Mysterious Island

Director: Cy Endfield, Cyril Endfield

Overview

"Adventure is the key to the special effects extravaganza Mysterious Island. This 1961 feature is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and appears to be in excellent shape considering the film's age. The bright colors and solid black levels are all w

Product Details

Release Date:	03/24/2009
UPC:	0043396078949
Original Release:	1961
Rating:	NR
Source:	SONY PICTURES
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00
Sales rank:	4,487

Special Features

Closed Caption;Digitally mastered audio & anamorphic video; Remastered in high definition; Photo gallery; The making of Mysterious Island; The harryhausen chronicles; "This is dynamation featurette; Widescreen presentation; English audio; English, French, and Spanish subtitles; Theatrical trailers; Interactive menus; Scene selections

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michael Craig	Capt. Cyrus Harding
Joan Greenwood	Mary Fairchild
Michael Callan	Herbert Brown
Gary Merrill	Gideon Spillet
Herbert Lom	Capt. Nemo
Beth Rogan	Elena
Percy Herbert	Sgt. Pencroft
Dan Jackson	Neb
Nigel Green	Tom
Harry Monty	Actor
Bernard Herrmann	Composer

Technical Credits

John Prebble

Daniel B. Ullman

Crane Wilbur

Jules Verne

Ray Harryhausen	Special Effects
Charles H. Schneer	Producer
John Prebble	Screenwriter
Daniel B. Ullman	Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Crane Wilbur	Screenwriter
Jules Verne	Screenwriter
John Cox	Sound Effects
Peter Handford	Sound Effects
Bob Jones	Sound Effects,Sound/Sound Designer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Start [3:03]
2. Prison Escape [6:44]
3. Introductions & Terms [4:10]
4. Closing the Valve Permanently [3:15]
5. The Balloon Tears Open [3:11]
6. Survivors [6:02]
7. Strange & Beautiful Landscape [2:45]
8. A Giant Crab [2:42]
9. After-Dinner Entertainment [4:53]
10. Lady Mary & Elena [5:53]
11. The Cave [3:21]
12. An Ex-Pirate's Diary [4:11]
13. The Comforts of Civilization [2:16]
14. Remembering Nemo & The Nautilus [2:45]
15. The Phororhacos [3:15]
16. Wedding Plans [1:02]
17. The Honeycomb [2:04]
18. The Nautilus [4:56]
19. Cannon Attack & Sinking [6:01]
20. Captain Nemo [1:23]
21. Aboard the Nautilus [4:17]
22. The Incredible Electric Gun [3:19]
23. Remains of an Ancient City [5:34]
24. The Volcano Erupts [1:08]
25. Harding's Idea [1:12]
26. The Cephalopod [2:53]
27. Ship Afloat [4:33]
28. The Island Self-Destructs [2:22]

Menu

Side #1 --
Play Movie
Subtitles
English
French
Spanish
Subtitles Off
Scene Selections
Trailers
Mysterious Island
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
Special Features
"This is Dynamation" Featurette
The Harryhausen Chronicles
"Mysterious Island" Featurette
Photo Gallery
Sketches
Production Stills
Poster Art

Editorial Reviews

The cinematic equivalent of a good old British "ripping yarn," Mysterious Island takes a great deal of liberties with the Jules Verne story upon which it is based. The result is not vintage Verne, but it's a fun-filled Saturday afternoon-type adventure film that young boys (of all ages) will enjoy. The plot doesn't make a lot of sense, but it's not really supposed to; all it needs to do is provide a few excuses for some neat-o Ray Harryhausen giant animals. While these are far less sophisticated than what one expects in current films, they are very good for the period and have a certain strange power to them. The sequence involving the giant bees is especially well done. Equally impressive is the lengthy balloon flight/storm sequence that opens the picture. In between the adventure sequences, the film bogs down; dialogue and character development are not among its strong points, nor is the explanation for why these giant creatures exist particularly credible. In general, the acting takes second place to the special effects, although Herbert Lom is quite amusing and Joan Greenwood has some very good moments. Bernard Herrmann's score is excellent, as always, and adds tremendously to the adventure segments. Mysterious Island is not a great film, but it's a great deal of fun.