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Mysterious Island (1961)

11/27/2012

 
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The special effects fantasies of Ray Harryhausen might seem quaint and a bit creaky to modern eyes, but for decades he was the undisputed master of stop-motion animation. Like many others, I grew up catching his many creature creations on TV and was charmed by the "unreal reality" of their movements. Sometimes, the films he made with producer Charles H. Schneer were rather dull, talky affairs, punctuated (some might say "saved") by Harryhausen's lively monster sequences (I'm looking at you, Beast from 20,000 Fathoms). Luckily, Mysterious Island has plenty else going for it besides Harryhausen's contributions, including a good cast, an action-packed, adventure-laden survival story and a better-than-usual script.


With one main exception, the film follows the general outline of Jules Verne's original novel. During the Civil War, four Union prisoners escape on a balloon, along with its Confederate guard. The prisoners - Captain Harding (Michael Craig), Neb, a black corporal (Dan Jackson), young Herbert (Michael Callan) and war correspondent Spillet (Gary Merrill) - make a grudging peace with Reb sergeant Pencroft (Percy Herbert) on the condition that he pilots the balloon to safety. This isn't easily done, as the group is quickly blown off course by a severe storm and eventually end up stranded on a desert island far, far away from home.

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The men are soon joined by a shipwrecked pair of British women, the haughty yet redoubtable Lady Mary Fairchild (Joan Greenwood) and her pretty young niece, Elena (Beth Rogan). The arrival of the ladies spurs the men into more domesticated action, and soon they've set up a home in some cliffside caves along the beach. The castaways' "Robinson Crusoe" like existence is enlivened by several odd and - dare I say it? - mysterious occurrences, such as the initial rescue of Captain Harding from near-drowning in the sea, the sudden and convenient appearance of a treasure chest laden with useful supplies, such as a map, compass, firearms, etc., and the fortuitous, fiery sinking of a pirate ship laying siege to the islander's cave dwelling.

The survivors ultimately learn that their mysterious "guardian angel" is none other than the famed Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom). Having survived the end of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the solo Nemo had steered his no-longer-seaworthy submarine, the Nautilus, to this island. Still motivated to help mankind end its endless cycle of war, strife, starvation and disease, Nemo has been conducting chemical experiments on the local flora and fauna, in order to find a means of providing an endless food supply for humanity.

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This is where the film departs clearly from its source text, as the fruits of Nemo's labors have resulted in the island being populated by gigantic versions of its local animal life, which gives Harryhausen his chance to shine. This time monstrous in size only, a giant crab, a huge bird, enormous bees and a rampaging cephalopod are among the effects highlights here.

Nemo solemnly informs the others that the island's volcano will soon erupt, sending the island into the deep. With Nemo's help, Harding and the castaways make a desperate attempt to escape the island before it's too late...


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While I enjoy many of Harryhausen's sci-fi efforts, to me his fantasies remain by far the most diverting. Mysterious Island ranks up with the best of his movies, along with Jason and the Argonauts and The 7th Voyage of Sinbad. It moves along at a nice clip, the characters are given plenty of conflicts to hash out  amongst themselves, as well a near-constant barrage of natural dangers to face. The performances are also solid and Harryhausen's effects are of course ingenious and enjoyable in equal measure. The absolute cherry on the top of all this is Bernard Hermann's majestic, bombastic, and thrilling score. Hermann treats this fantasy lark with the same amount of dedication to his craft and meticulous care that he gave to his more famous collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock and other mainstream projects. His work here truly elevates this film to the next level.

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Another reason why Mysterious Island works so well is doubtless due to the usually overly budget-conscious Schneer's decision to hire skilled director Cy Endfield, who clearly had a facility for capturing action on screen (as seen in the later adventure classics Zulu and Sands of the Kalahari). The screenplay (by John Prebble, Daniel B. Ulmann and Crane Wilbur), is also of a higher calber than the norm for a Harryhausen picture, and features some welcome witty dialogue to accompany the various entertaining action and effects sequences.

The cast all do fine work. Craig is appropriately commanding and manly as Captain Harding, who becomes de facto leader of the castaways. Gary Merrill brings a nice, droll sarcasm to his verbal jostlings with Harding, and Joan Greenwood tempers her upper-class hauteur with plenty of earthy pluck. But all fade to the background once Herbert Lom's courtly, charismatic, silver-haired Nemo comes striding out of the sea in his stylish conch-shell helmet and air tank.  Though his screen time is all too brief, Lom easily dominates the final quarter of the film, and the rather arbitrary way in which his character is handled at the end has become a bit of a sore point with many fans over the years.


Mysterious Island is the type of old-fashioned adventure film that they just don't make anymore. Compared to the busy, shrill, 3D CGI-fest remake served up to the multiplex masses last year, featuring a babysitting Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and a slumming Michael Caine, the 1961 original begins to take on the lustrous patina of a classic. It might not be that, exactly, but it is a damn fine popcorn muncher.


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DVD Note: Twilight Time's (unfortunately) out-of-print Blu-Ray is the best way to see Mysterious Island. It comes with an isolated score track (the better to appreciate Hermann's booming soundtrack). You can see some representative screen captures here and here. The BD is a clear step up from the DVD transfer, but the latter still looks pretty decent.
Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) link
11/26/2012 09:36:20 pm

Great choice Jeff as I love this movie. I've always had a real soft-spot for this as it was the first of the Harryhausen films I saw - ever since I've been dedicated to his stop motion movies and to the music of Bernard Herrmann. All I need to hear is his rolling strings for the early storm sequence and I'm off! I had no idea the Twilight Time release was already OOP but they are limited editions - I just wish they weren't so darned expensive!

