The Time Travelers

The Time Travelers

Year: 1964

Runtime: 82 mins

Language: English

Director: Ib Melchior

AdventureDramaScience FictionMonsters aliens sci-fi and the apocalypseThought-provoking sci-fi action and future technology

Step Through Research scientists experimenting with time warps are accidentally propelled forward into an unbearable future.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Time Travelers (1964)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Time Travelers (1964). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

AD 2071 and a distant future beyond 100,000 years

The central timeline is set in AD 2071, a post-nuclear-war Earth where survivors live underground with androids and a space program. The scientists attempt to rebuild the time portal in hopes of returning home, while mutants threaten the fragile community. A brief calibration sends the travelers to a date more than 100,000 years in the future, before the team races to escape back through the portal. Time behaves in accelerating cycles, culminating in a dramatic, cyclical finale.

Location

Laboratory, Cave, Underground City, Post-apocalyptic Earth, Spacecraft, Alpha Centauri system

The story begins in a high-security laboratory where a time-viewing device is tested and consumes huge power. When the portal destabilizes, the scientists retreat into a cave that opens into an underground city, the last remnants of civilization after nuclear war. The future setting shows a barren Earth with androids assisting residents as they prepare a spacecraft to reach Alpha Centauri. The action shifts between the lab, subterranean habitats, and the edge of interstellar exploration.

🧭 Dystopian 🔬 Scientific Facility 🗺️ Underground Habitat 🚀 Space Exploration

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:41

Main Characters – The Time Travelers (1964)

Meet the key characters of The Time Travelers (1964), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dr. Erik von Steiner (Preston Foster)

The lead scientist behind the time-viewing device, he is driven, confident, and willing to take risks for advancement. He guides the team through escalating dangers as the portal destabilizes and later works to repair and repurpose the device for escape. His ambition embodies the lure and peril of frontier science.

🧪 Scientist ⏳ Time Traveler 🔬 Lab Researcher

Danny McKee (Steve Franken)

A power plant technician whose intervention triggers the portal’s opening. He is pragmatic and brave, serving as the catalyst that pulls the team into the time-leap. His actions drive the initial conflict and his fate hinges on the lab’s ability to retrieve him from the portal.

🧰 Technician ⚡ Catalyst 🗺️ Daredevil

Dr. Steve Connors (Philip Carey)

A fellow scientist and co-developer of the time device, he serves as a steady collaborator and problem-solver. He helps plan repairs and coordinates the group’s efforts to navigate the dangers of travel and the future world. His analytical mindset anchors the team under pressure.

🧬 Scientist 🧭 Planner 🌐 Collaborator

Carol White (Merry Anders)

A key scientist in the time project, she participates in the journey through the portal and contributes to the strategic decisions for survival. Her presence emphasizes the human element of curiosity and intellect in the face of catastrophe. She adapts to shifting realities as the group struggles to return home.

💡 Scientist 🔬 Researcher 🧭 Explorer

Dr. Varno (John Hoyt)

The leader of the underground future city, he provides authority and direction to the community. He explains the devastated Earth and the broader plan to launch a spacecraft for interstellar escape. His decisions reflect a pragmatic approach to survival within a fragile alliance of residents and androids.

👑 Leader 🗺️ Strategist 🛰️ Space Program Mentor

The Mutant (Peter Strudwick)

A hostile entity among the future inhabitants, the mutants threaten the city’s food supply and security. Their aggression heightens the urgency of the travelers’ mission and the residents’ need to protect scarce resources. What begins as a distant danger becomes an immediate peril during the final boarding sequence.

👾 Mutant ⚔️ Hostile 🥀 Scarcity

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:41

Major Themes – The Time Travelers (1964)

Explore the central themes of The Time Travelers (1964), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⏳ Time Travel

Time travel drives the plot, forcing characters to grapple with the consequences of calibration errors and the moral weight of altering history. The portal’s instability traps them in unfamiliar eras and creates a race against their own aging. The story uses time shifts to explore causality, repetition, and the fear of being unable to return to normal life.

🌍 Survival

Earth has become a harsh, resource-scarce environment after nuclear devastation. Survivors rely on advanced technology, androids, and a future-space program to endure and seek a new home. Mutants emerge as a desperate threat, highlighting the fragile balance between civilization and extinction. The narrative centers on protecting food supplies, energy, and hope for a fresh start.

🧪 Science Ethics

The scientists push the boundaries of experimentation to rescue humanity, risking power overloads and unintended consequences. The film questions whether scientific ambition justifies possible harm to the team and broader civilization. Calibrating the portal becomes a test of responsibility versus curiosity, with the fate of many hanging on their choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:41

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Unlock the Full Story of The Time Travelers

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Time Travelers 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 Travelers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Time Travelers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Time Travelers, 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 Travelers Summary

The Time Travelers Timeline

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The Time Travelers Timeline

More About The Time Travelers

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