Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959 film)
Encyclopedia
Journey to the Center of the Earth is a 1959 adventure film
adapted by Charles Brackett from the novel
by Jules Verne
. It stars Pat Boone
, James Mason
, Arlene Dahl
, Peter Ronson
, Diane Baker
, Thayer David
and Alan Napier
. It was directed by Henry Levin
.
This film is also known as Trip to the Center of the Earth.
professor is intrigued by a strange rock given to him by one of his students. Uncovering its secret leads him and a few other hardy individuals to a dangerous journey that may have no return.
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards
for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
(Lyle R. Wheeler
, Franz Bachelin
, Herman A. Blumenthal
, Walter M. Scott
, Joseph Kish
), Best Effects, Special Effects
and Best Sound (Carlton W. Faulkner
). It won a second place Golden Laurel
award for Top Action Drama in 1960.
), a newly knighted geologist from the University of Edinburgh
, is given a piece of volcanic rock
by his admiring student, Alec McEwan (Pat Boone
). Deciding that the rock is unusually heavy and, therefore, must contain Icelandic peridotite
, Lindenbrook, mostly thanks to the carelessness of his lab assistant, Mr. Paisley (Ben Wright
), discovers a plumb bob inside bearing a cryptic inscription. Lindenbrook and Alec discover that it was left by a scientist by the name of Arne Saknussem, who had, almost 300 years earlier, actually found a passage to the center of the Earth. After translating the message on the plumb bob, Lindenbrook immediately sets off with Alec as his assistant to follow the example of the Icelandic pioneer.
The first obstacle of the journey is revealed to be Professor Göteborg of Stockholm (Ivan Triesault
), who upon receiving a correspondence from Lindenbrook regarding the nature of the plumb's message opts to beat the Scottish scientist to his goal of reaching the Earth's center.
Lindenbrook and McEwan chase him to Iceland. Once they are in Iceland, Göteborg, with the help of his assistant, manages to kidnap both of them and trap them in an underground cellar, from where they are freed by a young athletic Icelander
, Hans Bjelke (Ronson
), and his pet duck Gertrude. They immediately proceed to the inn where Göteborg is staying and sneak in his room, where they find him dead. Lindenbrook, with the astuteness of a forensic scientist, combs the goatee
of Göteborg and retrieves some potassium cyanide
crystals. They conclude that he has been killed by some rival scientist.
Finding him dead before his expedition even began, Lindenbrook and McEwan are suddenly supplied with all the materials they need for their project. Göteborg's widow, Carla (Arlene Dahl
), who at first vowed to destroy all her husband's supplies rather than lend these to them believing that they are only capitalizing on the work of her deceased husband, agrees, after learning the truth through her husband's diary, to lend them his valuable supplies, including the much sought after Ruhmkorff
lamp
s, if they included her in their adventurous trip. Lindenbrook, seeing that he has no choice, grudgingly agrees to take her along, and the four explorers, and the pet duck, are soon journeying into the Earth.
Strange terrain, a deranged rival scientist named Count Saknussem (Thayer David
), breathtaking scenery and giant reptiles embellish the rest of their journey. Count Saknussem is the descendent of Arne Saknussem, the famed scientist who tried to travel to the center of the earth 300 years ago and left many guiding marks along the path for the posterity. Count Saknussem thinks that the center of the earth is his terrain and only he has a right to visit there, as it was his forefather who went there. He trails the famed group secretly with a servant. During his independent travels, as he became separated from the rest of his group, Alec almost trips over Saknussem's dead servant. When Alec refuses to become his new servant, Saknussem shoots Alec in the arm. Lindenbrook is able to locate Saknussem from the reverberations of the sound of the gun's echo, and in a weird "under the earth" court hearing, sentences him to death. However no one has the gall to kill him, and grudgingly they have to take him along.
They eventually encounter a subterranean ocean, which they name the Saknussem Ocean, and make a raft from the stems of giant mushrooms to cross it. Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, they pass through the center of the earth and their raft begins circling in a mid-ocean whirlpool. The professor deduces that must be the center of the earth, because the magnetic forces from north and south meeting there are strong enough to snatch away even gold in the form of wedding rings and tooth fillings. They somehow manage to cross the ocean, and, completely exhausted, reach the shore on the other side.
