An Incredible JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

A Jules Verne story forms the basis for Henry Levin’s 1959 epic JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH and for once, a film version of a literary classic such as this does the original work some credit. Levin’s film, following a script from Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch, includes all kinds of creative adventures experienced by an expedition who discovers a passageway to the center of the earth. The film’s special effects and set designs are where the money is, but the cast, music, and script are also quite good, and the end result is an entertaining film version of a classic fantasy novel.

James Mason plays a Scottish professor who comes across a strange manuscript inscribed on an ancient stone. The writing tells of a remote Icelandic volcano having a tunnel which leads into the bowels of the earth down to the core. Mason becomes obsessed with trying to gather an expedition together, and enlists the help of one of his brightest students ( 1950’s rock and roll hero Pat Boone ) to accompany him on the journey. Once in Iceland, the expedition realizes that there are a couple of other groups attempting to scale the mountain and descend into the tunnel, but after Mason’s main adversary is killed by poison, it appears as though Mason’s party is the only one going down. He recruits the widow of the other scientist, and a big Nordic man to help on the expedition and begins his descent.

From here on in, Henry Levin’s film takes us to a whole other plain of existence. The landscapes Mason’s expedition encounters on their way to the center of the earth are astounding; truth be told, the visuals created in JOURNEY are among the best ever in an old-time fantasy film. We have hidden waterfalls surrounded by crystals of brilliant colors, a forest of craggy branches covered in salt, an underground city, a patch of giant mushrooms, and more. Couple that with the dinosaur-like beasts that occasionally show up along the way, and you’ve got a fantasy/ science fiction film that should keep any fans of the genre well entertained. It also turns out that there is another party attempting to make it down the tunnel, and they are attempting to sabotage Mason’s expedition. This provides another element of danger for the party to deal with on their way deeper into the core of the earth.

Almost all of the elements of JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH are spectacular. The sets, some of which were filmed in the Carlsbad Caverns, are stunning. The art direction of Franz Bachelin, Herman A. Blumenthal, and Lyle R. Wheeler is among the best ever created in rendering such fantastic concepts to the camera. The areas through which the expedition treks are amazing, and include a number of great visuals including crystals of many brilliant colors, a phosphorescent spring that changes its color, an underground ocean complete with a stunning skyscape, and a forest of giant mushrooms (hmmmm I wonder if these mushrooms had any particular signifigance... this was made only one year before the psychedelic excess of the 1960s ). The photographic effects by L.B. Abbott, James B. Gordon II, and Emil Kosa, Jr. are also very good in making normally sized lizards with giant sails attached to their backs appear to be giant dinosaur-like beasts. The split screen work here is amazing as well; it actually looks like the party members are about to be devoured by giant lizards.

The cast of JOURNEY is also likable and highly serviceable. James Mason as Sir Oliver Lindenbrook is rugged and commanding as the head of the expedition and Pat Boone is amiable and friendly as his assistant Alec McEwen. Arlene Dahl as the widow of Mason’s adversary provides the woman that inevitably comes along on the journey, and Peter Ronson is the big Norseman who does a lot of the dirty work. Also appearing in the film is Thayer David as the mad count who is following Mason’s party into the earth, and Diane Baker as Boone’s girlfriend back in Scotland.

The music for JOURNEY was provided by the great Bernard Herrman, and it to is stunning. Herrman’s music always seems to provide the soul to any film it is used in, and in JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, the same can be said. If there’s one thing I didn’t like, it was the fact that the producer’s gave ‘50s rock and roll heartthrob Boone a number of somewhat annoying musical numbers that, although they probably thrilled the audiences in 1959, are somewhat corny by today’s standards.

All things considered, 1959’s JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH is one of the most worthwhile versions of a literary novel to be made in the old days of the movie industry, and comes close to rivaling Disney’s 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and George Pal’s original TIME MACHINE for top honors in that category. It’s a shame that Hollywood just doesn't make movies like this anymore; they seem to prefer blatant, unnecessary special effect movies over special effect movies with PLOT and PURPOSE!! ( Dare I say...) I would say any fans of good fantasy or, to a lesser extent, sci-fi films should try to catch JOURNEY at some point. It is a highly worthwhile and rewarding cinematic journey.