Customer Reviews

Mysterious Island [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This film is perhaps the best of the Verne adaptations, with solid direction from Cy Endfield, who right after this film , co produced and directed the epic classic, ZULU. Ray Harryhausen's special effects are a major part of the film for sure, but, the acting , script and drama, are also of equal caliber. Bernard Herrmann's score is a milestone in film music history. The London Symphony Orchestra gives the score the full power of Herrmann's genius (the new surround stereo sound is amazing to hear). Contrary to a previous review, the main title theme is not repeated over and over again, but is used only at the beginning, (one of the most dramatic main titles ever composed) and once more before the volcano eruption. Herbert Lom's performance of Capt. Nemo is of equal stature to James Mason's in Disneys 20,000 Leagues. The photography,art direction and sets etc. are exquisite. Of all of the Harryhausen films, this is the most character driven,and, a story where the human element is not secondary to the special effects.Produced with a big budget and with great taste,It embodies the very essence of adventure and drama and fun,that few if any films today can even approach.

Those who have become accustomed to the virtually limitless possibilities of computer-generated special effects should learn to appreciate the "old ways," the by-now-primitive techniques that delivered the goods while working within the limits of the technology of the time. When you consider that Mysterious Island was produced in 1961, you have to marvel at the way the oversized creatures were brought to life in this film, thanks to the magical touch of Ray Harryhausen, the acknowledged master of stop-motion animation. But more than the special effects, this production is well-acted, beautifully filmed, perfectly scored, and intelligently written. Plus, it's an excellent way to introduce the kids to Jules Verne. I eagerly await the DVD release of this movie.

A very entertaining adventure movie for the whole family with the F/X (special effects) of Ray Harryhausen and music of Bernard Herrmann. Once again this adaptation doesn't follow the book entirely. You still get the same great entertainment even though it does not. Castaway some men and women on an island without "Wilson", but with Captain Nemo, giant animals, giant insects, and cutthroat pirates. This all adds up to fun like the older version of Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, or some other equivalent classic. Although not produced by Disney it is the same type of quality family oriented film with great cast, sets, special effects, and music. This was English made so the accents are a little thick for being Americans, but the acting is top notch. Well worth owning on DVD. If you enjoyed the Harryhausen version of "Jason and the Argonauts" you should enjoy this.

There was a woefully bad 15-part serial version of Jules Verne's "Mysterious Island" released in 1951 that stupidly gave away the big surprise by listing Captain Nemo's name in the credits. Fortunately a decade later the release of this version of "Mysterious Island" replaced that one in the public's consciousness. The team that put together "Mysterious Island" consisted of producer Charles Schneer, special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen, and composer Bernard Herrmann, which is important because it puts the film more in the tradition of their earlier collaborations, "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" and "Jason and the Argonauts," than it does Verne's novels. Obviously the 1954 Disney film version of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" had an influence on this 1961 film by director Cy Endfield ("Zulu") as well.

During the American Civil War, Union Captain Cyrus Harding (Michael Craig) is being held prisoner in a Confederate prison camp along with young Herbert Brown (Michael Callan), cynical "New York Herald" reporter Gideon Spillett (Gary Merrill), and a former slave named Corporal Neb Nugent (Dan Jackson). During a massive hurricane the group escape by stealing an observation balloon and sailing over the palisade, taking with them a Confederate soldier, Sergeant Pencroft (Percy Herbert). The storm is so fierce that it blows them to an uncharted (and dare I say, mysterious) island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, where the balloon crashes.

Harding is pulled from the water by unseen figure and the group decides to put the war behind them and work together to survive (I was going to say this is sort of like "Survivor," after the merger, which Nemo playing the Jeff Probst role, but clearly the more relevant television analogy today would be to "Lost"). But beyond the basic requirements of staying alive they learn that they have to contend with monstrously giant crabs, equally giant bees, and a ship full of bloodthirsty pirates. To make things more interesting a pair of shipwrecked female castaways are added to the little band, namely Lady Mary Fairchild (Joan Greenwood) and her pretty young niece, Elena (Beth Rogan). Using the abandoned cliff side cave of the pirates as their new home the castaways settle in for the long haul, all the while receiving timely help from their mysterious benefactor.

I never read the novel, but I still have the "Classics Illustrated" comic book version of "Mysterious Island." For me the big impression was the things the castaways did to bring a touch of civilization to the island, and while that is greatly reduced in the film you do get a least a visual sense of what they have been up to in order to make the best of a bad situation. Of course, the situation proceeds to get even worse, which forces the unseen benefactor, Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom), to reveal himself and his identity, and to help the castaways one last time.

