I like the movie but can anyone tell me if they have ever seen any acting worse than Alan Young is this movie?
The bit at the end where he says about the time traveler going to help the Eloi create a new world was staggering and makes me laugh out loud each time I watch it.
Actually, he brings a lot of warmth & heart to Filby, and to the film as a whole.
shareNo he doesn't. I know that is what the character is supposed to do....but it is handled so heavy-handedly that it actually becomes a joke. Trust me, I'm speaking as a fan of the movie, but when you see Alan's acting style and Rod's it is like they are from two completely different movies.
The first time i saw the movie I thought Alan's character was a joke but as the film progressed I forgot about him. When he reappears later in the movie and makes his comment about the Time Traveller probably going off into the future again, I was reminded just how bad his acting was. Every subsequent viewing I've always thought his performance was jarringly bad and quite distracting. Truly terrible.
To each his own, I guess. Perhaps my early viewing of the film as a child -- many times, thank you local TV stations! -- just endeared Filby to me as a loyal & faithful friend.
shareI agree that the character is certainly written to be a loyal and faithful friend who provides warmth and concern (in contrast with some of the other guests) but Alan's performance is horribly hammy and over the top. Without exaggeration it is at times one of the worst acting performances I've ever seen.
shareIn that case you must not have seen many bad performances at all....
shareIn that case you must not have seen many bad performances at all....
Well no offense Chanpuru and we've all got our own opinions, The Time Machine has always been my favorite film so perhaps I'm biased, but until I read your post I've never known anyone to say Alan Young's performance as Filby was cheesy. Finding a film where "the co-star is as cheesy and horribly wooden as Alan's performance" is an erroneous question for me, as I think he gives a good performance, but if you're asking for any performance in a big Hollywood movie where the actor is cheesy, and infinitely inferior to Alan Young that's easy, I could give many examples, but try watching 300 with Gerard Butler as Leonidas if you already haven't seen it, now that truly is a cheesy, overacted and wooden performance, but still sort of entertaining nonetheless.
shareIt's not an erroneous question when it is asked in regards to your previous statement that "I must not have seen many bad performances at all"......when you say something like that I think it is only fair for you to furnish us with what you have seen which allows you to make the comment.
As for your choice, I'll accept it. Butler's performance wasn't great (but then I hated 300 as a whole). However the whole film is an over-the-top greased up men (no pun intended) in a stupid bastardisation of a historic epic, played out for the MTV crowd. It kind of reminded me of a review i once read for Rambo 3 which called it "Big Gay Action" lol. I didn't find Butler's performance quite as jarring within the context of everything else that was going on...whereas i did fid Alan's performance was just plain strange when compared with the slightly more subtle and less artificial performance of someone like Rod Taylor.
Well we'll have to agree to disagree about Alan's acting, but I'm glad you agree that Butler's performance is bad, and yeah 300 isn't a good movie by any stretch of the imagination.
shareI've always loved the film but do feel that Alan's acting was a little clumsy. He does exude warmth though which adds to the overall charm of the film.
His performance is a bit like that of someone who has seen someone else's performance in the part - and is trying to copy it - but is failing to get the nuances right and ends up just caricaturing it.
However the film is a million times better than the big budget remake. I would like to see it made again but unlike the 2002 version - sticking to the story with all its comments on society and tragedy.
Old fashioned effects would be welcome too.
its from hanging around mr. ed all those years.(yes I know mr ed came out in '61 but go with me on this).
shareHe is a bit over the top but I would guess when this movie came out that kind if acting was typical for this kind of character. He seems nuts at the end when he asks the maid about which three books. He has a crazy look on his face. Enjoyable film and I can let it go.
share