'Things To Come': a unique assemblage, put together by artist Norman H. Partridge, recording the film and the filming

H.G. WELLS (1866-1946, script), Sir Alexander KORDA (1893-1956, producer) & William Cameron MENZIES (1896-1957, director).

Norman H. PARTRIDGE (1921-2001, artist, illustrator and muralist), Maurice BRADDELL (photographer) and others. 'Things To Come': an extensive scrap-book assembled by Partridge, recording the film and the filming, the personalities and the dialogue. [England: circa 1935-1960]. Large quarto album (11 7/8 x 10 1/4in; 301 x 260mm). Mounted text (mostly typed), mounted photographs (stills from the movie [a number signed 'W.M.' in the negative], secondary images from the movie), a group of 16 candid photographs taken on the film set by actor Maurice Braddell (and others? n.b. Braddell played Dr. Harding in the movie) these featuring Wells, Korda, Cameron Menzies and others. (The adhesive has failed in many cases so a number of 'pieces' are now loosely inserted, leaving apparent gaps in the album). Original boards (rubbed).

[with:]

Sir Alexander KORDA. 1-page typed letter signed, on 'London Film Productions Ltd' heaed paper, to Norman Partridge, dated 24 Feb 1950, with associated envelope, in reply to Partridge's enthusiastic letter about 'Things To Come'. Korda writes 'I do not know whether you realise that "Things To Come"... was a very definite commercial failure and that, obviously did not encourage us to continue on the same lines.' He continues quite presciently 'However, I am sure that, slowly, the present gloomy selection of subjects by the young generation of directors and producers will stop and they, themselves, will discover that pictures, where fanstasy and magic will again come to the fore, should be made'. [E.g. 'Star Wars' ?]. He goes on mention that he heard from H.G. Wells just before he died and that Wells mentioned that he was working on a sort of sequel to 'Things To Come'.

[and:] a number of related TLS and other other material. (a lot).

"Things to Come qualifies as the first true masterpiece of science fiction cinema" (Gary Westfahl 'Gary Westfahl's Bio-Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film'.)

The failure of the glue means that this album is in need of some 'restoration' - some of the photos,  captions and cuttings do need to be re-inserted; and some appear to be 'missing'. The people involved offer some interesting connections: H.G. Wells' script was directed by William Cameron Menzies (who was responsible for burning down Atlanta in 'Gone with the Wind'). One of the smaller parts, Dr.Harding, was played by Maurice Braddell (who, in 1968, came out of 'retirement' to feature in 'Andy Warhol's Flesh' directed by Paul Morrissey).  

'Things to Come (also known in promotional material as H. G. Wells' Things to Come) is a 1936 British black-and-white science fiction film from United Artists, 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, Derrick De Marney, and Ann Todd.

The dialogue and plot were devised by H. G. Wells as "a new story" meant to display the "social and political forces and possibilities" that he had outlined in his 1933 story 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. 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" ' (wikipedia)

see: https://www.scripts.com/script/things_to_come_626

       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Things_to_Come

For Norman H. Partridge:

see: https://museumofcroydon.com/ve-75-exhibition

see: https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/4682335.croydons-hidden-art-works-to-be-revealed/