Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

A terrific flic

I first saw Journey to the Center of the Earth on a Saturday afternoon at the Roxy Theatre in Pacific Beach, California. The movie was a profound visual experience to me and at the age of eleven made a lasting impression.

Based on a Jules Verne story of the same name, the movie is a fairly fast paced adventure. Though it moves a little slowly in the beginning, preliminary scenes build in drama and promise that much adventure is to be forthcoming.

It all starts with a lump of suspiciously heavy lava that is given to Professor Lindenbrook (James Mason) by Alec McKuen (Pat Boone) a student in one of his geology classes. The gift is from the class in recognition of Lindenbrook's recent knighting. Puzzled that the lava is heavier than it should be, Lindenbrook chips a small portion of the lava away only to find an object at the center of the sample. Eventually a plumb-bob is discovered with a message inside and that cryptic message ultimately sends Lindenbrook and young McKuen to Iceland for the journey of a life time. Of course, there is treachery along the way and other sinister forces at work. In the end the group who make the trip to the center of the earth grows to five; Lindenbrook, McKuen, and Carl Goteborg (Arlene Dahl) along with a large Icelander Hans Belker (Peter Ronson) and his pet duck, Gertrude (Gertrude). Though rather simplistic in what is conceived to be at the center of the earth, the movie is charming and certainly worth the cost of taking it home.

Some reviewers have been quick to point out the simplistic special effects. Given the fact that the movie was released in 1959 I think the criticism is uncalled for. For its time, Journey to the Center of the Earth has held up quite well and will entertain children and adults even today. There is very little blood, and no language that would make a parent blush, nor is there any overt sexual content.

Part of what makes this movie such a wonderful experience is the terrific soundtrack. Hermann Bernard captures the essence of what a trip to the center of the earth would be like by the use of moody and atmospheric music. The music is such a part of the experience that when I saw the movie Vertigo as an adult I immediately recognized a similarity between that soundtrack and that of Journey to the Center of the Earth. Well, why not? Both movies were scored by Bernard.

Obviously, Journey to the Center of the Earth is a product of a Hollywood of a different era; a different generation of filmmakers. Journey stands as a testament to better days as do hundreds of other films.

I highly recommend.

Peace
August 7, 2008

Childhood favorite that has held up

Quite simply, the greatest film ever. OK, maybe my favorite film. I used to pore through the Sunday television supplement in the paper hoping to see Journey To The Center Of The Earth listed.

Great Carlsbad Caverns scenery. James Mason portrayed the scientist as a brave leader. Pat Boone was actually good; he was given but one showcase song. Arlene Dahl was allowed to hold her own with the men. You cannot describe Journey as having a feminist outlook, but it certainly was better than The Time Machine. Peter Belker was good portraying a character who spoke only Icelandic (from what I understand, Icelandic is medieval Norwegian.) Who knows, he could have been speaking the language for all I know. Thayer David was a multi-dimensional villain. Pure evil would have been distracting.

There is action, adventure and Pat Boone takes his shirt off for an hour. There was romance and as a young child it was not too bad.

Who can forget Gertrude, the duck?

Over two hours, but it did not lose my attention. July 27, 2008

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959) Movie Review

An adventurous science fiction film, 1959's Journey to the Center of the Earth is perhaps the most accurate adaptation of the outstanding Jules Verne novel of the same name. With Academy Award-nominated special effects, stunning sets, and monstrous prehistoric creatures, the film is smartly paced and essential viewing for fans of the story. Much of the dialogue attests to its age, and the many excuses to squeeze star Pat Boone's singing into the film might lessen its chance of appealing to newer audiences, but as a nostalgic Harryhausen-esque venture, it doesn't disappoint.

In 1880 Edinburgh, Sir Oliver Lindenbrook (James Mason, who takes second billing) discovers a plumb bob buried in a piece of lava rock, with a written clue from an Icelandic scientist who believed that a world existed within Earth. He sends it away to an expert for closer examination, only to discover that that expert, Professor Goteborg, has scurried away to Snaeffels to begin a journey to reach the center of the earth on his own.

Intent on besting his competition, Lindenbrook embarks on his own mission of discovery, taking his good friend and student Alec McEwen (Pat Boone) along for the ride. Before their descent into a vast crater gateway even begins, murder and deception lashes out, revealing a traitorous competitor also vying for the discovery. Goteborg turns up dead, and his widow Carla (Arlene Dahl) demands to accompany the group. Joined by trustworthy muscleman Hans (Peter Ronson) and his pet duck Gertrude, the foursome set out to retrace a vanished scientist's steps to making history.

It's no musical, but Boone quickly starts things off with the love song "Red Red Rose" for his bride-to-be Jenny. There's evening singing to Lindenbrook as he is congratulated for his recent knighthood. And never is the opportunity missed for a quick song as the group descends the volcanic crater. Is any of this in the novel? Despite the capitalizing on singing talents, the film follows more closely to the source material than any other theatrical adaptation. Seemingly misplaced humor is also thrown in, as well as ample reserves of romance. But when the film finally gets to the world within the world, it's solid science fiction and adventure.

The sets are impressive and memorable (Carlsbad Caverns served as many of the backgrounds), with giant mushroom forests, an ocean of the underworld, and the crumbled lost city of Atlantis. More exciting still is the inclusion of monstrous lizards and prehistoric creatures. Rather than stop-motion, the special effects include adding prosthetics to real reptiles, and superimposing their humongous images over the wide shots of our tiny heroes.

There's always time for tea with this group, moments for breaking out into song, terribly annoying sound effects and booming music (especially when chased by reptilian horrors), unexplainable conveniences for survival, an Indiana Jones boulder chase, and the typical "woman falling on the ground during an escape." But Journey to the Center of the Earth is still entertaining fantasy in that it brings to life the ideas explored in the Jules Verne classic science fiction novel.

- Mike Massie
July 11, 2008

WAS NOT 'modernized' - takes place in 19th century- 1857, I think

interesting note-Pat Boone, famous 'rock' crooner at the time, also financed this project;

Those DIMETRODONS are spot on, unlike the beasts in 1960s THE LOST WORLD
Fun -yet dramatic film July 2, 2008

Family Film and Science Fiction Classic

Impressive movie for it's time. Holds up well, and the kids liked it too. June 16, 2008

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