Rating: G
Genre:
Adventure
Release Date: 03/04/2003
SubTitles: English/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: DS/2/1
Run Time: 129 Minutes
Flags: Child Classic
Distributor/Studio: 20th Century Fox
There was neither a heroine nor a villain in
Jules Verne's 1864 novel
Journey to the Center of the Earth, but scenarist
Charles Brackett evidently knew what he was doing by adding both to the 1959 film version. The picture proved to be a significant success in an otherwise disappointing year for
20th Century Fox.
James Mason stars as amusingly absent-minded professor
Oliver Lindenbrook, whose first step on a fabulous journey is prompted by a lump of lava brought to him by his student
Alec McEwen (
Pat Boone -- and, yes, he gets to sing). Melting down the curiously composed lump,
Lindenbrook discovers a hastily scrawled message from long-lost explorer
Arne Saknussem, with directions for reaching the earth's core. Accompanied by
Carla (
Arlene Dahl), widow of a famed geologist, and Icelandic guide
Hans (
Peter Ronson),
Lindenbrook and
Alec head down, down below. They are closely followed by the villainous
Count Saknussem (
Thayer David), descendant of the lost explorer who wrote the directions; the count hopes to use
Lindenbrook's discoveries for his own personal and political gain (we know he's really bad when he eats
Han's lovable pet goose). What follows is a festival of superb special effects, fabulous subterranean sets, and gigantized reptiles posing as dinosaurs, all brilliantly accompanied by
Bernard Herrmann's ominous musical score.
Journey to the Center of the Earth would later be adapted into a Saturday-morning cartoon series, again produced by
20th Century Fox.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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