The People That Time Forgot (film)
A rescue expedition to a prehistoric land.
The People That Time Forgot is a 1977 adventure fantasy film directed by Kevin Connor and produced by Britain’s Amicus Productions. It adapts two novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs: *The People That Time Forgot* (1918) and *Out of Time’s Abyss* (1918). Shot in Technicolor, the film was released in the United States by American International Pictures. It was the final production from Amicus, which ceased operations in 1977 after the film was completed and released.
The story continues directly from *The Land That Time Forgot* (1974). Major Ben McBride (Patrick Wayne) leads a rescue mission to the Antarctic to find his friend Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure), who disappeared years earlier. A British naval survey ship brings them to Caprona, a prehistoric island where dinosaurs and barbarian tribes coexist. McBride’s team—including paleontologist Norfolk, mechanic Hogan, and photographer Lady Charlotte “Charlie” Cunningham—flies over the island’s mountain wall in an amphibious plane. They are attacked by a giant pterodactyl and crash-land. There, they meet Ajor, a cave-girl who learned English from Tyler. She guides them to the Nargas, a samurai-like warrior tribe holding Tyler captive. When the volcano the Nargas worship erupts, Tyler sacrifices himself to let the others escape.
The cast includes Patrick Wayne, Doug McClure, Sarah Douglas as Lady Charlotte, Dana Gillespie as Ajor, Thorley Walters as Norfolk, Shane Rimmer as Hogan, Tony Britton as Captain Lawton, John Hallam as Chung-Sha, David Prowse as the Executioner, Milton Reid as Sabbala, Kiran Shah as Bolum, Richard LeParmentier as Lieutenant Whitby, and Jimmy Ray as Lieutenant Graham.
Director Kevin Connor noted that Amicus wanted to adapt the John Carter of Mars stories after *At the Earth’s Core*, but couldn’t afford the rights, so they made this sequel instead. Though Amicus produced the film, the company folded after its release, leaving American International Pictures as the sole credited distributor.
Critical reaction was mixed. *Time Out* called it a “lame sequel” to *The Land That Time Forgot*, which was at least occasionally lively. The *Radio Times* described it as an “OK sequel” but a “constipated confection” with “ludicrous mechanised dinosaurs and hopeless acting,” though it noted that a few shots composed around celebrated fantasy illustrations compensate for the film’s shortcomings. Derek Winne
- Based on
- Novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1918)
Lore & Background
The film is a direct sequel to The Land That Time Forgot, which initiated the series in 1974. The story follows a rescue expedition led by Patrick Wayne in search of his friend, played by Doug McClure, who had vanished many years before. The expedition lands on Caprona, the same fantastic prehistoric land where dinosaurs and barbarian tribes of men co-exist. Major Ben McBride organises a mission to the Antarctic wastes to search for his friend Bowen Tyler. A British naval survey ship takes them to Caprona. McBride's party includes the paleontologist Norfolk, gunner and mechanic Hogan, and photographer Lady Charlotte 'Charlie' Cunningham. They fly over the mountain wall of Caprona in an amphibious aircraft but are attacked by a fierce giant pterodactylus and forced down. The film adapts two 1918 novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs: *The People That Time Forgot* and *Out of Time’s Abyss*.
Reader's Guide
The People That Time Forgot represents the final film from Amicus Productions, a British studio known for horror and fantasy films. According to director Kevin Connor, Amicus wanted to follow At the Earth's Core with an adaptation of the John Carter of Mars stories but could not afford the rights, so they made this sequel instead. Although the film was made by Amicus, the company folded before it was released, meaning American International Pictures took sole credit. Critical reception was mixed: Time Out called it a 'lame sequel' to The Land That Time Forgot, while the Radio Times described it as an 'OK sequel' but a 'constipated confection' with 'ludicrous mechanised dinosaurs and hopeless acting.' The reviewer noted that 'a few shots, composed around celebrated fantasy illustrations, compensate for all the film's shortcomings.' Critic Derek Winnert opined 'the monsters and special effects are below par,' but 'there are effective moments, and there is some curiosity value in seeing singer Dana Gillespie playing Ajor.' Blu-ray.com thought the film 'may not be the most polished effort around, but there's fun to be had with its crazy dino encounters.'
Did You Know?
- The film is based on two novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs: The People That Time Forgot (1963) and Out of Time's Abyss (1963).
- It is the last film made by Amicus Productions before the company folded.
- The film was distributed in the United States by American International Pictures, like Connor's other two Burroughs-derived films.
- The cave-girl Ajor speaks English because she was taught by the character Bowen Tyler.
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