The Time Machine

The Time Machine

Year: 1978

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: English

Director: Henning Schellerup

Science FictionAdventureTV Movie

A scientist builds a machine that will enable him to travel back and forth in time, but when he puts it in motion, he gets more than he bargained for.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Time Machine (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Time Machine (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s; 1692 Salem, Massachusetts; 1871 California Gold Country; October 2025; far future

The primary setting is the 1970s, centered on a corporate-backed time machine project. Perry’s travels sweep back to 1692 Salem during the witch trials and forward to 1871 California during the Gold Rush. A leap into October 2025 shows a near-future world on the brink of environmental collapse, followed by a distant future where Eloi and Morlocks inhabit a restructured Earth.

Location

Mega Corporation laboratory (Los Angeles area), Salem, Massachusetts, California Gold Country, Post-apocalyptic Earth (Eloi-Morlock habitat)

The story begins in a 1970s Mega Corporation research lab near Los Angeles, a hub of cutting-edge science and defense-oriented projects. The setting contrasts high-tech ambition with corporate oversight, highlighting the environment where the time machine is developed. Time-travel journeys briefly plunge Perry into Salem (1692) and the California Gold Rush (1871), then leap to a distant future on a desolate Earth where Eloi and Morlocks emerge from humanity's past mistakes.

🏢 Mega Corporation lab 🗺️ Los Angeles area 🏛️ Salem Massachusetts 🌍 Eloi-Morlock habitat

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

Main Characters – The Time Machine (1978)

Meet the key characters of The Time Machine (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Neil Perry (John Beck)

A brilliant 1970s scientist at Mega Corporation whose time machine project is a hallmark of his reputation. He demonstrates exceptional skill by quickly reprogramming an off-course satellite, earning a substantial grant and trust from senior leadership. Over the weekend, he confronts the ethical costs of his company’s ambitions as he travels through time and discovers the weaponization of technology could spell global catastrophe.

🧠 Genius ⏳ Time traveler ⚖️ Ethical conflict 🔬 Inventor

Ralph Branly (Whit Bissell)

A senior Mega Corporation employee who initially supports Perry’s work but grows uneasy as the company’s true motives become clear. He represents a conscience within the corporate structure, ultimately taking a stand when the moral implications of weaponization and profit clash with global welfare.

💼 Executive 🧭 Moral compass 🧠 Veteran

Henry Haverson (Parley Baer)

A board member whose priorities lie with military and corporate advantage rather than saving the world. He embodies the cold, calculating push for power within Mega Corporation, showing little concern for the broader consequences of their experiments and proposals.

🏛️ Board member 🎯 Ambition 🕴️ Corporate schemer

Bean Worthington (Andrew Duggan)

A high-ranking Mega Corporation figure associated with the board’s agenda and the pursuit of strategic breakthroughs. He participates in the corporate culture that pressures Perry to put time-machine work aside for weapons development, highlighting the tension between innovation and control.

💼 Leader 🧭 Power broker

Agnes (Rosemary DeCamp)

Secretary to Mega Corporation leadership who sides with Branly in resigning when the ethics of the project are questioned. Her departure signals a personal moral pivot away from the company’s destructive trajectory.

🗂️ Assistant 💔 Moral break

Weena (Priscilla Barnes)

A member of the Eloi whom Perry befriends in the distant future. Weena helps illuminate the social dynamics of the Eloi and their relationship with their Morlock neighbors, guiding Perry’s understanding of the broader consequences of human action.

🧡 Ally 🗺️ Guide

Ariel (John Hansen)

A male Eloi who befriends Perry in the future world and participates in the discovery of his own civilization’s history. Ariel represents a bridge between humans of Perry’s era and the Eloi’s evolving society.

🤝 Ally 🧬 Species contact

Salem Quaker (Julie Parrish)

A participant or observer encountered during the 1692 Salem segment. The character embodies the tensions of the witch-trial era, illustrating how fear and superstition intersect with time-travel disruption.

🗝️ Historical figure 👥 Fear & authority

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

Major Themes – The Time Machine (1978)

Explore the central themes of The Time Machine (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⏳ Time Ethics

Time travel here is framed as a tool with profound responsibilities. Perry’s backward-and-forward journeys reveal how altering events can ripple through eras, affecting people and civilizations. The film uses these shifts to ask whether science should advance without considering long-term consequences. Ultimately, the story exposes the ethical costs of wielding technology for power.

💼 Corporate Greed

Mega Corporation’s drive to weaponize science drives much of the conflict. The anti-matter bomb and relentless push for breakthroughs show how profit and control can trump global welfare. Boardroom dynamics reveal a willingness to sacrifice human outcomes for strategic advantages. The moral arc questions whether corporate interests should ever trump planetary survival.

🌍 Environmental Collapse

The narrative culminates in a world ravaged by humanity’s own technological ambitions. The future desert landscape, elevated radiation, and the underground-Morlock settlement illustrate a civilization that destroyed itself through exploitation. Perry’s post-apocalyptic witness underscores the stakes of neglecting environmental safeguards. The museum sequence ties past innovations to present destructions.

🧬 Evolution and Aftermath

The encounter with the Eloi and Morlocks frames human evolution as a consequence of long-term choices. Weena’s friendship and the Morlocks’ predation reflect a civilization unraveling into a segregated subsistence system. The story implies that current trajectories could seed radically different futures. It also casts Perry’s age as a hinge point for whether humanity returns to the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:28

Unlock the Full Story of The Time Machine

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Time Machine in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Time Machine is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Time Machine Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Time Machine, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Time Machine Summary

The Time Machine Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Time Machine with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Time Machine Timeline

More About The Time Machine

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More About The Time Machine