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I found an actual Easter egg in The Time Machine, a hidden message for fans of the movie that the average lunkhead would never spot!

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The Easter Egg in The Time Machine! (<— link)
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Years ago I noticed a strange item in this movie. One of the clocks on George's mantle is turned around backwards!





Instead of the clock's face being in front, we see the backside with all the clockworks. The only part of the pendulum we can see (which should be in front) is a portion of the silver shaft and the lower two-thirds of the silver ball as it swings back and forth behind the mechanism.

The clock shown below is similar to it, although instead of a swinging pendulum, it has four spinning balls. Note that all of the clockwork gears are hidden behind the face.





Bear in mind that this isn't just a single shot of the clock in one scene — it's clearly visible in multiple shots, and always facing backwards!







Here it is again, right between Taylor and Cabot in the first shot below, and then on the far left in the second shot.







So, How could this just be an embarrassing mistakes?

Folks, I think this backwards-facing clock — which shows up so many shots — is actually a hidden bit of symbolism, placed there deliberately.

But what does it mean?

I think I know the answer.

All of George's other clocks are normal time pieces which report the passage of time as it moves forward.

But one of the clocks is a symbolic reference to fact that George has invented a machine which can make time run in reverse . . . ergo the backwards clock!

Not convinced? Well. . . there's more.

In the scene with George and David alone, David pleads with George not to use his time machine.

"If that machine can do what you say it can . . . destroy it, George! Destroy it before it destroys you!"

And during that entire scene (shown below), the pendulum on the backwards-facing clock is NOT swinging! So, the question is, why is not functioning in this one scene alone?

I believe it's supposed to mirror David's plea for George not to use the time machine!





Still not convinced? Okay, consider this next odd bit of evidence.

After David has left, and George writes a quick note to Mrs. Wathett about the upcoming dinner in five days. He crosses the room and places the note on the mantle with the clocks.

Then he heads for the lab to test his time machine for the first time . . . and we can see the pendulum swinging on the backwards-facing clock again!

This is consistent with the fact that George is has decide to test the time machine, in spite of David's warning,.

Finally, take a closer look at the mechanism inside the bell jar. I swear, this looks more like advanced technology than simple clockworks. And yet in the movie we do see a pendulum swinging behind the lower area!



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Guys, I suppose all this could just be a coincidence. Perhaps none of the film crew nor the cast noticed that a careless stage hand put one of the clocks on the mantle with its face turned towards the wall.

But that doesn't sound very likely does it . . .

Well, rather than dismiss the backwards-facing clock as just an embarrassing blunder, I'd rather interpret it as a clever message for sharp-eyed viewers. A genuine Easter egg in The Time Machine.

I just wish it hadn't taken me 64 years to spot it.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)