Journey to The Center of The Earth (1959)

Journey to the Center of the Earth lobby card set image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Director Henry Levin and Twentieth Century-Fox delivered the Jules Verne classic Journey to the Center of the Earth to movie theaters in 1959. James Mason plays the academic adventurer, with Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl and Peter Ronson along for the subterranean descent.

Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth is based on the novel of the same name by noted science fiction writer Jules Verne (1828-1905). Titled Voyage au centre de la Terre in France, the book was first published by Pierre-Jules Hetzel in 1864.

Verne’s other works, many of which were also made into motion pictures, include such fantastic fare as Five Weeks in a Balloon (1863), From the Earth to the Moon (1865), Around the World in Eighty Days (1873) and The Mysterious Island (1875).

Henry Levin Directs Journey to the Center of the Earth

Walter Reisch and Charles Brackett wrote the screenplay for Cooga Mooga, Joseph L. Schenck Enterprises and Twentieth Century-Fox. Henry Levin (Cry of the Werewolf, Jolson Sings Again, April Love) directed. Bernard Hermann created the fabulous music score, with Leo Tover serving as cinematographer.

James Mason (Professor Oliver S. Lindendbrook), Pat Boone (Alec McEwen) and Arlene Dahl (Carla Goteborg) head the cast. Other players include Diane Baker (Jenny Lindenbrook), Thayer David (Count Saknussemm), Peter Ronson (Hans Belker), Robert Adler (Groom), Alan Napier (Dean), Alan Caillou (Rector), Mary Brady (Kirsty), Frederick Halliday (Chancellor), Alex Finlayson (Professor Bayle), Ben Wright (Paisley) and Red West (Bearded Man at Newspaper Stand).

Originally tapped to play Professor Lindenbrook and Count Saknussemm were Clifton Webb and Alexander Scourby, respectively. The ailing Webb, who never made it before the cameras, was replaced by James Mason. Scourby was deemed ineffective in the role of the evil Count and was let go in favor of the more sinister-looking Thayer David.

Pop music sensation Pat “White Bucks” Boone originally wasn’t interested in doing the picture. But after a talk with his agent, Boone signed on as the young Scot. It proved to be a good move, as Journey to the Center of the Earth became a hit and provided Boone with residual income for years to come.

Journey to the Center of the Earth Filmed at Carlsbad Caverns

Journey to the Center of the Earth was filmed primarily at New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Other locations used were Edinburgh University in Scotland and Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu, California. Little Lake and Fossil Falls in Lone Pine, California, served as the setting for Iceland.

L.B. Abbott, James B. Gordon and Emil Kosa Jr. were in charge of special effects, delivering an array of prehistoric monsters, giant mushrooms, a violent subterranean storm and other fantastic scenes in giant CinemaScope.

The Lindenbrook Expedition Discovers Atlantis

Journey to the Center of the Earth opens in 19th century Scotland, where Professor Oliver S. Lindenbrook discovers a cryptic inscription inside a piece of volcanic rock. Lindenbrook believes it’s a message from Arnie Saknussemm, the legendary explorer who descended into the bowels of the earth alone some 300 years ago and was never heard from again.

With young student Alec McEwen in tow, Professor Lindenbrook heads to Iceland where he hopes to duplicate Arnie Saknussemm’s journey. In Reykjavik, he finds that a rival, Professor Goteberg of Stockholm University, has been murdered in his hotel room. The leading suspect is Count Saknussemm, a descendant of the famous explorer who is planning a journey below as well.

Professor Goteborg’s widow, Carla, agrees to supply the Lindenbrook Expedition with all the necessary equipment from her late husband’s estate, with one stipulation: that she be allowed to accompany Lindenbrook on his journey. Reluctantly, Lindenbrook agrees, with Carla, Alec and a big, strapping Icelander named Hans Belker (along with his duck Gertrude) rounding out the team.

Following markers left by Arnie Saknussemm, the Lindenbrook party make their trek to the center of the earth. Along the way they encounter giant mushrooms, glowing rock formations, underground waterfalls, giant lizards, a vast subterranean ocean and the remnants of the lost continent of Atlantis.

Journey to the Center of the Earth Premieres in New York City

Journey to the Center of the Earth opened at New York City’s Paramount Theater on December 16, 1959.

“The true-blue sci-fi fan may find aspects of the picture ludicrous, but if one is willing to accept the film as one big spoof, it can turn out to be a fairly amusing entry,” observed Variety (12/9/59).

“Its main success is as a children’s film, one of the best to come along in some time…” opined Paul V. Beckley of The New York Herald Tribune (12/17/59).

“Good, clean, gaudy fun without a brain or a message in its pretty little head, which should be enough for anyone,” offered John P. Case in Films in Review (1/60).

Journey to the Center of the Earth Box Office, Trivia, DVD

• Journey to the Center of the Earth grossed $4.777 million, earning the #17 position on the list of the top moneymaking films of 1959.
• The film garnered three Oscar nominations: Best Color Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Special Effects and Best Sound.
• Pat Boone performs four songs: “The Faithful Heart,” “Twice as Tall,” “My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose” and “My Heart’s in the Highlands.”
• On DVD: Journey to the Center of the Earth (Twentieth Century-Fox, 2003).

“I don’t sleep. I hate those little slices of death,” Count Saknussemm declares.

Giants lizards, a quacking duck, Pat Boone singing – no one else will sleep through this movie either…