Despite the dangers of their journey, no one has died, but that soon changes. Gertrude, the duck, loses her life to Saknussem, who can't control his hunger and eats her. Soon after a mild earthquake occurs; Saknussem is buried under a shower of heavy stones, but right behind the collapse the rest of the group comes upon the sunken city of Atlantis
. They are now faced with one ominous question: How will they return to the surface?
Not far from the ruins of Atlantis
, they see the remains of the scientist who went centuries before them, with the hand of his skeleton pointing toward a passage to the surface. They decide that they would have to create an artificial explosion to get out to the surface. They use the gunpowder in one of the sacks of the long deceased Saknussem to create the explosion, which however awakens a giant lizard which tries to eat them, but is soon consumed by the lava that torrents down after the explosion. The same lava lifts them up out of the depths of the earth in a large sacrificial altar bowl. They are thrown out to the sea, emerging to the surface via a volcanic shaft. Three - Lindenbrook, Carla and Hans - are retrieved from the sea by seafarers, while Alec is thrown out of the altar bowl as it flies through the air and ends up naked in a tree in a nunnery orchard.
When the group returns to Edinburgh
, the four travelers are hailed as national heroes. Alec has married Lindenbrook's niece Jenny (Diane Baker
), Hans announces his return to Iceland, and the result of previous tensions between Lindenbrook and Carla has developed into love. Lindenbrook, however, declines the accolades showered upon him, stating that he has no proof of his experiences, but he encourages the next generations of students to follow in his footsteps in exploring the center of the Earth. The film ends with Lindenbrook and Carla kissing each other, and the crowd cheering them and joyously singing in chorus.
(Germany), not Edinburgh.
The whole part of Atlantis is also only in the movie. In the book there are sea-creatures and elephants with a giant man, not lizards as in the movie.
. Life
magazine editor and science writer Lincoln Barnett
was a technical adviser on the film.
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
adapted by Charles Brackett from the novel
Journey to the Center of the Earth
A Journey to the Center of the Earth is a classic 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne. The story involves a German professor who believes there are volcanic tubes going toward the center of the Earth...
by Jules Verne
Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
. It stars Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
, James Mason
James Mason
James Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
, Arlene Dahl
Arlene Dahl
Arlene Carol Dahl is an American actress and former MGM contract star, who achieved notability during the 1950s. She is the mother of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early years:...
, Peter Ronson
Peter Ronson
Peter Ronson , born Pétur Rögnvaldsson, was an Icelandic-born athlete and actor.He competed in 110 metres hurdles at the 1960 Summer Olympics. As an actor he played "Hans" in the 1959 film adaptation of Journey to the Center of the Earth.He died of natural causes in 2007 in Orange County, California...
, Diane Baker
Diane Baker
Diane Carol Baker is an American actress who has appeared in motion pictures and on television since 1959.-Early life:...
, Thayer David
Thayer David
Thayer David was a film, stage and television actor. He was best known for his work on the cult ABC serial Dark Shadows and as the fight promoter George Jergens in the Oscar-winning movie Rocky . He also appeared as Count Arne Saknussemm in the film Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1959...
and Alan Napier
Alan Napier
Alan William Napier-Clavering was an English actor, best known for portraying Alfred Pennyworth in the 1960s live-action Batman television series.-Early life and career:...
. It was directed by Henry Levin
Henry Levin
Henry Levin began as a stage actor and director but was most notable as an American film director of over fifty feature films. He broke into film in 1943 as a dialogue director for the films Dangerous Blondes and Appointment in Berlin for Columbia Pictures...
.
This film is also known as Trip to the Center of the Earth.
Overview
An EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
professor is intrigued by a strange rock given to him by one of his students. Uncovering its secret leads him and a few other hardy individuals to a dangerous journey that may have no return.
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Academy Award for Best Art Direction
The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999...
(Lyle R. Wheeler
Lyle R. Wheeler
Lyle Reynolds Wheeler, , was an Academy Award-winning American motion picture art director....
, Franz Bachelin
Franz Bachelin
Franz Bachelin was a German art director. In 1946, he and Hans Dreier did the art direction for The Searching Wind...
