Journey to the Center of the Earth - 1959

[amedia]

This was a good movie, better than I expected. I think I might have seen it on TV when I was much younger; every once in a while a scene would look familiar. I had thought it was in black-and-white, but that's because my parents didn't get a color TV until 1975. (Hey, people thought they were bad for your eyes back then!)

The plot was more complex and interesting than the recent movie. I was all "yay" that the main romantic intrigue was between two middle-aged people, which is a rare and wonderful thing in a Hollywood movie, but then I found out that the actress playing the apparently-middle-aged widow was only 31 at the time. Humph. But she and James Mason struck some great sparks (according to the IMDB they didn't get along offscreen either) and I enjoyed their interaction and eventual rapprochement.

There were some rather silly musical interludes near the beginning so Pat Boone could showcase his talents (I think of him as a preacher, but he was a hot young stud at this time!), but fortunately they mostly vanished once they got to the underground part.

Very early in the movie, the professor receives an award and when he walks into class, his well-groomed students, all dressed in suits, stand up and greet him with a congratulatory song in 3-part harmony. I can't help but think that our glimpse of Trevor's sloppy and disrespectful class early in the new 3-D version was meant as a parody of this scene!

Comments

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

Yep. College sure has changed.

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

I'm a James Mason aficianado from waaaaaay back. Back to his Carol Reed films, back to when he was a young thing and considered the most amazing actor to his the British scene.

I can even put up with Pat Boone just to see him.

I'll veer off a bit here and give you the bones of a good story.

You have just watched a film by the still living and amazing Ray Harryhausen. He is the grandfather of today's special effects. All of the CGI geniuses consider him their inspiration. My husband has adored his work since he was a wee thing. When we dated I had to watch all of the films he made at that time just so I could understand husband-to-be's obsession *wink*

He made all of his own creations, and one frame of film at a time he brought them to life. The time and dedication and pure love of the craft he put into each of his films was a testimony to a true artist. This is why Husband loves him and his worked so dearly.

We had the chance to meet the man some years ago. Husband was beyond thrilled. Harryhausen is a quiet, funny, kind person and he reminds me of a high school biology teacher. Very measured, very into teaching and even in his mellowness he missed nothing. I had promised Husband some day he'd get to meet him, and by golly he did. That was what thrilled me. It is not everyday we get to meet someone we deeply admire and when we do meet them, there is no guarantee that the person is going to be decent to you. It is a lovely memory all around :)

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever seen James Mason in anything from when he was young. I should look for some of those! I LOVE his voice. There's something about the way he talks ... mmmmmmm. The Hellboy DVD came with a sort of impressionistic animation of "The Telltale Heart," which he narrated splendidly.

Harryhausen is a quiet, funny, kind person and he reminds me of a high school biology teacher.

How WONDERFUL!!!!

t is not everyday we get to meet someone we deeply admire and when we do meet them, there is no guarantee that the person is going to be decent to you.

That is so true. I'm so glad to hear you & Husband had such a great experience.

I think the first Harryhausen film I saw - or realized I saw, if you know what I mean - was the old version of Jason and the Argnoauts. I watched it to see Gary Raymond from Rat Patrol in an itty-bitty loincloth, but I was amazed at the effects, which were not just impressive but really creative.





(Gary Raymond - also in the icon - as Acastus of Thessaly.)

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

I remember Gary Raymond very well. The first time I saw him was in "Look Back In Anger" with Richard Burton. I recommend that film. It is very unusual for it's time and quite well done. The last time he was grey haired, still strapping tall and totally splendid :) It was the mini-series, "Scarlett"! It was so good to see him again.

Nice picture!

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I remember Gary Raymond very well.

Eeee! I am impressed with your mad movie-recognition skilz!!!!

I saw part of "Look Back in Anger" at a Rat Patrol gathering - it was very intense, and I thought Gary Raymond had great chemistry with Richard Burton, something I didn't expect from an actor I only knew as a supporting character on a TV show.

I missed "Scarlett," though I later learned he was in it, but I did get a chance to see him "strapping tall and totally splendid," as you say (what a felicitous turn of phrase!) at the Long Range Desert Convention in Austin in 2001. Shamelessly hotlinking again:



Here are pages with more pictures (from my friend Kat, who took lots):

http://people.virginia.edu/~fke2d/rp/lrdc/lrdc1.htm
http://people.virginia.edu/~fke2d/rp/lrdc/lrdc2.htm

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

Gary had no problem playing the character who was kinder but less brilliantly driven in "Look Back in Anger".

Those pictures are wonderful! Thank you, amedia, I really enjoyed seeing him again.

Isn't it interesting how age has not changed his habit of tilting his head up just slightly while showing that wonderful smile.