When Does the First Film "The Time Machine" (1960) Take Place?
"The Time Machine" is a science fiction film written by David Duncan [adapting "The Time Machine" (1895) by H.G. Wells] that released August 17th, 1960. So when is "The Time Machine" set?
It takes place in the year:
We know this because the dials on the Time Machine read "OCT" and "12" and "802701" just after H. George Wells makes his first huge jump into the future. So it's October of 802701 AD.
802701 AD
We know this because the dials on the Time Machine read "OCT" and "12" and "802701" just after H. George Wells makes his first huge jump into the future. So it's October of 802701 AD.
Additionally, just before the start of the flashback that makes up the second part of the prologue George clearly says, "Ever since we were together 5 days ago, the last day of 1899." So it is early January of 1900 AD at the start and it is presumably 1900 AD during both the first prologue and epilogue of the movie.
12.1,899 + 5 days = 1.1,900.
Also, in the middle of the second part of the two-part prologue Wells' dials read "DEC" and "31" and "1899" just before he first begins to travel through time. That puts the flashback part in late December of 1899 AD.
Finally, the Time Traveler makes three more much shorter jumps only about a quarter into the story:
-After the first of these, the time machine dials tell us it is "SEP" "13" "1917". George also says, "In the year of 1917, I stopped." as he slows the machine to a stop. So it's certainly September of 1917 AD at the end of this first jump.
-After the second trip, his famous machine reads "JUN" "19" "1940" and he narrates, "The last time I stopped was in 1917, 23 years ago"... So we know its July of 1940 AD during this part.
1,917 + 23 = 1,940.
-After the third trip, it displays: "AUG" and "18" and "1966" so we know it is August of 1966 AD.
It was adapted to comics in late 1960.