, Herman A. Blumenthal
Herman A. Blumenthal
Herman Allen Blumenthal was an American art director and production designer for films.He shared in two Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, for his work on Cleopatra and Hello, Dolly! . He had previously been nominated for Journey to the Center of the Earth .-External links and references:...
, Walter M. Scott
Walter M. Scott
Walter M. Scott was an Academy Award-winning set decorator who worked on films such as The Sound of Music and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid....
, Joseph Kish
Joseph Kish
Joseph Kish was an American set decorator. He won an Academy Award and was nominated for four more in the category Best Art Direction...
), Best Effects, Special Effects
Academy Award for Visual Effects
The Academy Award for Visual Effects is an Academy Award given for the best achievement in visual effects.-History of the award:The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences first recognized the technical contributions of special effects to movies at its inaugural dinner in 1928, presenting a...
and Best Sound (Carlton W. Faulkner
Carlton W. Faulkner
Carlton W. Faulkner was an American sound engineer. He won an Academy Award in the category Sound Recording for the film The King and I. He was also nominated for four more Academy Awards, three in the same category and the fourth for Best Effects, Special Effects.-Selected filmography:Faulkner won...
). It won a second place Golden Laurel
Laurel Awards
The Laurel Awards were cinema awards to honor pictures, actors, actresses, directors and composers. This award was created by Motion Picture Exhibitor magazine, and ran from 1958 to 1968, then 1970 and 1971....
award for Top Action Drama in 1960.
Plot
Professor Oliver Lindenbrook (James MasonJames Mason
James Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the...
), a newly knighted geologist from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, is given a piece of volcanic rock
Volcanic rock
Volcanic rock is a rock formed from magma erupted from a volcano. In other words, it is an igneous rock of volcanic origin...
by his admiring student, Alec McEwan (Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
). Deciding that the rock is unusually heavy and, therefore, must contain Icelandic peridotite
Peridotite
A peridotite is a dense, coarse-grained igneous rock, consisting mostly of the minerals olivine and pyroxene. Peridotite is ultramafic, as the rock contains less than 45% silica. It is high in magnesium, reflecting the high proportions of magnesium-rich olivine, with appreciable iron...
, Lindenbrook, mostly thanks to the carelessness of his lab assistant, Mr. Paisley (Ben Wright
Ben Wright
Ben Wright may refer to:*Ben Wright , British film and radio actor*Ben Wright , English footballer*Ben Wright , English footballer...
), discovers a plumb bob inside bearing a cryptic inscription. Lindenbrook and Alec discover that it was left by a scientist by the name of Arne Saknussem, who had, almost 300 years earlier, actually found a passage to the center of the Earth. After translating the message on the plumb bob, Lindenbrook immediately sets off with Alec as his assistant to follow the example of the Icelandic pioneer.
The first obstacle of the journey is revealed to be Professor Göteborg of Stockholm (Ivan Triesault
Ivan Triesault
-Life:His first stage appearance was at the German Theatre in Tallinn aged 14, before moving to the United States aged 18. There he began to train in acting and dance, working on Broadway before moving into film. His notable roles include appearances in The Mummy's Ghost , The Story of Dr...
), who upon receiving a correspondence from Lindenbrook regarding the nature of the plumb's message opts to beat the Scottish scientist to his goal of reaching the Earth's center.
Lindenbrook and McEwan chase him to Iceland. Once they are in Iceland, Göteborg, with the help of his assistant, manages to kidnap both of them and trap them in an underground cellar, from where they are freed by a young athletic Icelander
Icelander
Icelander can refer to:*A person from the country of Iceland, see Icelanders.*Icelander , by Dustin Long, published in 2006 by McSweeney's.*Íslendingur , a replica viking ship whose name means Icelander...
, Hans Bjelke (Ronson
Peter Ronson
Peter Ronson , born Pétur Rögnvaldsson, was an Icelandic-born athlete and actor.He competed in 110 metres hurdles at the 1960 Summer Olympics. As an actor he played "Hans" in the 1959 film adaptation of Journey to the Center of the Earth.He died of natural causes in 2007 in Orange County, California...
