JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH [1959 / 2017] [Eureka Classics] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] A Fabulous World Below Our World! You Are There On The Most Amazing Jules Verne Adventure Of All!
Jules Verne's classic 1864 science fiction novel, “Journey to the Centre of the Earth,” is brought to the screen in this thrilling adventure about a band of intrepid explorers descending to the hidden reaches of our world.
Professor Sir Oliver Lindenbrook [James Mason] discovers a long hidden message that reveals the existence of a passage into the centre of the Earth. Leading a team of unlikely adventurers, including Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl, and... a duck, and the groups daring expedition will see them come up against exploding volcanoes, rockslides and even flesh-eating reptiles!
Scored by the legendary Bernard Hermann and filmed in stunning CinemaScope. ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH’ is a much beloved classic, and a landmark in both Science-Fiction and Adventure filmmaking. Eureka Entertainment Classics is proud to present the film for the first time on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom, from a stunning 4K restoration.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1960 Academy Awards®: Nominated: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration in Color for Franz Bachelin, Herman A. Blumenthal, Joseph Kish. Lyle R. Wheeler and Walter M. Scott. Nominated: Best Sound for Carlton W. Faulkner. Nominated: Best Effects and Special Effects for Carlton W. Faulkner (audible), James B. Gordon (visual) and L.B. Abbott (visual). 1960 Laurel Awards: 2nd place: Golden Laurel Award for Top Action Drama.
FILM FACT No.2: Some of the underground sequences for ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH’ were filmed at Carlsbad Caverns National Park serving as the background for portions of the motion picture. Other shooting locations included Amboy Crater, which is an extinct North American cinder cone type of volcano and Sequit Point, California, which is part of Leo Carrillo State Park, and as well as filming in Edinburgh, Scotland. Principal photography took place from late June to mid-September 1959. Originally, Life magazine editor and science writer Lincoln Barnett was to write the screenplay and later acted as one of the technical advisers on the film. The giant Dimetrodon’s depicted at the centre of the Earth action sequence were actually rhinoceros iguanas with large, glued-on make-up appliances added to their backs. The giant chameleon seen later in the ruins of Atlantis scene was actually a painted Tegu lizard and Pat Boone recalled filming the climax of the film and Arlene Dahl also became unconscious during the final sequence of the film and it took them 30 minutes to revive Arlene Dahl.
Cast: Pat Boone, James Mason, Arlene Dahl, Diane Baker, Thayer David, Pétur Ronson, Robert Adler, Alan Napier, Ivan Triesault (uncredited), Mary Brady (uncredited), Alan Caillou (uncredited), Gertrude the Duck (uncredited), John Epper (uncredited), Edith Evanson (uncredited), Alex Finlayson (uncredited), Molly Glessing (uncredited), Frederick Halliday (uncredited), Kendrick Huxham (uncredited), Owen McGiveney (uncredited), Molly Roden (uncredited), Bert Stevens (uncredited), Ivan Triesault (uncredited), Red West (uncredited), Peter Wight (uncredited) and Ben Wright (uncredited)
Director: Henry Levin
Producer: Charles Brackett
Screenplay: Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch and Jules Verne (novel “Voyage au centre de la Terre”)
Composer: Bernard Herrmann
Cinematography: Leo Tover, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Color by DeLuxe)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (CinemaScope)
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
Music and Effects Track: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Region: Region B/2
Running Time: 129 minutes
Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox / Eureka Entertainment
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH’ [1959] was a massive favourite film of mine in my younger years, because it is a very engaging and amusing foray into big-time adventure. It is also one of those happy accidents in which a major studio, like 20th Century Fox created great entertainment from a story that begged to be made without being cheapened or ruined in the process. For that we have to thank the Walt Disney organisation uncompromised and brilliant adaptation of ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ film which set the standard for the high-budget Jules Verne fantasies, which I wish they would release onto the Blu-ray format. Producer Charles Brackett signed up Walt Disney's Captain Nemo, James Mason and surrounded him with a capable cast that included teen crooner Pat Boone, who is not at all bad. Best of all, the script's adroit sense of humour lets the journey is reasonably serious while maintaining a borderline tongue-in-cheek tone. The result is a fantastic escapism with something for everyone. And it's funny, and of course being crammed full of dinosaurs, but it is only in the last half-hour or so, after we've travelled through miles and miles of caves and tunnels, that they finally make an appearance.
