This is a not-bad rendering of the Jules Verne classic.For those who have read the book, the first thing noticed is the excision of the extensive "up-to-date" science that Verne often built into his stories. There is a scientist and his student and they do use a few terms appropriately (there really is a very dense rock known as peridotite and a chemical reagent called aqua regia) but beyond that it's pretty weak.The expansion of romantic interests and inclusion of female protagonists were obviously necessary to make it a marketable film but it's a little bit distracting. Adding an evil character to complicate the journey would have irritated Verne, but it was useful in keeping the story interesting. On the other hand, the inter-species bromance between the guide and his duck was a little silly when the movie was made and a little creepy today. That they could have done without.The journey itself was highly entertaining. The sets were very good and the special effects, though terribly dated by today's standards, were compelling. PETA would not approve of the lizard exploitation but it was a cost-effective way to put some monsters on screen.It's a little incongruous to see the pious Pat Boone cast as beekcake. Stripping off his shirt and cutting off his pant legs to reveal a quite acceptable male body is something that Jerry Falwell would not have approved.Is it great cinema? No, but it's a decent way to spend a couple of free hours for someone who likes to delve into an older sci-fi genre. Worth a look.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959): Dir: Henry Levin: Cast: James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl, Peter Ronson, Thayer David: An exciting and visually inventive adventure for families. It is a journey of incredible endurance where a professor, played by James Mason attempts a journey accompanied by a student, played by Pat Boone. They are accompanied by a recent widow, played by Arlene Dahl, and a strong non English individual, played by Peter Ronson whom saves Mason and Boone when they become trapped. Although sometimes too corny it is nonetheless adventurous with inventive art direction and giant lizards featured to heighten suspense. Directed by Henry Levin with a sense of childlike awe as these characters encounter one big obstacle after another. James Mason holds strong as the leader and explorer, while Pat Boone is effective as the student who ends up in a comical place upon the film's end. Arlene Dahl is obviously going to end up with Mason. She is a widow who conditions herself into the quest. Peter Ronson steals moments with his amusing forms of communication. Thayer David plays the villain following the group in hopes of making the big steal, but will fail miserable. The film's best element is its production, which is fine because it offers little else. The film is pointless fun and full of plot turns and delights for the eye. Score: 8 / 10

If You Liked Pat Boone's Cover Record of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" this Might be the Movie for You. If Not, than Check Out an Authentic Amazing Adventure "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" (1958). One is the Real Deal and the Other is a Poser. A Plasticized Picture Without Much Imagination, Journey is Competent but Far From a Fantasy Film of Great Stature. It is Stifled by its Stuff Shirt Stiffness to be All Things to All People. Sure there are Some Nicely Colored Sets of Crystalline Formations and Easy on the Eye Color Schemes. But the Thing is Extremely Boring, Takes a Long While for that First Step and is Ponderous and Pedestrian. Bernard Herrmann's Score is Stunning and a Few Times the Film Actually Looks Like it Might be On to Something, but then, the Movie Falls Asleep with So Much Family Friendly Foolishness. The Film has to Recover from its Snooziness Again and Again. Baby Boomers who were Weaned on Famous Monsters of Filmland and had been Highly Excited by Ray Harryhausen and Hammer Movies Knew that this was Not the Genuine Article and was Made by "Square" Adults.Overall, it is a Movie that Offends No One and is So Saccharine Sweet that the Best Parts, and there are a Few, are Forever Buried by All the Other Unremarkable Debris. It Almost Reaches Goofy Gaudiness at Times and Most of the Movie is so Clean Cut it Squeaks. Worth a Watch, it has Class but it is No Classic. It's too Conventional to be Considered Much More than Adequate.

I would have no hesitation in saying that this version of Jules Verne's story is better than the big budget 2008 version. The cast in this one (featuring James Mason as Professor Lindenbrook, Pat Boone as as McKuen, Arlene Dahl as Carla Goteborg and Peter Ronson as Hans were, I thought, better than the '08 cast, and the story was tighter than that one. And yet, while better than than the '08 version, I still found watching this to be a rather ho-hum type of experience. Setting science aside, and acknowledging this to be a piece of sheer entertainment, some of the adventures that take place under the earth are pretty good and the effects aren't bad. The "dinosaur" scenes might just feature normal lizards with some fins attached and made to look huge worked reasonably well, and there was even a pretty fine piece of acting from Ronson (who played the Icelandic guide) when Hans discovered his beloved pet duck Gertrude slaughtered and confronted the man who had done the deed. I actually found that scene tense. At the same time I sensed no real chemistry between Mason and Dahl, which made the end of the movie feel a bit forced and unnecessary.The introduction to the story (as Lindenbrook begins to put together the expedition) for me went on too long and could have been quite shortened. Frankly, the musical numbers from Pat Boone also seemed out of place and added little. Yes, it's better than the '08 version of the story - which isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. But, for me at least, it still doesn't pack enough of a punch to be considered in any way a classic. (5/10)