MovieChat Forums > The Time Machine (1960) Discussion > Something I noticed the other day...

Something I noticed the other day...

posted 14 years ago by Poisoned_Dragon1964
7 replies | jump to latest

...when I was re-watching the pristine DVD version of The Twilight Zone, Time Enough At Last: After the atomic holocaust, when Burgess Meredith has discovered the Public Library, and is stacking up books, the set it's filmed on is the steps of the Palace of Green Porcelain from The Time Machine. Both The Time Machine and Time Enough At Last were probably filming at around the same time. Among the rubble strewn upon the stairs (besides all the books) is a recognizable piece of Morlock machinery - that stack of art-deco style metal rings from atop the machinery down in the caverns. I'm surprised I'd never noticed before.

Edit:

Whilst exploring the subject of Time Machine influences on other science fiction, there's the similarity between the Sphinx and Star Trek's Salt Monster from the episode The Man Trap:

http://tinyurl.com/4mvgljj
http://tinyurl.com/4hf9ybb

Understandable, since they were both designed by Wah Chang of Projects Unlimited.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] Blueghost 13 years ago

Cool. Submit that to the IMDB folks

[–] mam13143 13 years ago

Twilight zone was always using old movie stuff --- there are a number of episodes which use scenes and equipment from Forbidden Planet for one. I will watch that episode of Twilight zone tonight (on Netflix streaming) to see that scene again.

Well, sure enough you are right. I wonder if someone did that on purpose - something from Time Machine for that particular episode. It would have been a nice homage if they did. Good eye!

[–] amiNotAwake 12 years ago

Aha! I knew I wasn't crazy. The first image that popped into my head while watching that scene in 'Time Machine' tonight was that episode of 'The Twilight Zone'. (one of my favorites even if the final bit makes me want to end it all)

"Didn't you go to school stupid?"
-"Yep, but I came out the same way."

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 12 years ago

one of my favorites even if the final bit makes me want to end it all)

Don't do that - just make sure you've got spare glasses.

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§

[–] carlsez_1 12 years ago

With such limited production budgets, particularly back then, there was a lot of prop reuse and re-appropriating. It would also not surprise me if the production designer intentionally picked that prop as a sly reference.

Auto-Tune is not a genre, please stop treating it as such.

[–] ElRaisuli 10 years ago

The steps were at MGM's Lot 3 in Culver City. Known as the "Kismet" steps, they were originally built for the 1944 film of the same name (and the exterior steps were shot as though they were inside a palace). The steps were poured concrete and remained on the lot until it was sold and developed into real estate in the early 1970's.

The Time Machine and Time Enough At Last were filmed around the same time, however. Both were filmed in 1959.

The location of the former steps today, just beyond the pool:

http://www.tarahillhoa.com/admin/_datafiles/photo/Amenities/tara%20hil ls%20071.jpg

[–] Poisoned_Dragon1964 10 years ago

I did not know that! Thank you so much!

§« The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters. »§