Product Description

Orson Welles narrates an incredible look at the prophecies of Nostradamus, whose amazing accuracy in predicting the future compels us to consider what his writings foretell us. Year: 1981 Director: Robert Guenette Starring: Orson Welles: Narrator

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #255 in VHS
• Released on: 1998-09-01
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Formats: Black & White, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Customer Reviews

One of the more unforgettable movies I have ever seen
First off, TMWST is a documentary. However it mixes two subjects that have often fascinated people from the beginning. Prophecy and History. Although today Nostradamus is a household name by and large, when this movie came out he was little more than a obscure name to most.

Orson Welles narrates the story of the French Psychic Nostradamus ,beginning with his work as a doctor in France. Early on the signs of Nostradamus's "gift" begin to become apparent. The early life of Nostradamus is far more interesting then one would think with the movie's opening doing much to build interest. The story goes from Nostradamus's early adulthood, to his tragic later years as he loses his family to the plague. However from the seclusion of his life as a widower, some of the more shocking predictions in history are produced by the Frenchman.

The documentary begins to illustrate Nostradamus's prediction of the French Revolution, American Revolution, American Civil War, and even World War 2. Of course most of the predictions are what people interpret him to mean.. but never the less the film does a good job at mixing in the words of nostradamus with recreations of these historical events. Other predictions are highlighted with the film even suggesting that Hitler was nearly predicted by name by the psychic.

However once the predictions of the past are covered.. the movie moves into the future. As in.. our immediate future(or at least of that time). This part of the movie gave me nightmares for weeks and talked of World War 3, the emergence of a Antichrist, etc. Although most of these predictions have proven to be untrue(information I would have loved to have in the early 80s), they are never the less entertaining for the viewer. The film ends on a nice note, aside from Nostradamus's prediction of the actual year of the end of the world.

Although this is a documentary, it comes across more as a movie. Either way I would recommend it. Makes a good watch. Although the fact that its 19 years old has taken away much of the "scare" factor from the later predictions.. at least you can watch it now without worrying about "The Bomb".

The Man Who Saw Tomorrow
With the amount of emotion and feeling Orson Wells puts into his projects is by far outstanding. This was the most scary of them all due to the Attacks on September the 11th in New York. I usually don't write reviews on things such as this, but I watched the original broadcast on TV in 1981. The words them selves drew me back almost as if I had saw this just the other day. This is a movie worth takeing a look at and ponder over. The information delivered 20 years ago by this movie is so wierd I can barely describe it. It is a must see by all. I wonder what the transcribers of the profit are saying to them selves now.

Interesting perspective on oft-interpreted seer. . .
The Man Who Saw Tomorrow provides only one of an infinite number of possible interpretations of the prophesies of Nostradamus. What makes this film something a little special is the narration of Orson Welles and the first-rate production values.

The cinematography is nearly flawless. Very effective use is made of interweaving historical film, often black and white, with original footage. Most of the actors used are convincing, and the scenarios presented are both thought-provoking and chilling. These effects are enhanced by a sparce but appropriate soundtrack.

The producers choose to take a very dark approach to the famed prophet's writings (quatraines, if you prefer). This morose perspective is balanced somewhat by the final visions included in the picture.

The accuracy of the interpretations or of the prophecies themselves is problematic, and the viewer will come to his or her own conclusions. However, the film does a masterful job of selecting prophesies that can be made to fit historical events or those possibilities of the immediate future which seem logical or even probable.

The only certainty about watching The Man Who Saw Tomorrow is that you won't forget it. You may want to, but you won't.