all, TZ premiered in the fall of 1959. Beyond the Time Barrier was released the following summer and presumably made some months before that, so TZ hadn't been around long enough to be recycled.

Secondly, while TZ may have had a lower budget per episode than BtTB (although probably not much lower!), it was a high-prestige production made for a national television audience. This movie was a no-prestige production made for the second feature in drive-in theaters. The two are not really in the same category, so the comparison is not apt.

[–] Bowserb46 8 years ago

Yes but the TZ version (I assume you mean "Odyssey of Flight 33") only had to fill 24 minutes. And, I believe this movie actually preceded Odyssey, which first aired Feb 1961. Kudos to TZ, though, as they had to tell a whole dramatic story in a really short time.

[–] Woodyanders 10 years ago

I thought this film was pretty solid and enjoyable. It's a bit on the tedious side with all that dialogue, but the capable acting and compelling premise keep it on track throughout. 7 out of 10 from me.

I'm a totally bitchin' bio writer from Mars!

[–] celestemekent 10 years ago

It has been about 40 days since I saw that movie and right now I cannot remember the first thing about it. So it must totally forgettable. The time travel genre is one of my favorites and I do take umbrage when a movie is like that one. Try and raise your standards a little.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] joe_538 8 years ago

I saw it once and remember it well. I knew it wasn't gold going in, but it was a nice little effort.

One of those "desperate actors" was also in The Magnificent Seven the same year.

[–] oknar1977 9 years ago

boring script is the only problem here.