Jules Verne's story proposes the existence of a vast prehistoric world existing beneath our feet. A mysterious volcanic rock leads freshly knighted Professor Sir Oliver Lindenbrook [James Mason] to Iceland to seek Arne Saknussem's secret trail to the centre of the Earth, especially upon receiving correspondence from Professor Göteborg of Stockholm [Ivan Triesault], who is out to beat Professor Sir Oliver Lindenbrook and try to reach the Earth's centre first. Braving a rival who tries to steal his expedition, who is a haughty, duplicitous Count Saknussem [Thayer David] heir to Arne Saknussem, and Professor Sir Oliver Lindenbrook goes bravely forward into the unknown, accompanied by his protégée Alec McEwen [Pat Boone], guide Hans Belker [Pétur Ronson] and the widow of his rival, the redheaded, single-minded Mrs. Carla Göteborg [Arlene Dahl].
What ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH' film offers instead of scientific accuracy, but much more of an adventure with a capital “A” and the kind that finds brave souls stepping into the unknown with no reasonable expectation of coming back alive? It's the good-natured spirit that the great explorers in saying: life is too short and cities are dirty and dull, so why not go for broke and risk all on a mad quest? The Scots and Icelandic explorers in the film may argue over provisions and double-dealing, but all respond to the challenge of adventure, even the dastardly villain on their trail.
James Mason's as the respected Professor Sir Oliver Lindenbrook sputters and throws the occasional tantrum, but also beams like a 5 year-old with his new discoveries and dances a jig upon hearing the good news. James Mason holds the picture together with his commanding voice, which smooths over the roughest scenes in the film. When the centre of the Earth turns out to be a wholly illogical whirlpool in a wholly illogical world, a few crackling lines of dialogue are expertly delivered and a distracting cutaway to Diane Baker back up top, get us through. James Mason treats us with his famous line, “This is it! The magnetic centre of the Earth!”
The final clincher, and a main reason why ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH' keeps its sparkle from start to finish, is the brilliant thunderous film music score by the brilliant Bernard Herrmann, which brings the film to life with every facet of the journey and its different scenery. The special effects are slightly old fashioned, compared to 21st Century CGI effects, but that simply serves to lend this brilliant film a certain charm, which of course it never possessed when it was first released in 1959. In fact, it was no doubt a very ambitious, and cutting edge blockbuster in the 1950s, and despite its style, especially with the special effects, it still stands up as solid entertainment for more than well over half a century later. And, let's face it, any film in which the selfish villain dies as a consequence of eating a duck has to be worth a watch. As already stated, even though the effects now seem charmingly dated and many of the cavernous sets are obviously studio-bound, the artificiality of the production seems somehow very in keeping with the 19th century Victorian imagination animating it. But ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH' is nevertheless and at times, a totally entertaining fantasy, crucially bringing to life the profound ideas put forth in the Jules Verne classic and it’s more like a grand eruption of imagination, painted with the broadest of strokes. The story can still hold the viewer, thanks mostly to the charismatic performance of James Mason. ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH' is an adventure lover’s paradise of a film. Perfect for family viewing especially once the journey actually gets started, the 20th Century Fox film comes with a strong recommendation and this Eureka Entertainment Blu-ray disc is the best ever 1080p visual experience you will view so far.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH MUSIC TRACK LIST
MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED, RED ROSE (Written by Robert Burns) (Set to music by Jimmy Van Heusen) [Performed by Pat Boone]
TWICE AS TALL (Written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen) [Performed by Pat Boone] (cut from final print)
THE PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY’S SONG (uncredited)
MY HEART’S IN THE HIGHLANDS (uncredited) (Written by Robert Burns) [Performed by Pat Boone]
THE FAITHFUL HEART (Written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen) [Performed by Pat Boone]
