Master of the World (1961)

Fantastic!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

From the fertile imagination of famed author Jules Verne came the two novels that inspired this fantasy-adventure with definite similarities to "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". Only this time, the majestic futuristic vehicle flies the skies rather than motoring through the depths of the ocean. It's commandeered by Captain Robur (Vincent Price), a fanatical pacifist who's willing to go to extreme lengths to engineer some sort of peace on Earth. He takes a few people captive, including government man John Strock (Charles Bronson), arms manufacturer Mr. Prudent (Henry Hull), Prudents' daughter Dorothy (Mary Webster), and Dorothy's fiancée Phillip Evans (David Frankham). Strock admires Roburs' ambitions, but doesn't believe that his ends are exactly justifying his means.While not as iconic as that 1954 Disney film version of "Leagues", "Master of the World" is good, colorful entertainment. Veteran director William Witney capably works from a solid script by Richard Matheson, a writer who was always good at coming up with his own works as well as adapting the works of others. A.I.P. in house production designer Daniel Haller and cinematographer Gilbert Warrenton create a visually appealing look for the film and Roburs' impressive aircraft The Albatross. Composer Les Baxter, too, is in fine form, coming up with a soaring score. The special effects vary in quality a bit, but there is no shortage of genuine thrills to be had.Price obviously enjoys himself getting to do his own version of a Captain Nemo kind of character, and he's just a joy. Bronson may seem oddly cast, but he emerges as an interesting hero, one who prefers to make his moves carefully rather than be a macho good guy "with honor". Frankham is okay, but his character can be infuriating. Hull hams it up sufficiently, as does Vito Scotti as the chef. (Scotti even breaks the fourth wall at one point.) Richard Harrison and Wally Campo are good as two of the primary crew on the Albatross. And Webster is a lovely and endearing leading lady.Well worth a look, especially for fans of Price, Bronson, and Witney. Two songs utilized after the closing credits extend the running time by a few minutes.Seven out of 10.

This is a neat little adventure film but not the best film to star Vincent Price or Henry Hull also Charles Bronson - but it is fun to watch. Henry Hull actually came out of retirement to co-star and that's a treat all in itself! It's sometimes funny - mainly the comedy comes from Topage the chef (played by Vito Scotti). Price and Hull are always good to watch which makes this film worth a looksy. Charles Bronson fans should get a kick out of seeing him in an earlier and different type of role from what we are used to seeing him cast in - but he's still a bit of a "tough guy" in it.I think this movie could make a fun adventure film afternoon with another Vincent Price film: 'War Gods of the Deep' aka 'City in the Sea' (1965).7/10

For a movie made by a studio that specialized in drive-in cheapies for teenagers, directed by a guy who specialized in Saturday afternoon serials those teenagers probably watched when they were younger, this must have been a real treat. For somebody who just missed both those time periods - it's still a surprisingly-good if modestly-budgeted Victorian SF (pre-Steampunk) adventure, with two great performances by Vincent Price and Charles Bronson (yes, really!). Price is well- meaning mad scientist Robur "The Conqueror", who builds a heavier-than-air flying warship (kind of the grandfather to SHIELD's Helicarriers), which he and his loyal crew uses to convince the Nations of the Victorian World to Disarm - by blowing their weapons up REAL good! (I'd mock - but given my own country's government has tried this numerous times, it's apparently a popular notion.) Robur shanghais four "guests" - a Government mission out to discover the meaning of strange voices emanating from Pennsylvania's "The Great Eyrie" mountain. Leading the mission is Department of the Interior officer John Strock (Bronson), who at first appears sufficiently impressed with Robur's vision to go along, over the objections of the others - Balloonist Philip Evans, his fiancée Dorothy Prudent and her father. But Robur's plan to Make War to End War ends up getting the attention of the world's governments - and not in the way he'd hoped...!Reportedly screenwriter Richard Matheson believed Bronson badly miscast as Strock - but he was wrong. Bronson gives Strock a kind of primal strength and presence that makes him a believably capable foil for Price, combining his usual late-career ham with some genuine notes of depth and poignancy. Mary Webster makes Dorothy Prudent a strong, smart, capable heroine who clearly deserves better than the petty jealous borderline cowardly drip she's engaged to (David Frankham) - and in Strock she finds it. Serials veteran Whitney directs with a flair for thrills and adventure, but also shows with both Ms. Webster's performance and in Price's quieter moments that he was a good actor's director as well. The F/x work wasn't quite State-of-the-Art for 1961, but it's more than good enough for the story this movie's telling (another benefit of Whitney's serials experience is knowing how to get the most bang for his special effects buck). Definitely worth streaming, buying the DVD or catching on some classic movie channel.

Yesterday would have been Vincent Price's 100th birthday. William Witney's "Master of the World" is one of his lesser known movies, but still fairly entertaining. Price plays a man who flies his zeppelin all over the world with the aim of forcing peace on everyone (they always think that you can force peace on everyone!)."Master of the World" was American International Pictures' attempt to make an epic along the lines of "Around the World in 80 Days". While the movie -- based on two Jules Verne novels -- is nothing particularly special, it's certainly entertaining enough. I of course prefer Price's horror flicks, but this is still pretty fun. Also starring are Charles Bronson, Henry Hull (the werewolf of London), Mary Webster, David Frankham, Richard Harrison and Vito Scotti (a character actor who appeared on almost every TV show in the '60s).