Mysterious Island *** (1961, Michael Craig, Herbert Lom, Joan Greenwood, Gary Merrill, Michael Callan, Percy Herbert, Beth Rogan) – Classic Movie Review 3722

Director Cy Endfield’s 1961 British adventure movie is produced by Charles H Schneer.

Michael Craig and Michael Callan star as embattled American Civil War soldiers, officers Captain Cyrus Harding (Craig) and Herbert Brown (Callan), who flee by balloon and land involuntarily on an uncharted island menaced by prehistoric beasts in Jules Verne’s follow-up to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (filmed by Disney in 1954).

Accompanied by three other renegades (Gary Merrill, Percy Herbert and Dan Jackson), Harding and Brown meet two beautiful English ladies (Joan Greenwood and Beth Rogan) who have been shipwrecked. Soon they encounter the notorious Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom), the infamous commander of the super-submarine The Nautilus.

With a literate, intelligent screenplay by John Prebble, Daniel B Ullman and Crane Wilbur, Mysterious Island tells a gripping, gripping yarn, and it is further enlivened by Ray Harryhausen’s marvellous stop-frame effects, Bernard Herrmann’s exciting music score and director Endfield’s taut and attentive handling. The actors are all good, but it is Lom who enjoys himself most in the film’s best role.

Lionel Barrymore starred in the early sound version (1929) and this 1961 excursion was followed by 1969’s Captain Nemo and the Underwater City and The Amazing Captain Nemo (1978).

RIP Ray Harryhausen.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 3722

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