Blu-ray Image Quality – 20th Century Fox and Eureka Entertainment brings you this film in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and is faithfully rendered with a brilliant 1080p transfer in a stunning 4K restoration and really outstanding are the special effects work, despite the age of the film, but most important is that the sharpness is totally excellent throughout the film. The Color by DeLuxe image quality is totally outstandingly reproduced and what we have with the red colours are especially vivid, and flesh tones look totally natural and very appealing. Black levels are fairly good for this upgraded transfer, giving it the most outstanding characteristic of this print and this particular Blu-ray release. EUREKA ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL NOTE: Any “Motion Smoothing” settings, such as “PureMotion” or “Motionflow” should be switched OFF so the film can be viewed as intended. Please calibrate your display settings in order to experience this film’s optimally experience. Many factory default settings are either suitable or desirable. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – 20th Century Fox and Eureka Entertainment brings you for the first time the film is presented in a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sound mix features outstanding and surprisingly gripping bass levels heard almost from the beginning and notable throughout. Dialogue has been spread across the front soundstage rather than being done directionally, but it's always clear and precise. And the rear surround channel carries some interesting sound effects with water and waves swirling, heavy winds whirling, and avalanche-pounding rock slides being especially notable. Bernard Herrmann's score gets woven impressively through the entire four channel mix. But of course we also have the bonus of watching the film in the brilliant 2.0 LPCM Stereo Music and Effects soundtrack only.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Blu-ray 1080p presentation from a definitive 4K restoration.
Optional 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 LPCM Stereo isolated film Music and Effects soundtrack.
Audio Commentary with Actress Diane Baker and Film Historians Steven C. Smith and Nick Redman: First up to do the audio commentary is Nick Redman, who informs us that he is a documentary maker and record producer, and also informs us that sitting next to him is the actress Diane Baker, who we find out that here career has spanned 50 years, and finally next to introduce themselves is Steven C. Smith, who produced the autobiography on the film score composer Bernard Herrmann, and Nick thinks that the autobiography is the best book to be written about this particular composer. When the film gets into its stride, all three just talk about certain actors and especially in the film about their careers, but when we get to the scene where James mason arrives at the University to be congratulated, we glimpse Pat Boone who originally turned down the part, but would sign the contract if he got a percentage of the profits and didn’t want anyone to know this fact, despite the fact that James Mason knew about this situation and just got on with the job. We hear that Pat Boone was in total awe of James Mason and felt very proud to be working with him. They all talk about the turbulent times at Twentieth Century Fox at the time of filming, especially when Darryl F. Zanuck was replaced by Spiro Skouras to run the film studio, who Diane really liked working with. Diane Baker also informs us that at the time of the film was very shy person and did not have a lot of confidence, but once Diane came into contact with George Stevens the American film director and in turn guided her through this film and when everyone saw the daily rushes, they would comment how wonderful Diane Baker looked up there on the screen. When the film was coming together, Charles Brackett envisaged the actor Clifton Webb to be the leading actor in the film, but at the time was extremely ill, so fate dealt its hand towards 20th Century Fox in securing James Mason and as they say is that history dealt a good hand that helped to make the film a massive box office smash hit. They talk about Gertrude the Duck, which was never in the Jules Verne novel and felt it added to the story, well we are informed that when they were filming the raft scene and because it was filmed off the coast of California, because the sea has salt water, Gertrude the Duck nearly drowned and the actress Arlene Dahl rescued the duck and saved the day. As the film moves along, everyone just talks about certain actors in the film, and talk about the film history and the careers of these actors, which is slight superfluous relating to the film, but they also recommend certain films on Blu-ray that people should check out with regards to the director of the film and the films of James Mason. As the film gets into its great stride, they all talk about the sound aspect of the film and originally when the film was shown Bernard Herrmann wanted the sound to envelope the cinema audience with loads of speakers positioned specifically around the walls of the cinema and the film was originally released in 4.0 surround sound all due to Bernard Herrmann’s instance, so again the audience will feel if they are actually in the film, but all three mention that now modern audiences with this Blu-ray release can