For many people growing up in the UK in the early 1970s going to the cinema had limited offerings. Basically Disney movies - usually a re-release or the occasional Roger Moore Bond film. The Disney cartoons skewed a little young and the Bonds carried an 'A certificate' for the violence and kissing. Nothing like today where there is an abundance of high quality animated movies and high budget family friendly adventure movies (albeit solidly confined to superhero movies and remakes).

Doug McClure starred in 3 films for Amicus based on Edgar Rice Burroughs fantasy/adventure stories. ‘The Land That Time Forgot’, ‘At The Earth’s Core’ and ‘The People That Time Forgot’ (as well as the similarly themes ‘Warlords of Atlantis’ - for EMI - which was written directly for the screen).

McClure played more or less the same role in each film. Characters who were likeable, square jawed, do the right thing heroes. Like the best heroes he did not go looking for trouble and certainly did not aspire to fame and fortune in the films. He was thrust into fantastic adventures by chance and met the challenges head on; fighting off dangerous monsters, freeing enslaved peoples and leading daring escapes. He would put aside any thoughts of personal advantage.... and would still always get the girl. Although this romance too was not sought out; who could not fall in love with this charming, courageous stranger.

He was always accompanied by someone more knowledgeable and scientifically astute (who wore glasses so we would know they were clever), but he could see beyond the science and bring it down to the nuts and bolts of the situation. Many things can be resolved by the threat of a pointed spear or a firmly placed right hook.Whether it was the writing, the direction (Kevin Connor is an underrated Director) or the actor himself - the characters were always relatable. McClure brought a likability to the characters and a credibility. He was suitably amazed at the strange worlds he found himself in. Like a kid, he was playing a game and believed in it 100%.

I don't know much about McClure's range as an actor, as I have not seen him in anything where we was required to do too much. But he has a strong screen persona and I imagine a lot of what we see on screen is him.

There is a knack to doing this sort of film and the tone is very important. It has to be done with enough gusto and conviction from the actors and equally a lightness of touch across the whole production so as not to prompt too many questions and threaten the plausibility while still delivering the thrills in a credible way. It is easy to underestimate this and people will often talk about these films as Doug McClure fighting rubber monsters. Not untrue. But if you turn on the Sy-Fy channel (why the change from Sci-Fi?) and watch any of their deserted island/dinosaur/monster movies you will immediately appreciate 'The Land That Time Forgot' for all the things it does right.. on a minimal.budget.. in the 1970s. Like all the best work it looks easy. The films are not masterpieces by anyone's standards, but then neither is the Edgar Rice Burroughs source material. The films have the same feel of the unpretentious, cheap, pulpy and highly enjoyable books.

These films were a big part of my childhood and I regard them fondly.
As an 8 or 9 year old the technical and budgetary limitations were not apparent to me and did not detract from the experience. The films delivered on all of the thrills and spectacle promised by the exceptional movie posters and Doug McClure was at the heart of the action and personifies the films themselves.

There is a portrait of Doug McClure in the HUMANS gallery.

One of several UK Posters for the film painted by Tom Chantrell (1975) .

TRAILERS

The Land That Time Forgot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0K97czqecQ

At The Earth’s Core

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbmtCBhPkyg

The People That Time Forgot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL7_gp0Xy2Q

Warlords of Atlantis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4POKzW3rys