), and his pet duck Gertrude. They immediately proceed to the inn where Göteborg is staying and sneak in his room, where they find him dead. Lindenbrook, with the astuteness of a forensic scientist, combs the goatee
Goatee
Goatee refers to a style of facial hair incorporating hair on a man’s chin. The exact nature of the style has varied according to time and culture.Traditionally, goatee refers solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin...
of Göteborg and retrieves some potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and...
crystals. They conclude that he has been killed by some rival scientist.
Finding him dead before his expedition even began, Lindenbrook and McEwan are suddenly supplied with all the materials they need for their project. Göteborg's widow, Carla (Arlene Dahl
Arlene Dahl
Arlene Carol Dahl is an American actress and former MGM contract star, who achieved notability during the 1950s. She is the mother of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early years:...
), who at first vowed to destroy all her husband's supplies rather than lend these to them believing that they are only capitalizing on the work of her deceased husband, agrees, after learning the truth through her husband's diary, to lend them his valuable supplies, including the much sought after Ruhmkorff
Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff
250px|right|thumb|Ruhmkorff inductor250px|right|thumb|Tombstone of Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff on the [[Montparnasse Cemetery]] in [[Paris]]Heinrich Daniel Ruhmkorff was a German instrument maker who commercialised the induction coil Ruhmkorff was born in Hanover...
lamp
Lamp (electrical component)
A lamp is a replaceable component such as an incandescent light bulb, which is designed to produce light from electricity. These components usually have a base of ceramic, metal, glass or plastic, which makes an electrical connection in the socket of a light fixture. This connection may be made...
s, if they included her in their adventurous trip. Lindenbrook, seeing that he has no choice, grudgingly agrees to take her along, and the four explorers, and the pet duck, are soon journeying into the Earth.
Strange terrain, a deranged rival scientist named Count Saknussem (Thayer David
Thayer David
Thayer David was a film, stage and television actor. He was best known for his work on the cult ABC serial Dark Shadows and as the fight promoter George Jergens in the Oscar-winning movie Rocky . He also appeared as Count Arne Saknussemm in the film Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1959...
), breathtaking scenery and giant reptiles embellish the rest of their journey. Count Saknussem is the descendent of Arne Saknussem, the famed scientist who tried to travel to the center of the earth 300 years ago and left many guiding marks along the path for the posterity. Count Saknussem thinks that the center of the earth is his terrain and only he has a right to visit there, as it was his forefather who went there. He trails the famed group secretly with a servant. During his independent travels, as he became separated from the rest of his group, Alec almost trips over Saknussem's dead servant. When Alec refuses to become his new servant, Saknussem shoots Alec in the arm. Lindenbrook is able to locate Saknussem from the reverberations of the sound of the gun's echo, and in a weird "under the earth" court hearing, sentences him to death. However no one has the gall to kill him, and grudgingly they have to take him along.
They eventually encounter a subterranean ocean, which they name the Saknussem Ocean, and make a raft from the stems of giant mushrooms to cross it. Somewhere in the middle of the ocean, they pass through the center of the earth and their raft begins circling in a mid-ocean whirlpool. The professor deduces that must be the center of the earth, because the magnetic forces from north and south meeting there are strong enough to snatch away even gold in the form of wedding rings and tooth fillings. They somehow manage to cross the ocean, and, completely exhausted, reach the shore on the other side.
Despite the dangers of their journey, no one has died, but that soon changes. Gertrude, the duck, loses her life to Saknussem, who can't control his hunger and eats her. Soon after a mild earthquake occurs; Saknussem is buried under a shower of heavy stones, but right behind the collapse the rest of the group comes upon the sunken city of Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
. They are now faced with one ominous question: How will they return to the surface?
Not far from the ruins of Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
, they see the remains of the scientist who went centuries before them, with the hand of his skeleton pointing toward a passage to the surface. They decide that they would have to create an artificial explosion to get out to the surface. They use the gunpowder in one of the sacks of the long deceased Saknussem to create the explosion, which however awakens a giant lizard which tries to eat them, but is soon consumed by the lava that torrents down after the explosion. The same lava lifts them up out of the depths of the earth in a large sacrificial altar bowl. They are thrown out to the sea, emerging to the surface via a volcanic shaft. Three - Lindenbrook, Carla and Hans - are retrieved from the sea by seafarers, while Alec is thrown out of the altar bowl as it flies through the air and ends up naked in a tree in a nunnery orchard.