now hear the full glorious Bernard Herrmann effect in 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound experience. They also mention that Bernard Herrmann took sound very seriously, as he originally started out in radio, and wanted a special arrangement so that the actors and the musicians were all placed in specific positions, as well as the microphones, and of course when Bernard Herrmann ventured into films, he knew how to enhance the sound for the audience to experience watching the film they are viewing, and they all feel that the film score for this film was Bernard Herrmann’s high water mark in his composing career. We find out the film cost well over its $3.44 million budget and were a financial success, grossing for the domestic American public $5 million at the box office and the world wide profit was $8 million. As we get to near the end of the film, Diane Baker, Steven C. Smith and Nick Redman had a tendency to wander at times, making this less about the film than about specific details about the film in general, but more about the film industry in America and about certain specific actors not related to the film while watching the film they viewed without the sound being relayed in the recording studio. As we finally come to the end of the film Nick Redman thanks Diane Baker and Steven C. Smith for their comments on the film, and they also thank us the viewer to listening to their comments about the film and other information, which for me was quite good and gets a three star rating for their effort.
Special Feature: New video Interview with Critic and Author Kim Newman on the film ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH’ [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1] [22:06] Here we meet Kim Newman in his own for this special interview. Here Kim talks about the great French 19th century science fiction writer Jules Verne, who is also up there with the equally famous 20th century English science fiction writer H.G. Wells, who was still in the 1950s the go to science fiction writer, and these two science fiction writers were top of their game with predicting things in the future. Sadly Jules Verne died in 1905, and by 1955 all his books were out of the American Copyright Law and was also at the same time of the year Walt Disney made the film ’20,000 Leagues Under The Sea’ and starred James Mason as Captain nemo, and of course it was Walt Disney’s biggest live action film ever, and at the same time it was looked upon as a very influential film and also at the same time we had the actor David Niven appeared in the film ‘Around The World In 80 Days’ and won the Best Film category at the Oscars, which was very unusual for a film of this genre or category. From then on there was a plethora of Jules Verne films started to emerge, like ‘Mysterious Island’ and of course ‘Journey To The Center of the Earth,’ with of course the British actor James Mason as the lead character in this film, as well as the other Walt Disney film I have just mentioned. After that, several other Jules Verne and H.G. Wells film were released like, ‘Five Weeks In A Balloon’ and ‘The Time Machine,’ which were all set in the Victorian era. Kim Newman also talks about the American director Henry Levin, who of course directed ‘Journey To The Center of the Earth,’ who also directed several other films, which includes ‘Dangerous Blondes’ [1943], ‘Appointment in Berlin’ [1943], ‘Two Man Submarine’ [1944], ‘Cry of the Werewolf’ [1944] ‘Jolson Sings Again’ [1949], ‘Where the Boys Are’ [1960], ‘The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm’ [1962] Murderers' Row [1966], ‘The Ambushers’ [1967] and many more. Kim Newman talks about the producer and screenwriter Charles Brackett [American novelist] who also worked on the film ‘Journey To The Center of the Earth,’ but also worked with director Billy Wilder as his collaborator on thirteen movies, including ‘The Lost Weekend’ [1945] and ‘Sunset Boulevard’ [1950], which won Academy Awards® for their screenplays. The duo's professional partnership ended in 1950, after the completion of ‘Sunset Boulevard.’ Charles Brackett then went to work at 20th Century-Fox as a screenwriter and producer and worked on his script for the film ‘Titanic’ [1953] which won him another Academy Award. He received an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 1959. Kim Newman talks about the appeal of this science fiction films that were all about science fiction adventurous films, and fantastic impossible voyages, as well as a plethora of monsters have to be included, as audience were clamouring to see in these films. As we come to the end of this personal and very nice interview, Kim Newman says, “in all of these science fiction films of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, all the characters that we see in these films, brings something more to these films, and what we really have also are really vivid cast of actors and is a trip we all really enjoy,” and I agree with Kim Newman 100%.
