Time Piece

Time Piece

Year: 1965

Runtime: 9 mins

Language: English

FantasyComedyMusic

The nine‑minute experimental film explores dislocation in time, rhythmic time signatures, the philosophical nature of time, and humanity’s slavery to it. Written, directed and produced by Jim Henson, it premiered at the Museum of Modern Art in May 1965, ran for eighteen months at a Manhattan theater, and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Live‑Action Short Film.

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Timeline & Setting – Time Piece (1965)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Time Piece (1965). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film presents time as a living, rhythmic force rather than a fixed calendar. Scenes cascade in a rapid tempo that blurs days into nights and ordinary routines into surreal episodes. The pacing creates a timeless, dreamlike present where events appear to loop and reset, rather than advance along a conventional timeline.

Location

Hospital, City streets, Busy office, Forest, Strip club, Prison, Rock pile, Diving board

The narrative is anchored in a sterile hospital room before expanding into a panorama of urban and industrial settings. It moves through busy streets, office floors, and conveyor belts, then shifts to a forest and finally to a strip club and a prison, each locale contributing to the film's relentless rhythm. These environments collectively frame time as a choreographed flow rather than a straightforward sequence.

🏥 Hospital 🏙️ Urban life 🏭 Industrial spaces 🌳 Forests 🎪 Strip club ⛓️ Confinement

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:49

Main Characters – Time Piece (1965)

Meet the key characters of Time Piece (1965), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Man (Jim Henson)

The central figure whose life unfolds as a rapid montage of outfits, locations, and roles. He embodies time's rhythmic pulse, moving from stillness to frantic escape as the world around him shifts. His arc culminates in a symbolic fall and a final wink from the hospital bed, implying time's cyclical return.

🎭 Disguise ⏳ Time

Wife (Enid Cafritz)

A partner sharing dinner and daily life, grounding the film's emotional core amid the relentless motion. Her presence contrasts the chaotic, dreamlike sequences with a sense of ordinary continuity. She embodies stability within the clockwork of time.

🏠 Domestic life 💞 Partnership

Stripper (April March)

A performer in the strip club whose presence heightens the film's feverish tempo. Her scenes contribute to the theme of performance as a mirror of the protagonist's life. She embodies the spectacle that time can become within movement and sound.

🎪 Performance 💃 Dance

Bartender (Jerry Juhl)

A fixture in social spaces, bridging conversations and reactions within the chaotic rhythm. The bartender’s role underscores the social texture of the protagonist’s world. He anchors the scenes that occur between episodes of movement and performance.

🍸 Social life 🗨️ Conversation

Drummer (Dave Bailey)

Drummer of the film's diegetic score; his rhythm aligns with the heartbeat monitor and the montage. His performance emphasizes the central motif of time as music. The percussion drives the pace of the sequence and heightens the sense of living tempo.

🥁 Music 🕺 Rhythm

Messenger boy (Frank Oz)

A rhythmic presence carrying messages through the unfolding scenes, linking moments in the montage. The character contributes to the sense of time moving through communication and movement. His role grounds the flow of events within a connected sequence.

🗺️ Messenger 📣 Communication

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:49

Major Themes – Time Piece (1965)

Explore the central themes of Time Piece (1965), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕰 Time & Rhythm

Time is treated as a tangible, musical force that drives the protagonist through a montage of scenes. The film ties mundane routines to fantastical moments, creating a consistent tempo that governs movement and perception. As the heart monitor accelerates, time both compresses and expands, revealing time's persistence and fragility.

🎭 Identity

Disguise and changing clothes propel the central figure through a kaleidoscope of identities. The appearance of Tarzan, top hats, cowboys, and other guises blurs the line between self and performance. This fluidity raises questions about authenticity, agency, and the fragmentation of a single, coherent self.

🕊️ Freedom

Imprisonment and escape frame the tension between confinement and release. The protagonist's flight from prison and subsequent pursuit depict freedom as precarious and continually renegotiated. The finale—a fall into a muddy puddle that becomes a rustic clock—reiterates that liberty is cyclical and fragile.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:49

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Unlock the Full Story of Time Piece

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

Time Piece Summary

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Time Piece Summary

Time Piece Timeline

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Time Piece Timeline

More About Time Piece

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