Journey to the Center of the Earth

One of the greatest pure adventure films that Hollywood ever made, 1959's Journey to the Center of the Earth, has become a true classic. Based on the novel of the same name by the legendary Jules Verne, it is a fairly faithful adaption of that highly revered novel. It does take a few liberties, such as the addition of two female characters, Carla (Arlene Dahl) and the lovable duck Gertrude. It also changes the professor's nationality to that of a Scotsman (the incomparable James Mason). I suppose it was a bit of "stunt" casting when they tapped Pat Boone to play Alex. Filmed partly in Carlsbad Caverns, the locations are authentic enough and most look very good on film, some however come across as looking cheesy and cardboardish, mainly the place where they bathe. The journey referred to in the title is the one embarked on by our intrepid little group (along with Hans, a rather large local man)in the year 1880 to find the center of the Earth. With danger lurking at every turn, both from natural sources like giant rolling boulders and floods, to the unnatural ones like a murderous rival, it keeps you close to the edge of your seat in suspense. Each of the actors creates a real person, each with their own agenda, and distinct personality. Widely considered as a Science Fiction film, it bucked the trend of that genre in the fifties in that it had big name actors, a decent budget, and realistic characters in a major studio release. I first saw this film as a child and was in awe of it, it's effects may look a little dated and primitive today, but to a kid growing up in the sixties, it was awesome!