Things to Come

Things to Come
UK poster for the premiere run of the film
Directed by	William Cameron Menzies
Written by	H. G. Wells
Based on	The Shape of Things to Come 1933 novel by H. G. Wells
Produced by	Alexander Korda
Starring	Raymond Massey Edward Chapman Ralph Richardson Margaretta Scott Cedric Hardwicke Maurice Braddell Sophie Stewart Derrick De Marney Ann Todd
Cinematography	Georges Périnal
Edited by	Charles Crichton Francis D. Lyon
Music by	Arthur Bliss
Production company	London Films Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release date	20 February 1936 (1936-02-20)
Running time	108m 41s (see below)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£260,000[1]

Things to Come (also known as Shape of Things to Come^[2] and in promotional material as H. G. Wells' Things to Come) is a 1936 British science fiction film produced by Alexander Korda, directed by William Cameron Menzies, and written by H. G. Wells. The film stars Raymond Massey, Edward Chapman, Ralph Richardson, Margaretta Scott, Cedric Hardwicke, Maurice Braddell, Sophie Stewart, Derrick De Marney, and Ann Todd.^[2]

H. G. Wells conceived his treatment as "a new story" meant to display the "social and political forces and possibilities" that he had outlined in his 1933 book The Shape of Things to Come, a work he considered less a novel than a "discussion" in fictional form that presented itself as the notes of a 22nd-century diplomat.^[3] The film was also influenced by previous works, including his 1897 story "A Story of the Days to Come" and his 1931 work on society and economics, The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind. The cultural historian Christopher Frayling called Things to Come "a landmark in cinematic design".^[4]