U.S. Air Force test pilot Major William Allison (a solid and convincing performance by Robert Clarke) crashes through the time barrier into the grim future of 2024, which is inhabited by the last remnants of the human race in the wake of a lethal plague that decimated most of the earth's population in 1971. Director Edgar G. Ulmer, working from an overly talky, yet still interesting script by Arthur C. Pierce, relates the compelling premise at a reasonably steady pace, offers several haunting images of the desolate empty landscape at the start, and maintains a serious brooding tone throughout. Alas, this movie does get bogged down in too much dull dialogue, but fortunately kicks back to life at the exciting climax and concludes on an intriguing ambivalent note. The sound acting by an able cast keeps the picture on track: The fetching Darlene Tompkins projects a disarmingly sweet charm as the lovely Princess Trirene, Vladimir Sokoloff registers well as wise and kindly leader The Supreme, John Van Dreelen likewise excels as the shrewd Dr. Bourman, and Ulmer's daughter Arianne has a deliciously wicked ball with her juicy role as the snippy and shifty Captain Markova. Meredith M. Nicholson's crisp black and white cinematography boasts plenty of snazzy cutaways. Darrell Calker's robust score does the rousing trick. The hokey (not so) special effects possess a certain lovably rinky-dink appeal. Recommended viewing for sci-fi aficionados.
Review of Beyond the Time Barrier