Special Feature: Restoration Featurette [2017] [1080i] [1.37:1] [3:47] This film restoration of ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH’ began by gathering all existing elements on the picture and carefully inspecting them. The original CinemaScope camera negative was badly worn and severely faded. After extensive testing of all film elements at a specially film restoration laboratory, superior results were achieved by manufacturing a new 35mm negative from one of the existing preservation elements, and a set of Black-and-White YCM silver separation masters from 1959. The new negative was carefully colour timed to achieve a look that was authentic to the original film release. For this transfer, a new 35mm ESTAR-base variant interpositive image that was manufactured from the recombined restoration negative. We get to see the comparison of the 1995 Film Transfer Master; the 1985 LaserDisc Master; the 1998 LaserDisc Master; the 2002 Film Restoration and Video Restoration to great effect.
Theatrical Trailer [1959] [1080p] [2.35:1] [3:20] Here we get to view the Original Theatrical Trailer of the film ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH,' which really shows off the film brilliantly and as an added bonus we get a narration by James mason throughout the trailer.
Special Feature: Isolated Score by Bernard Herrmann: Presented in 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio Music and Effects Track and is a stunning rendering of one of Bernard Herrmann's most exciting composed film music score pieces, and one that further enhances the brilliant special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen’s feel for this film. The dynamic organ sounds stops are almost outrageously effective at times, and the low end of this film music score has to be heard to be believed, obviously Bernard Herrmann was trying to evoke an “underworld” sonic presence. The harp cues also sound magnificent. For those who do not seem to think these isolated music scores is much of a supplement or at all interesting, should simply listen to Bernard Herrmann's achievement in this film and should help you to dispel your misapprehension you have to this aspect of the audio sound experience. Of course with this special feature you will experience long gaps of silence in-between the sounds and music cues you get to hear throughout the film, but please persevere as you will get well rewarded for your effort and diligence, especially hearing the brilliant Bernard Herrmann film music score that really enhances this brilliant film experience.
PLUS: Beautiful printed double sided Blu-ray double sided sleeve and also featuring new original artwork. Sadly we are not informed who the designer was.
BONUS: A beautiful printed 32-page booklet featuring an original review of the film entitled JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH: VERNE FABLE OPENS AT THE PRAMOUNT by Bosley Crowther [American Journalist] and Published: 17th December, 1959 in The New York Times. There lots of wonderful selection of rare colourful and black-and-white archival imagery. International Film Posters. Viewing Notes. Disc Credits.
Finally, that old adage “they don't make 'em like that anymore” certainly has no better example than this thrilling 1959 version of ‘JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH.' This is a film that taps into a childlike sense of wonder and presents a beautifully rendered alien world that just happens to supposedly lay right beneath our feet. An impressive production design is just one of the single most pleasures of this film, which also features some fun performances and an incredibly rousing film music score by Bernard Herrmann. 20th Century Fox and Eureka Entertainment has once again provided a very solid Blu-ray release, with excellent good image quality that was culled from a new 35mm ESTAR-base variant Interpositive image and was manufactured from the recombined restoration negative optimal elements. Also outstanding is the incredible sounding audio and I am so once again to have this brilliant Classic film that has been my all-time favourite film of mine ever since I saw its release in the cinema and also when I had the inferior DVD release. So that is why I am so pleased to now have this Eureka Entertainment Region B/2 Blu-ray disc now added to my Blu-ray Collection which is a massive bonus and will give me many hours of enjoyable entertainment. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
