If you have ever wondered what the future would look like to the people of the past then this film, made in 1936, is the movie for you. Written by HG Wells and produced by Alexander Korda Things To Come (also known as The Shape of Things to Come) shows a fictional Everytown in 1940 at Christmas time and shows how the world degenerates into unceasing war.

The film reflects the concerns, fears and attitudes of the late 1930’s and as was the case at the time has a very pacifist and internationalist bent to it, which may jar with modern viewers. However if you look at it in the context of when it was made (peace pledge union and stuff like that) then it will make a lot of sense.

I will not spoil the plotline for those who have not seen this film before but there are some very powerful scenes, especially the horse drawn car episode in the ruined town.

To those brought up on digital imaging some of the special effects will seem crude, but they were for the era quite advanced and Ned Mann who oversaw the effects did a considerable amount with models, mattes and painting and made a lot out of very little. The flight sequences of the ‘Airmen’ organisation were very well done for a film using 1930’s film technology.

This is another film that I watch every now and again purely because it is a good film, is technically proficient and is a rattling good yarn.