It is a good thing that Lom does not show up until the end of the film, because he overpowers the rest of the cast, just as his character enjoys superiority over them as well. Merrill stands out from the rest as the crotchety reporter, who is almost as smart as he is cynical, and Craig manages to hang on to the hero role throughout, but Herbert and Elena descend to the puppy love phase and are just begging to be eaten by one of the giant creatures on the island, preferably the giant chicken. This is not a great film for this genre, but it certainly holds up as a more than decent Saturday matinee movie.

Harryhausen's stop-motion animation is always fun, even though no one will consider his work in "Mysterious Island" to be up to the finest moments of "Sinbad" or "Jason." The link between the giant animals and Captain Nemo is a bit absurd, since hunger has never been considered one of the causes of the American Civil War, but by the time we learn about these we have already enjoyed the castaways trying to fight the monsters (the crab is the best and the chicken has to be the nadir of Harryhausen's distinguished career). Actually, the balloon journey at the beginning provides the best special effects in the movie, especially given the impressive musical score by Herrmann. This movie is not about political philosophy, but about monsters in an exotic location and the sense of adventure that has thrilled young schoolboys for generations.

Producer Charles Schneer produced this sequel to Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" with art direction and special effects under the capable hands of Ray Harryhausen, whose stop-motion creatures are the highlights of the movie. A giant crab, an equally large prehistoric bird and a mammoth bee are but a few creatures that show up in this version, which is faithful to the Verne source material in major plot elements but differs in many details such as the addition of the giant creatures and the incorporation of a love interest.

Composer Bernard Hermann contributed an effective soundtrack that highlights the dangers that the castaways face, but the movie is almost "wall to wall" music, with the brassy main theme repeated again and again. Hermann is arguably the best, most influential soundtrack composer in motion picture history but here his music seems to be repeated and overused to the detriment of the movie.

The film opens during the the Civil War with a very well rendered escape sequence from a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp in Richmond, Virginia. The direction, music and Harryhausen's great effects work all come togther here to produce a truely thrilling escape sequence that opens the film and ultimately places the characters on the deserted, doomed Pacific island. The bulk of the movie takes place here as we see how the castaways survive on the desert isle and learn the ultimate fate of Captain Nemo and his famous submarine, the Nautilus.

This movie is a bit more character driven than most Schneer/Harryhausen efforts, with some emphasis placed on the internal conflicts of the castaways, but ultimately the Ray Harryhausen creatures and special effects steal the show.

Any movie with Ray Harryhausen doing the special effects will be worth watching and Mysterious Island is no exception.That said he gets comparatively little room to do his thing on this production but we do get giant crabs,garagatuan bees and a menacing bird.The plot gets underway when a party of Union soldiers ,a captured Confederate gaoler and a war correspondent escape from a Confederate prison via balloon and are blown clear across America coming down on an uncharted Pacific island.They are soon joined by two shipwrecked English gentlewomen and they begin to build a society together by dint of co-operation and teamwork
Also on the island is Captain Nemo and his fabled submarine Nautilius .They are faced with the challenge of making good their escape from the island before a volcanic eruption destroys all in its path
Other reviewers have rightly commented on the score ,by veteran Hitchcock collaborater Bernard Herrmann,and this is truly atmospheric and dynamic .The acting is variable in quality with Brits Craig and Herbert failing to convince as Americans and it is left to reliable and classy veterans Greenwood ,Merrill and Lom to steal the acting honours
It is not on a par with my favouite Harryhausen movies,especially Jason and the Argonauts, but its good entertainment and I reckon most people will enjoy it

Yes in deed, the great classic as I watched as a kid. A group of people who find themselves stranded on an uncharted deserted island. Wigh gigantic animals, engaging story line. And yes this is out on DVD as I have just purchased it.

Very enjoyable movie that used to be on WGN at least one Sunday afternoon a year in the 1970s. Worth it for nostalgia value alone. Great score, nice initial action scenes. The runaway balloon featured in many childhood dreams.

I finally saw this without TV commercial interrupts. It's an adventure but leaves me kind of flat. Good special effects for the time though. Plot kind of weak for me.

for the year it was made the special effects are great. the story of what happens are very good. i enjoyed this tape and have watched it more than once and will watch it again.