Mysterious Island
Directed by Cy Endfield
Written by John Prebble, Daniel Ullman and Craig Wilbur from a novel by Jules Verne
1961/UK/USA
Ameran Films
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Gideon Spilitt: That’s the best crab I ever cooked. Captain Cyrus Harding: We’d be more impressed, Mr. Spilitt, if you’d put it in the pot by yourself.[/box]
Jules Verne adaptations were a continuing trend during the late fifties and early sixties. This one throws in another craze of the era – giant creatures.
The story is set during the American Civil War. A group of Union soldiers escape in a rebel hot air observation balloon. After they are airborne, they find they have a Confederate stow-away and a war correspondent (Gary Merrill) with them. The Confederate is the only one with a clue on how to actually operate the contraction. His help is sorely needed when the balloon goes adrift in a massive storm.
The men finally set down on a mysterious Pacific Island with almost no supplies or weapons. They are a resourceful lot though and make themselves comfortable as best they can seeing they are constantly under threat by giant creatures. In fact, it is odd the way they miraculous escape every scrape they get into. Eventually, the men are joined by a countess (Joan Greenwood) and her companion. Toward the end Captain Nemo introduces himself and fills in some missing details.
This is an OK adventure but did not particularly grab me. My favorite aspects were hearing Joan Greenwood’s velvet purr again and Herbert Lom as Nemo. Unfortunately, Lom does not make an appearance until perhaps the final fifteen minutes of the movie.
Trailer
I admit I like this one more than I should, but it’s a nostalgia film for me. It ran at least once per year on WGN (channel 9, Chicago), so I watched it at least once a year. I realize it’s goofy and kind of dumb, but I sat each year waiting with anticipation and fear for the giant honeybees.
But, yes to Joan Greenwood! I’ve compared her voice in the past to a cat purring with a mouthful of butter. I haven’t come up with better than that.
I can see how those bees would be darned scary for a young child! I know I have a special kind of fondness for favorites from my youth. I’m especially jaded to giant critters now, after having watch so many of them. I did realize until after I wrote my review that Ray Harryhausen did the special effects. If I had I would have paid more attention!