• Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
• MPAA Rating: G
• AMG Rating:
• Regional Coding: 1
  USA and territories, Canada

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

Bonus Features

• cc English and Spanish subtitles
• English, Spanish, and French soundtracks

Actors

Pat Boone, James Mason, Arlene Dahl, Diane Baker, Peter Ronson, Thayer David, Robert Adler, Alan Napier, Alex Finlayson, Ben Wright, Frederick Halliday, Alan Caillou

Director

Henry Levin

Producer

Charles Brackett

• 1959--Best Color Art Direction, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie-Nominee
• 1959--Best Sound, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie-Nominee
• 1959--Best Special Effects, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie-Nominee

Child Classic

• Sound : DS/2/1
• Language : Eng/Fre/Spa
• Subtitles : Eng/Spa

• Screen : WSE
• Dar : 2.35:1

Review

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a grand adventure story with charismatic performances, imaginative production design, and a superb Bernard Herrmann score that enhances the film's sense of wonder. The high point in veteran director Henry Levin's career, Journey wisely veers away from the procedural nature of the Jules Verne source novel, adding a central conflict and more diverse character development. The film is held together by James Mason's rousing performance, compensating for the stiffer efforts of Arlene Dahl and Pat Boone. Of particular note are the set designs and special effects, which create a convincing underground world into which the film's heroes venture. Carl Faulkner's sound engineering is also a substantial asset, outpacing many of the visual effects in realism. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide

• Release Date : March 04, 2003
• Length : 129 Minutes
• Dvdsides : 1
• Dvddiscs : 1
• Upc : 024543050094