Time Piece

Time Piece is a unique, artful film from 1965 by none other than Jim Henson, best known for his Muppets empire. As something of a surprise, Time Piece stars Henson himself, alongside Enid Cafritz and Dennis Paget in a departure from his puppet-laden work. This short experimental film received outstanding recognition, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject, Live Action Films.

True to its title, Time Piece explores thematic elements around the passage, consumption, and domination of time - a fittingly universal subject. The film's narrative is episodic in nature, and the protagonist, played by Henson, interacts with a myriad of surreal environments and arresting visual sequences designed to portray man's relationship with time, the insistent tick-tock of life's clock. We see Henson in various stages and scenes - from dining with a beautiful woman, to painting an elephant pink, running from the authorities, and even bouncing on a trampoline, each bizarre tableau is tied together by the inexorable ticking of a clock.

Jim Henson succeeds splendidly in executing this existential and dreamlike film, despite it being very different from the largely lighthearted tone of his puppet work. Many of the scenes are non-sequiturs that, upon first viewing, may seem unrelated, but ultimately serve to drive home the relentless, ubiquitous presence of time. Henson's character is showcased in a series of discrete vignettes, which are each punctuated by a ticking clock and a rhythmic pulse. It is this drumbeat of time that weaves everything together, giving the film a steady, hypnotic cadence.

Enid Cafritz and Dennis Paget play wonderfully off Henson as key but relatively secondary characters in the film. Cafritz, for instance, is often seen as the object of Henson's affection and the paragon of his ideal womanhood, while Paget takes on various roles integral to Henson’s encounters. Each character is sketched with Henson's signature imaginative eccentricity, making for a captivating cast of characters.

Visually, Time Piece is an innovative treat, brimming with creative special effects and vivid color palettes, as well as fantastic stop-motion animation sequences. Its cinematography is distinctively avant-garde for its era, and its vibrant physical comedy can be seen as a spiritual predecessor to the humor Henson later brings to his Muppet shows. A largely dialogue-free film, the narrative relies heavily on its visual and auditory components, emphasizing the ticking, the drumming, and the syncopated rhythm of a heartbeat to reinforce its themes.

The film's use of repetition and disjointed scenes gives it a quirky rhythm, making it compelling – if a little disorienting – viewing. It's also remarkable to note the inventiveness at play, considering the year in which the film was made. Henson seems unbounded by the conventional storytelling norms or form of his time, offering audiences an early taste of his whimsical audacity and willingness to defy expectation which he would infuse into his later, more well-known, puppetry work.

Time Piece uses symbolism to express the weight of time's unstoppable march and each scene in the film, however surreal or outrageous, carries forward this motif. Time clocks, watches, metronomes - popular symbols of time - are featured in abundance, yet Henson creatively adds countercultural and unfamiliar elements to the mix, amplifying the eccentricity that gives the film its charm.

In a nutshell, Time Piece is an intriguing exploration of the human relationship with time, presented in Jim Henson's signature whimsical style. It is a testament to Henson's versatility as an artist and his flair for the innovative and unconventional. Though quite different from his famous puppet work, the film incorporates the clever humor, vibrant visuals, and inventive storytelling that would later make Henson an internationally acclaimed titan of puppetry and entertainment. For those interested in experimental cinema, or for fans of Jim Henson looking for a glimpse into his non-Muppet imagination, Time Piece will not disappoint.