Weena (The Time Machine)
Weena is a fictional character in The Time Machine, a novel written by H. G. Wells in 1895 on the concept of time travel. The story of the novel comprises an unnamed time traveler who reaches 802 701 AD through his time machine. He finds there that the human has been evolved into two species: Eloi, the leisure class; and Morlock, the working class. He finds an Eloi girl named Weena, whom he takes to the expedition. Finally, he loses Weena in his battle with Morlocks.
Three films were also made on the story of The Time Machine, in 1960, 1978 and 2002. Weena has been portrayed in different ways in the films. She has been rescued by the time traveler in films, on the contrary to the story of the novel.
Weena in H. G. Wells' novel
In the original novel, the Time Traveler finds Weena in AD 802701. He rescues her from drowning in a shallow, whereas no Eloi attempts to take the initiative. The next day, she presents him a garland of flowers, which she has made especially for him. He takes her on his expedition and decides to take her to his own time, i.e., the Victorian Era. But, in the end Weena faints and is lost in a fire, when the time traveler fights with Morlocks to get his time machine back. The Time Traveler returns to his own time with two strange flowers, which Weena put into his pocket.
In the 1960 film
In 1960, George Pal directed a film with the same name, which is largely based on the story of the novel; however some significant changes were made. The screenplay of the film was written by David Duncan. The name "George" was given to the time traveler in the film. Traveling through different times, George reaches AD 802701 where he finds a girl drowning in the shallow, and the Elois are indifferent. He rescues her and comes to know her name – Weena. Unlike the novel, George does not leave Weena dead. He rescues the Elois and Weena and eventually returns to the future to be reunited with her. Weena was played by Yvette Mimieux.
In the 1978 television film
Sunn Classic Pictures produced the television film The Time Machine in 1978. Some major changes were made in the story. The time traveler’s name is Dr. Neil Perry in this movie, and he is a scientist of the 1970s. The story takes place in the US instead of the UK. He travels to the far future and befriends Weena, who tells him that the Morlocks take the Elois for an unknown purpose. Perry visits the Morlocks to rescue Weena’s brother. He also teaches the Elois how to defend themselves. Thereafter, he returns to his time after completing his mission. In the end, he again goes to the future to reunite with Weena. Actress Priscilla Barnes played the role of Weena in this movie.
In the 2002 film
Another movie with the same name was executive produced by Arnold Leibovit and directed by Simon Wells in 2002. There are changes in this movie also, including the name of Weena. Weena has been renamed Mara (played by Samantha Mumba), whom the time traveler meets in 802701. In this film, Dr. Alexander Hartdegen is an inventor in 1899 in Columbia University, New York. He devotes his life to making a Time Machine after the murder of his girlfriend Emma. He travels to 802701 and meets the Eloi. He is nursed back to health by Mara. In the later part of the film, he rescues Mara and finally starts a new life with her and the Eloi in 802701.