Customer Reviews

Master of the World [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Disappointing and tepid acting seems to be the most stand-out quality in this film. Bronson, playing the hero Strock, obviously gives the part some effort. But his effort falls far short, coming off cold and unemotive. Contrary to the legendary collaboration of Price and Bronson in "House of Wax," Bronson's part might have been better served by a cardboard cutout. The film's hammy and dispassionate special effects certainly make one believe that that option may have been considered. Most film-makers of the period were far more creative with their few resources, and even if the effects were a little corny, they were at least charming. The effects in this movie are parallel only to your local middle-school's performance of "Oklahoma!"

Vincent Price saves the film from ruin, however, by delivering one of the most convincing and provoking performances of his career. Working with a decent script, Price plays perfectly Robur, an idealistic and madly brilliant conqueror, giving the viewer a perfect portrait of deeply-concealed rage and good-intention masked with vitriol and salted with madness. The character of Robur is somewhat metamorphic, and Price conforms to the part on demand. Demonic, honorable, diabolical, repetent -- Price shows all sides of Robur in perfect color.

Fans of Vincent Price and Jules Verne will love this film, and I would highly recommend it to them. Everyone else, however, might consider watching this one only if the oppurtunity presents itself on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

This film could be classified as a fantasy adventure with horror elements when you factor in Robur's wish to end all war. His method? He'll simply fly over oceans and seas in his airship Albitraus and bomb war ships until all war has stopped. Vincent plays Robur in this mad-cap film that begins with a history of aviation. Henry Hull is cast as a cynical judge and the great Charles Bronson is cast as a mysterious passenger who appears to be Robur's accompolice... but looks can be deceiving. Mary Webster and David Frankham play the other "prisoners". David's character isn't likable and you'd wish that Vincent or Charles would throw him off the Albitraus!! The film is sort of an in the air version of James Mason's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" with it's stop all war message.

The plot of this movie is a bit unusual, but I found it likeable because of the actors, such as Vincent Price, Henry Hull, and David Frankham. Charles Bronson also stars, but is probably miscast here. The scenery and music are also well done.

Great Sci Fi for its era, still holds up pretty well for the initiated, but the Playstation generation might not get it.

Lets have the DVD please, we've waited long enough!

I watched this as a kid and loved it. The special effects aren't as great anymore, but still a great story. I re-read the Jules Verne books that it's based on with my son who was interested in airship. So it was fun to see again. These Verne books are online for free.

I consider this movie to be an old-fashioned adventure movie of the highest order. I could write a mini-novel about all the high points of this movie...but I think the actors said it best: "I believe he's convinced you his ship is magical........He has! He has!....it is MAGICAL!". This movie deserves to released on DVD ASAP!!!

I recently purchased this DVD-R from Amazon and thought I would write a short review. The movie is based on, I think, two Jules Verne novels "Master of the World" and "Robur the Conqueror". I remember seeing this film as a kid and purchasing the paperback book with an image from the film on the cover. The film itself is very entertaining.

My only gripe is that it is on a DVD-R and not a DVD. It has a rather simple menu and the chapter stops are about every 5-10 minutes or so. Since it is from MGM the video quality is excellent and probably better than the widescreen laserdisc which I do have. I have not done a direct comparison but it looks excellent and is anamorphic.

Since MGM may never release this film on a regular DVD this might be your best option to get it unless you opt for the two releases from Spain. But if you are happy with a DVD-R then don't hesitate as the video is excellent.

I only bought a VHS copy (brand new, sealed) as, to the best of my knowledge, it hasn't been released on DVD.
The quality of the tape was really bad... I ran the tape through a few times to losen it in the hope it might play better on my NTSC VCR, but NO.
Picture jumps, colours drop out to green every now and then. I expected a lot more from MGM.
I hold no complaint against the 3rd party seller I ordered it through, I believe MGM is at fault for putting out a crud copy.
What's my comeback? A waste of $24. (International freight and handling @ $12 is criminal - good one, Amazon)
Maybe, one day, Warner Archives might give this movie a decent DVD release.
From a story point of view, Master of the World is absolutely trash... the acting is wooden and seemingly lacking in any direction what so-ever... a shock, as the Dir was responsible for the best Republic serials of the 40s.
I really can't mention the special effects... as there weren't any.
I just want a decent copy of Master of the World to complete my Vincent Price collection.

It's not every day you get a movie with 3 of your ultimate faves together, but that's the case for me with this one; Vincent Price, Charles Bronson and Henry Hull. All three are great, especially the always interesting Hull. Production-wise it shows its low budget, but old-time adventure movies are always fun to watch, nevertheless. -Especially if they take place in some inventor's strange vehicle.

Allow me to digress. In the movie CLEOPATRA, Richard Burton, who plays the part of Marc Antony, remarks. "We can engage the Romans at Actium, wet or dry. I choose WET!" Jules Verne must have been a fan of this epic, for he too had a choice of WET and DRY, AND ACTUALLY CHOSE BOTH. Let me explain. There's TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, and then there is MASTER OF THE WORLD. Same difference. Same story line. End all war by blowing up those nations with navies and arsenals. ("We're here to save the village by burning the village, mentality"). These are shadows of one another, one taking place in the sky whilst the other from under the sea. The long and short is DISNEY did a vastly better job bringing this novel to the screen. Who could top the magnificent triumvirate of JAMES MASON, KIRK DOUGLAS and PETER LORRE? And the DISNEY studio spent serious money for special effects and keen direction. Don't get me wrong. MASTER OF THE WORLD is a perfect Saturday matinee feature that you'd love to view as a ten year old. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of VINCENT PRICE (I LOVE HIM- GREAT ACTOR), the film suffers from a slim budget, wooden acting and below par special effects. Even Charles Bronson seems self-contained and stifling; he longs to get back to his barracks in the old stalag and dig tunnels vis-a-vis THE GREAT ESCAPE.
That said, it's a fantasy film, and if you are willing to suspend your belief (as you MUST), it still is a pleasant diversion, worthy of the full purchase price of 2.95 and postage. That the film isn't on DVD is understandable. It is probably more of a curiousity than a mass media film. But entertaining nonetheless.