Journey to the Center of the Earth (G)

A fanciful sci-fi tale for the whole family.

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Movie details

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Directed By: Henry Levin
Cast: James Mason, Pat Boone, Arlene Dahl
Running Time: 130 minutes
Release Date: 11/15/1959
Video/DVD Release Date: 03/04/2003
Genre: Fantasy
MPAA Rating: G
MPAA Explanation: all audiences

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this adaptation of Jules Verne's book is mostly clean fun, but the crew does face what appears to be certain death. The killing of some prehistoric animals may frighten young children.

Families can talk about what they would imagine is under the earth, if they weren't tethered to what science tell us. What fanciful animals? What kind of society would you create?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Professor Oliver has no respect for women and verbalizes his opinions of the lesser sex. Of course, the women always end up right and the Professor mistaken.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

The killing of prehistoric beasts.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Randy White

After a lava rock reveals a secret message, the recently knighted Professor Lindenbrook (James Mason) and his favorite student Alec (Pat Boone) are off to a volcano that supposedly leads to the center of the earth. Much to Lindenbrook's chagrin, he is forced to take along the widow of a recently deceased rival scientist, since she owns some valuable equipment. The journey takes several months and the group is nearly killed when attacked by a descendant of an Icelandic scientist, the source of the original communication. Eventually, hundreds of miles below the earth's surface, the group discovers beasts long thought extinct, as well as the lost city of Atlantis.

Is it any good?

A bit hokey to be sure, but this action/adventure movie has a rip-roaring premise taken from the classic novel by Jules Verne. It has charming characters, especially the overbearing professor who is proven wrong on a regular basis. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH also boasts diverting action sequences, and a grand, old-fashioned score.

One 13-year-old girl enjoyed the movie, with caveats. She enjoyed the imaginative story, especially the delightful surprises that Jules Verne throws the viewer's way. She also liked the scenery inside the volcano, which was shot on location at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The sometimes-clunky special effects and Pat Boone's smarmy singing impressed her less. The world of late 19th-century Scotland is gloriously realized but the movie's depiction of Iceland -- obviously not shot on location -- is more dubiously represented and a great deal stranger (check out the hats!).