Watch The Yesterday Machine

The Yesterday Machine is a 1965 science fiction film directed by Russ Marker and produced by actor Tim Holt. It stars Holt, James Britton, and Ann Pellegrino. The movie is a low-budget production that attempts to tackle some big ideas about time travel and the consequences of meddling with history. The story revolves around a group of government scientists who have invented a machine capable of transporting objects and people back in time. They plan to use the machine to go back in time and prevent the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, which they believe will alter the course of history and prevent the United States from descending into chaos.

However, things quickly go awry when the machine malfunctions and lands the group of scientists in the middle of the Civil War. They are forced to navigate their way through the conflict and try to find a way back to their own time, all while trying to avoid altering history too much.

The movie has a lot of interesting ideas and concepts, but unfortunately, it suffers from a lack of budget and overall production values. The special effects are low-quality even for 1965, and the majority of the movie takes place in generic woods and fields. The dialogue is clunky and occasionally cringe-worthy, especially when the characters try to explain the science behind time travel.

One of the biggest strengths of the movie is its cast, which is surprisingly talented given the low-budget nature of the production. Tim Holt, best known for his Western roles in the 1940s and 50s, is solid as the lead scientist trying to navigate the dangers of time travel. James Britton, who plays a soldier the group meets in the past, is particularly notable for his earnest performance and screen presence.

Ann Pellegrino plays a pivotal role as the lone female member of the group, and while her character is thinly written, she does a good job with the material she is given. Unfortunately, the female characters in the movie are largely relegated to the background, and the movie suffers from a lack of diversity in its cast and characters.

Overall, The Yesterday Machine is an interesting but flawed science fiction movie from the mid-1960s. It attempts to tackle big ideas about time travel and the consequences of meddling with history, but it is hampered by a low budget and weak production values. However, the talented cast and genuine attempts to be creative and original make it worth a watch for fans of classic science fiction.

The Yesterday Machine is a 1963 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.9.