I remember watching this film years ago when I was much
younger. I didn’t quite appreciate all that went into it at the time but did
enjoy it. Now that I’m much older I find that JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE
EARTH is a much better picture than I recalled and a fine tribute to the author
of the book it was based on, Jules Verne.
If you’ve read anything by Verne you know that he was far
ahead of his time when it came to science fiction writing. Many of the concepts
and ideas he created have come to be in real life. While the idea of a vast
underground in the middle of the earth isn’t one of those, this adventurous
tale does entertain.
In 1888 at Edinburgh University Professor Oliver Lindenbrook
(James Mason) has just been knighted and is hailed by his students for his
accomplishments. Student Alec McKuen (Pat Boone) has been selected to present
him with a gift, an inkwell made from a set of ram horns, and with the change
left over has picked up an interesting rock found in a nearby shop as well. The
rock sets in motion the rest of the film as Lindenbrook, while looking at the
rock, discovers that it surrounds a small item inside with an inscription on
it. Through a series of events the item is dislodged and appears to be a plumb
bob with an inscription from an ancient Scandinavian archeologists who
theorized the earth was hollow with another world inside the outer one.
Lindenbrook and McKuen set off to find the location
described on the item but are in a race once they learn that the man
Lindenbrook wrote to for help has already set off to make the discovery for
himself thus taking credit for it. Things change when he is found murdered in
his hotel room. When his widow arrives (Arlene Dahl), Lindenbrook offers to
purchase all of the equipment his colleague left behind. She agrees on one
condition, that she accompany him on the search.
Having yet discovered who was responsible for the murder, as
well as trapping Lindenbrook and McKuen in a nearby building, the three set off
accompanied by a bracing young man Lindenbrook has hired to help carry their
supplies. It turns out that the murderer is Saknussemm (Thayer David), the
descendant of the man who set out to discover this world long ago and who was
responsible for sending out the item Lindenbrook found. Now both teams are
competing to make the discovery of the world at the center of the earth first.
Unfortunately for Lindenbrook, Saknussemm is willing to do anything to get
there first.
Slow moving by today’s standards the movie lets its tale
unravel at a pace that dwells more on story than on action. Don’t get me wrong,
I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. It just may be off putting to some. But for
those willing to watch from start to finish you won’t be disappointed. Instead
you’ll find a well thought out tale written by one of the greatest authors who
ever lived.
The effects will seem simple to most raised on a steady diet
of CGI these days. Split screen images offering cowering people facing off
against huge lizards standing in for dinosaur size reptiles don’t seem to have
that real look to them, but were plenty amazing for audiences for audiences at
the time. And for some they will hold up today as well. The set designs in some
of the various lands they discover while under the earth’s shell will also
delight not just the eye but the imagination as well.
It would be simple to say that the acting is outstanding but
come on, James Mason? Can anyone say anything bad about the man’s acting
skills? What is more surprising is the performance of Pat Boone who was little
more than a teen heartthrob at the time. He does a fine job here holding his
own against both Mason and Dahl who had many more years of experience. And
Thayer David does a great job as well, long before he became famous for his
years on DARK SHADOWS.
The movie is being released by Twilight Time which means if
you are interested in picking up a copy do so soon. They consistently limit the
number of copies to their collectors editions to 3,000 pieces and once gone
they’re gone. Knowing that it is from Twilight Time you’ll also be guaranteed
that the quality of the disc will be blu-ray and the extras will be just as
good. While the extras here are limited there is the isolated score soundtrack
composed by Bernard Herrmann as well as a commentary track featuring Diane
Baker who plays Boone’s love interest in the film. This one, as with almost all
Twilight Time offerings, is worth adding to your collection.
Click here to order.
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