Jeff
11/27/2012 03:11:28 pm

Cheers for that, Sergio! Yes, the Twilight Time Blu-Ray was too expensive, there's no doubt about it. MYSTERIOUS ISLAND is the only disc of theirs I've bought. I'm a tad bummed I didn't splurge for JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH as well (also now OOP, and a really nice-looking BD it is, too). Their releases are pricy, but usually look and sound great. Hermann's score really thunders on the disc. Thanks for the support as always!

Colin link
11/27/2012 12:24:11 am

Jeff, I feared you'd given up on us! Good to see you back.

I have had this movie sitting unwatched on my shelf for a few years now - I really need to clear some of the embarrassingly large backlog. I also like Harryhausen's fantasy movies a lot; his wizardry is much more attractive than any amount of shiny CGI to my eyes anyway.

Jeff
11/27/2012 03:19:06 pm

Thanks a bunch, Colin! Sorry for the lack of activity on the blog, but personal issues have gotten the best of me lately (I've got a two-month old baby boy now that's in and out of hospital and that's keeping me running). Thanks for checking back after such a long radio silence!

As for MYSTERIOUS ISLAND - Is it just the DVD that you've not watched, or the film? As a fan of adventure cinema, I think you'll get a kick out of this one, if you haven't seen it before. Personally, I don't mind CGI if it's not overused or too fake looking, but I'm in agreement with you that Harryhausen's stuff is preferable in many cases.

Colin link
11/27/2012 04:40:45 pm

Well, both congratulations and apologies are in order then. I had no idea you had a little fellow now - I sincerely hope he's doing well. Really puts all the other trivialities in perspective - my very best wishes to you all.

Jeff
11/28/2012 05:57:57 am

Thanks very much for the kind words, Colin, much appreciated! Kenji's doing fine, he was born with a heart defect and will require one or two surgeries to put things right, but the doctors are confident everything should work out well. It's going to be a stressful year or so, but I've always found that the trivial stuff (like movies, TV and books) can really help leaven the load. Once the university holidays start, I'll have more time to do some fun distracting stuff on the blog. Thanks as always for stopping by and supporting the blog!

Dorian Tenore-Bartilucci link
11/29/2012 03:49:10 am

Jeff, we of Team Bartilucci have been fans of Ray Harryhausen's work since we were each just little shavers, and we're especially glad to see you giving MYSTERIOUS ISLAND some love in your fascinating, entertaining post! Having Bernard Herrmann's music (he's another Team B. fave) along with the great and F/X) is the proverbial icing on an already yummy cake! Great post!

Dorian Tenore-Bartilucci link
11/29/2012 05:01:01 am

All of us here at Team Bartilucci HQ are sincerely rooting for your son Kenji to become and remain 100% healthy and whole ASAP! As parents of a teen with ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome (though she's very high-functioning and upbeat, thank goodness), we can certainly empathize and sympathize. Good luck to you and your family!

Jeff
11/29/2012 07:03:50 pm

Thank you very much for your kind comments re: Kenji and my blog post, Dorian and Team Bartilucci! We definitely appreciate it! Everybody has been very supportive and encouraging, which is a blessing. It's wonderful to hear that your daughter is doing so well. Happy holidays to you and your family and please don't be a stranger round these parts.

R.A. Kerr link
12/1/2012 12:42:50 am

Who doesn't love giant sea creatures! Movies like this are TONS of fun! Thanks for reviewing this one - am looking forward to seeing it.

Also, congrats on your new baby boy. Hope everything works out well for the lil' guy.

Jeff
12/1/2012 06:14:18 am

Thanks, Ruth! Glad to hear from you! This movie is a lot of fun, I think you'll enjoy it. I'm with you on your love of giant sea creatures in movies...I've watched more than my fare share of slop with the promise of some good sea monster action. MYSTERIOUS ISLAND has a good bit at the end; Harryhausen does an especially good job animating the beastie's malevolent eye.

Rick link
12/4/2012 09:07:31 am

Excellent review of a marvelous film--I agree on all counts. I just watched Lom recently in Hammer's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; he was truly an underrated actor. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS is my favorite Harryhausen film, but MYSTERIOUS ISLAND and SEVENTH VOYAGE are right behind. Hmmm, I have a sudden urge to eat crab for dinner....

Jeff
12/6/2012 08:19:34 pm

Thanks, Rick! I haven't seen the Lom PHANTOM, have to get to that one someday. The three Harryhausen movies you mention are probably his best, and how each person ranks them makes little difference, really. I do harbor a soft spot for THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, which is possibly my favorite for nostalgic reasons (saw it during an end-of-term school celebration in 7th grade and it profoundly effected my fantasy-fueled imagination).

Neil
12/4/2012 08:00:44 pm

Man I loved Harryhausen's work back when I was a kid, it seemed there was always a flick he did the FX on for on one of the Portland channels we could pick up across the border... usually after Perry Mason.

Jeff
12/6/2012 08:22:07 pm

Cheers, Neil! I can still catch a glimmer of that child-like mindset when I watch a Harryhausen film. I probably caught several of them on the same Portland channels you mention. As for Perry Mason, I remember eating my lunch on a card table and watching that one during school holidays. Good memories!

Lisa link
5/7/2013 04:33:39 am

Wonderful post that I just came on after hearing the sad news of Ray Harryhausen's passing today. It's a sad day for all the fans -- and there are so many of us -- of this brilliant man.

Hope all is well with you and this blog is terrific.

Jeff
5/7/2013 07:52:29 am

Thank you very much for the kind words, Lisa, and glad you enjoyed this Harryhausen post! I too am saddened to hear of his passing, but at least he led a long, fruitful life. Thanks for stopping by and I'll be checking out your TV blog soon!


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