Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959)

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

I know that some of the viewers of this say that it is really quite striking for the 1950's. I disagree. Good movies can be made and special effects can be good. In this film, it looks tacky from beginning to end. Those that were decent were overshadowed by bad acting and a poor story. I can barely watch Pat Boone on the screen. His syrupy, tired delivery really detracts from the film. He should have stuck strictly to producing bad music. I did enjoy James Mason, though. He is a fine actor who has proved himself over many decades. If one is satisfied with a two bit story (which insults the Jules Verne novel) hang in there. Sorry, it just isn't very good.

People go to the centre of the earth.Since my 1970s childhood, science fiction has always been one of my top interests and movies like this (and Irwin Allen TV) turned me into a sci-fi nut.JTHCOTE had a lot more characterization than some of the sci-fi films that came out of this period, which makes it a bit different. Not better but different.Some of the 20th Century Fox props got used in the un-aired Lost In Space pilot, "No Place To Hide"...I think it was just the giant mushrooms, which looked just fine in an alien world.Some of the JTHCOTE musical score was re-used in Irwin Allen TV.

In 1880, in Edinburgh, Professor Oliver S. Lindenbrook (James Mason) of the local university has been awarded with the title of "Sir" and his students have chipped in for a gift including a lava stone. Prof. Lindenbrook researches the lava and finds evidences that the scientist Saknussem sent it from the center of the Earth one hundred years ago. He sends his findings to his colleague Prof. Peter Göteborg of Stockholm to endorse his research. But soon he finds that Prof. Göteborg has betrayed him and traveled to Iceland to organize an expedition to the center of the Earth. Prof. Lindenbrook travels with his protégée Alexander "Alec" McKuen (Pat Boone) to Iceland to organize his own expedition, and he discovers that Prof. Göteborg was murdered by Count Saknussem (Thayer David) that wants to protect the discovery of his ancestor. Prof. Lindenbrook and Alec are forced to team-up with the widow Carla Göteborg (Arlene Dahl) and the strong local Hans Belker (Peter Ronson) that brings his duck Gertrude with him. The group goes to a volcano that is the entrance to the center of the Earth in the beginning of their amazing and dangerous journey."Journey to the Center of the Earth" is an enjoyable family entertainment based on the novel by Jules Verne. The effects and scenarios are impressive for a 1959 movie and it is funny to see the behavior of the women in that time, screaming and totally vulnerable. The duck Gertrude is responsible for most of the funniest parts of this movie and her tragic fate was absolutely unnecessary. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Viagem ao Centro da Terra" ("Journey to the Center of the Earth")

Great memories of watching this movie on what turned out to be the last night of my carefree youth..."Journey to the Center of the Earth" is a well-produced family-friendly film with a good cast and gorgeous cinematography. James Mason is perfect as is Arlene Dahl. Pat Boone even sings one of his ballads.The special effects are quite good and the whole thing is pleasant diversion that leaves you feeling good at the end.For me, the film has unforgettable meaning: I saw it at mom's house the night before my grandmother had a stroke, an event which triggered a series of strokes in my mother as well. I lost them both and the family never fully recovered. So whenever I see this film's title, it reminds me of that last, "perfect" day at my long-gone home.