When the group returns to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the four travelers are hailed as national heroes. Alec has married Lindenbrook's niece Jenny (Diane Baker
Diane Baker
Diane Carol Baker is an American actress who has appeared in motion pictures and on television since 1959.-Early life:...
), Hans announces his return to Iceland, and the result of previous tensions between Lindenbrook and Carla has developed into love. Lindenbrook, however, declines the accolades showered upon him, stating that he has no proof of his experiences, but he encourages the next generations of students to follow in his footsteps in exploring the center of the Earth. The film ends with Lindenbrook and Carla kissing each other, and the crowd cheering them and joyously singing in chorus.
Cast
| Actor/Actress | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| James Mason James Mason James Neville Mason was an English actor who attained stardom in both British and American films. Mason remained a powerful figure in the industry throughout his career and was nominated for three Academy Awards as well as three Golden Globes .- Early life :Mason was born in Huddersfield, in the... |
Sir Oliver Lindenbrook | |
| Pat Boone Pat Boone Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts... |
Alec McEwan | |
| Arlene Dahl Arlene Dahl Arlene Carol Dahl is an American actress and former MGM contract star, who achieved notability during the 1950s. She is the mother of actor Lorenzo Lamas.-Early years:... |
Carla Göteborg | |
| Peter Ronson Peter Ronson Peter Ronson , born Pétur Rögnvaldsson, was an Icelandic-born athlete and actor.He competed in 110 metres hurdles at the 1960 Summer Olympics. As an actor he played "Hans" in the 1959 film adaptation of Journey to the Center of the Earth.He died of natural causes in 2007 in Orange County, California... |
Hans Bjelke | |
| Thayer David Thayer David Thayer David was a film, stage and television actor. He was best known for his work on the cult ABC serial Dark Shadows and as the fight promoter George Jergens in the Oscar-winning movie Rocky . He also appeared as Count Arne Saknussemm in the film Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1959... |
Count Saknussem | |
| Bob Adler | Groom | As Robert (Bob) Adler |
| Alan Napier Alan Napier Alan William Napier-Clavering was an English actor, best known for portraying Alfred Pennyworth in the 1960s live-action Batman television series.-Early life and career:... |
Dean | |
| Diane Baker Diane Baker Diane Carol Baker is an American actress who has appeared in motion pictures and on television since 1959.-Early life:... |
Jenny | |
| Ivan Triesault Ivan Triesault -Life:His first stage appearance was at the German Theatre in Tallinn aged 14, before moving to the United States aged 18. There he began to train in acting and dance, working on Broadway before moving into film. His notable roles include appearances in The Mummy's Ghost , The Story of Dr... |
Professor Göteborg | |
| Alex Finlayson | Professor Boyle |
Differences from source material
The characters of Gertrude the duck, Professor and Carla Goteborg, and Count Saknussem are not present in Verne's novel. Also, Alec (Axel in the novel) is Lindenbrook's (Liedenbrock) nephew, and they live in HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
(Germany), not Edinburgh.
The whole part of Atlantis is also only in the movie. In the book there are sea-creatures and elephants with a giant man, not lizards as in the movie.
Production
Some underground scenes were filmed at Carlsbad Caverns National ParkCarlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a United States National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. The primary attraction of the park for most visitors is the show cave, Carlsbad Caverns...
. Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine editor and science writer Lincoln Barnett
Lincoln Barnett
Lincoln Kinnear Barnett was an editor and author, most notably at Life Magazine for many years.Lincoln Barnett wrote a number of books, including "The Universe and Doctor Einstein","The World We Live In",and "The Treasure of Our Tongue"....
was a technical adviser on the film.
See also
- Slurpasaur
- At the Earth's CoreAt the Earth's Core (film)At the Earth's Core is a 1976 science fiction film produced by Britain's Amicus Productions. It was directed by Kevin Connor and starred Peter Cushing, Caroline Munro, Philippa Herring and Doug McClure. It was filmed in Technicolor...
- Viaje al centro de la TierraViaje al centro de la TierraViaje al centro de la Tierra adventure film based onJourney to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.-Plot:...
, Spanish adventure film based on the same book