TIMESLIP/ THE ATOMIC MAN


UK, 1955, 90 minutes, Black-and-white.
Gene Nelson, Faith Domergue, Joseph Tomelty, Peter Arne, Charles Hawtrey.
Directed by Ken Hughes.


Timeslip is an example of small-budget thrillers made in the UK during the 1950s and including American stars. This time it is Gene Nelson, taking some time off from his musicals, and Faith Domergue who usually had sultry roles, less so here although she does get into the action more directly than heroines of the time.


There is a supporting cast of character actors and, Carry On fans, will be interested to see Charles Hawtrey (billed as office boy, though he is obviously much older) a few years before the comedies began.

The film has the atmosphere of nuclear experimentation of the times, experiments with radiation, this time a scientist absorbing radiation, becoming the victim of a plot from a company in Argentina who produced tungsten. He is shot at the beginning of the film but survives, the important thing being that he died on the operating table for 7 ½ seconds which leads to the title, Timeslip, where his body died but his brain went forward – so that his answers are recorded seven and half seconds before the questions are asked.

Gene Nelson portrays one of those very eager American journalists, Faith Domergue his associate photographer – in love, but he always busy.

They both become involved in the death of the scientist as well is his survival, uncovering a conspiracy, tantalising the editor of the paper, becoming involved with the police, helped by the manager of the nuclear experimental centre.

Peter Arne is introduced in this film and has two roles, that of the genuine scientist and that of the substitute who has been changed by plastic surgery.

A split-second timing at the ending – but an enjoyable second feature from this period.

1. 1950s short feature, UK, US stars? Nuclear and atomic issues? Threats? Industrial espionage?

2. The London settings, black-and-white photography, night sequences, the wharf, newspaper offices, the hospital, the nuclear centre, pubs? The musical score?

3. The title, the detail of the explanation about Stephen Raynor and radiation, his brain during the time of his death, 7 to 8 seconds, the brain going ahead while the body did not? And, therefore, his answering before the questions were asked?

4. The introduction, the shooting of the scientist, the police arriving, the photographer, the introduction to Delaney, Jill, her waiting and being hungry, his seeing the photo, checking the archives, identifying the victim? His pursuing a good story?

5. The police, the Inspector, listening to Delaney, the inspectors and offices? The information?

6. The hospital, the operation, Reynor and his waking up, the work of the staff, the puzzle for the doctor? Delaney and the information? The loss of memory? The photos and the radiation light? The photographs in the hospital and Jill helping?

7. The centre, Delaney’s friend, the meeting, the inspector, the scientist with the scales, his story of the crash and its implausibility? The truth, Argentina, Vasco, the mining of tungsten? The plot, the human radiation man? The plan to destroy part of London?

8. The clues followed, the doctor and the psychologist, the explanation of the 7 ½ seconds, the questions and answers? The tape recording of the victim? Faith reading the questions, playing the answers? Reynor being a target, the plastic surgeon and his being asked to kill Reynor, in the hospital, the cyanide, the psychologist recognising him? His
substituting the cyanide – but walking into the bus and killing himself?

9. Jill, photographer, in love with Delaney, always waiting? The information about UTC, her research, the tungsten, going to the headquarters, seeing the documents, the phone call to Delaney, her being taken?

10. Delaney going to the wharf, the fight, the false scientist and their escaping by ship after the explosion?

11. At the centre, the split-second timing for the experiment, Delaney and the scientist, the scientists fear? Tungsten? The police and the precautions, the success of the experiment?

12. In time for the end! And, finally, romance?