Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

A different way of telling a story

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

An unexpected pleasure of the 1959 movie adaption of Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth was the charming character of Gertrude, the pet duck of Hans, an Icelandic gentleman who joins the adventure. When the group conducts a roll call, he proudly announces Hans and Gertrude Belker as though they are a couple.The film has many moments of humor including the singing voice of Pat Boone which deflects the dangerous descent into our planet. When the group need choose which way to proceed, Gertrude always senses the correct one. When members find themselves being flooded with water, the duck easily floats on top locating a means to escape.One feels certain that the good guys will eventually prevail over the bad guys who are trying to unfairly claim credit for the scientific discoveries. Unlike real life where evil can prevail, we expect this work of fiction to be upbeat. And yes, this is what happens, except for one shocking deviation as the movie approaches its grand finale.Gertrude wanders off again perhaps in search of an escape. The bad guy follows. Soon we see the sickening sight of bloody feathers. The poor creature has been eaten by the villain! How frightening for young viewers as well as any humane adult.The group learns about this crime and Hans attempts to strangle the murderer, but is stopped by everyone. The wretch tries to flee but is buried by an avalanche of boulders. At least mother nature takes proper revenge.At the movie's conclusion where the survivors are being honored, Boone's character is wedded, and another couple are engaged, but Hans remains alone. How tragic.What obviously should have been done is depicting Gertrude easily evading the villain. Killing her off is like killing Lassie! An otherwise fine movie was ruined. I watch the film now only to enjoy Gertrude's early scenes.

I know that some of the viewers of this say that it is really quite striking for the 1950's. I disagree. Good movies can be made and special effects can be good. In this film, it looks tacky from beginning to end. Those that were decent were overshadowed by bad acting and a poor story. I can barely watch Pat Boone on the screen. His syrupy, tired delivery really detracts from the film. He should have stuck strictly to producing bad music. I did enjoy James Mason, though. He is a fine actor who has proved himself over many decades. If one is satisfied with a two bit story (which insults the Jules Verne novel) hang in there. Sorry, it just isn't very good.

This is the classic adaptation (1959) by Henry Levin with great cast such as James Mason as Lindenbrook , Pat Boone , Diane Baker and Arlene Dahl as a wealthy widow . An Edinburgh (in fact , many of the people in the crowd scenes were students of Edinburgh University) professor (James Mason who replaced an ailing Clifton Webb) and assorted colleagues as his pupil (Pat Boone) , a woman looking for her husband who disappeared various years earlier during a voyage follow an explorer's trail down an extinct Icelandic volcano to the earth's center . Meanwhile , they are chased by a mysterious scout , the Count Saknussemm (Alexander Scourby started shooting at Carlsbad Caverns , but the producers were unhappy with him and he was replaced with Thayer David) who has usurped a map for his own greedy purposes . As the expedition to the center of the earth starts in a volcano located in Iceland . The professor and his compatriots descend into deep caverns filled with stalactites and stalagmites and encounter a tunnel system leading to the center . Along the way they find prehistoric beasts , a magnetic storm and the lost city of Atlantis . This superior adaptation is a colorful recounting of the Jules Verne adventure yarn . Lighthearted romp for kids and teenagers based upon the famous book . Dealing with the known story about an anthropologist scientific named Linderbrook , James Mason , and his student , Pat Boone , and a woman , Arlene Dahl , undergo a hazardous voyage to find clues of her husband who disappeared some years earlier . As the peculiar trio along with a Island explorer descend into deep caves and discover a way leading to the planet's center . The highlights of the movie are the numerous risks and dangers they have to deal with , such as endure torrential floods , prehistoric animals , terrifying earthquake , and discover the lost city of Atlantis as happens in the classic novel . Fox gave the green light to this big-budget CinemaScope production partially on the basis of the success of the recent Jules Verne adaptations , Walt Disney's 20.000 leagues under the sea (1954) and Michael Todd's Around the World in Eighty Days ; as with those earlier films , turned out to be big hits . There're rip-roaring action , spirit of adventure , derring-do , sense of wonder , thrills , and results to be quite entertaining . It's a big fun with great special effects , adequate set decoration and impressive art direction . Spotlights of the voyage include a roller-coaster trip , a terrifying odyssey in sailing, with appearance of prehistoric reptiles , and many others events . The "Dimetrodons" in the movie were played by a large type of lizard called a rhinoceros iguana , in real life was a type of Synapsid reptile . Acceptable cinematography full of color by Leo Tover , though there is an excessive use of matte-painting . Thrilling and breathtaking musical score by Bernard Herrmann in his peculiar and Hitchcockian style . The motion picture was well directed by Henry Levin , the heavy cost proved to be a good investment, resulting in a big hit at the box office . It was nominated for four Academy Awards including Art Direction , FX , and set decoration.Other versions about this known story based upon the Jules Verne's 1864 fantasy are the followings : Spanish version (1976) by Juan Piquer with Kenneth Moore , Jack Taylor , Frank Braña , Ivonne Sentis , Pep Munne , José María Caffarel , Emiliano Redondo . 1988 retelling titled Journey to the center by Rutsy Lemorande with Ian Mitchell-Smith , Paul Carafotes . TV version made its way to cable by George Miller with Treat Williams , Jeremy London , Tushka Bergen , and Bryan Brown and another inferior television picture (2008) by David Jones with Greg Evigan and Dedee Pfeiffer . In addition , Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008), (TV) , by T.J. Scott with Ricky Schroder , Peter Fonda , Victoria Pratt , Steven Grayhm . Furthermore , a cartoon movie : Journey to the Center of the Earth (1967) was based on this film version rather than the original novel by Jules Verne and features several characters that were created for the 1959 film . And of course , recent and successful take on filmed in 3D , produced and starred by Brendan Fraser with Anita Briem and Josh Hutcherson being followed by a sequel titled : Mysterious Island , with Josh Hutcherson and Michael Caine . Rating : Above average.

If You Liked Pat Boone's Cover Record of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" this Might be the Movie for You. If Not, than Check Out an Authentic Amazing Adventure "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" (1958). One is the Real Deal and the Other is a Poser. A Plasticized Picture Without Much Imagination, Journey is Competent but Far From a Fantasy Film of Great Stature. It is Stifled by its Stuff Shirt Stiffness to be All Things to All People. Sure there are Some Nicely Colored Sets of Crystalline Formations and Easy on the Eye Color Schemes. But the Thing is Extremely Boring, Takes a Long While for that First Step and is Ponderous and Pedestrian. Bernard Herrmann's Score is Stunning and a Few Times the Film Actually Looks Like it Might be On to Something, but then, the Movie Falls Asleep with So Much Family Friendly Foolishness. The Film has to Recover from its Snooziness Again and Again. Baby Boomers who were Weaned on Famous Monsters of Filmland and had been Highly Excited by Ray Harryhausen and Hammer Movies Knew that this was Not the Genuine Article and was Made by "Square" Adults.Overall, it is a Movie that Offends No One and is So Saccharine Sweet that the Best Parts, and there are a Few, are Forever Buried by All the Other Unremarkable Debris. It Almost Reaches Goofy Gaudiness at Times and Most of the Movie is so Clean Cut it Squeaks. Worth a Watch, it has Class but it is No Classic. It's too Conventional to be Considered Much More than Adequate.