First Men in the Moon (1964) / Journey to the Center of the
Earth (1959)
Blu-ray Company: Twilight Time
Journey to the Center of the Earth: Starring: Pat Boone, James Mason, Arlene Dahl, Diane
Baker, Thayer David, Alan Napier
Plot: First Men in the Moon:
Plot: Journey to the Center of the Earth: An Edinburgh
professor and assorted colleagues follow an explorer's trail down an extinct
Icelandic volcano to the earth's center.
My Review and Thoughts:
Films: 4/5
Here is two imaginative adventures that only the olden days
of movie making could do. In today’s cinema world, tricks and special effects
are done with computer animation and a flick of the wrist on a keyboard. These
two films where old school, stop motion or trick of the camera brilliance with
amazing sets and costumes. I grew up loving films with stop motion animation,
or people in rubber costumes. I am a diehard fan of giant monster films and
most of all Ray Harryhausen. Ray had apart in creating one of the films I am
reviewing, First Men in the Moon. Both these films are a magical journey of
exploration of the imaginative mind. The childhood adventures and make believe,
come to life with these two extraordinary films of fancy. I remember first
seeing, First Men in the Moon, at a Sat. Matinee during my childhood. A local
theater would run double features for kids or adults, mainly geared, to children
out of school in the summer time. For a dollar, you got two features, and about 10
cartoons on the big screen. This was in the glorious 80’s and if you brought a
canned food item, for the poor, you got a bag of popcorn free.
My first adventure with, First Men in the Moon, is a grand
memory of my childhood days. I never had a good childhood, I was abused in many
horrible ways at the hands of an adult, but my one true escape, was the wonders
of cinema. My childhood mind could block away the horrors of my life, and take a
trip into wonders, fantasy, adventure, and these two films, First Men in the
Moon and Journey to the Center of the Earth are pivotal parts of my childhood. Believe it or not, Cinema in a sense saved my life. Cinema gave me an outlet to feel safe, or at
least for a couple hours to wash away my torment. I was able to adventure
inside the stories and hide away from my pain.
I first saw Journey to the Center of the Earth the same way
as, First Men in the Moon. The double bill matinee. I am so excited that I have
been given the chance and opportunity to experience these two wonderful,
imaginative creations of storybook wonderment, brought to life, once again by
the amazing company, Twilight Time with two wonderful Blu-ray's. Two masterful examples of created
perfection for old school cinema.
These two Blu-ray’s are cinema perfection. Both imaginative pieces
of cinema. Lovingly transferred, and fixed, and beautified on a new outlet of clarity. Both of these have 5,000 Unit pressing’s. These old school pieces
of science fiction bliss, should be sought out.
First Men in the Moon was adapted from one of the greatest
writers of fantasy and science fiction to ever grace the written world, none
other than H.G. Wells. Journey to the Center of the Earth was adapted by
another one of my all-time favorite writers, Jules Verne. Both equally brilliant
in telling fanciful stories of the adventurous imagination of our dreams.
First Men in the Moon is one of my favorites, because Ray
Harryhausen had a part in creating the film. This wild trip to the moon is
mixed with camera tricks and amazing sets, and imaginative ideas, of what the
moon is. The book was written in 1901 and the film came to light for the
wonders of cinema in 1964. This is a film of the old school lover of science
fiction and the dreamer of make believe. A great film for kids and the family.
Wonderful acting by the whole cast. The characters come to life in fanciful
ways, and the adventure, and exploration of the moon, through their actions, lend
to the science fiction wonderment of the film. Directed by an amazing director.
A director that has done some of the great’s of my childhood, such as, the
sci-fi B-movie classic, 1957’s The Deadly Mantis. Nathan Juran directed so many
from my double bill, Saturday Matinee films of cheesy excellence, or a late night,
all night, Drive-in flare, that he was so good at. From, 20 Million Miles to
Earth, The Brain from Planet Arous, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, The 7th
Voyage of Sinbad. He not only did feature films, he did some of the great
sci-fi TV series, such as, The Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,
Lost in Space, and my personal all-time favorite, Land of the Giants. He was a
multi-talented director from Western’s, to dramas, to the mastery of Science
Fiction. First Men in the Moon is his prime example of thee golden art-form in
creating wonderment's, for the mind and the imagination.
First Men in the Moon stars the wonderful Lionel Jeffries.
An important actor that should always be remembered. From TV to main features,
he was a performer that could grace cinema in any style character he brought to
life. Sometimes a side character, or a doctor, or someone that was part of the
situation, but always in masterly form. He was a perfect character actor in
many of his roles. Also starring another passionate performer, Norman Bird. He
had a vast career in movies, and in TV. I will always remember him as the voice
of Bilbo Baggins in the 1978’s animated version of, The Lord of the Rings.
Acting in close to 200 performances, he was a true and stable performer. He had a mastery of his characters, and his character of Stuart in, The First Men in
the Moon, is no different. Also starring the very beautiful and stunning Martha
Hyer and Betty McDowall, two amazing actresses that graced the cinema world,
both big and small, and there memories in the history of cinema will never be
forgotten.
Journey to the Center of the Earth is also another adventure
into the realm of imagination, childhood wonder and the adult side of
exploration. Another fanciful story and also film. Written by the amazing Jules Verne and originally published in 1864. The film is wonderfully directed by Henry Levin. Levin
was best known for his comedies, such as, 1962’s If a Man Answers, 1960’s Where
the Boys Are, 1959’s The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacke. He also worked alongside
Horror and Giallo filmmaking master Mario Bava for the 1961 Fantasy film, The Wonders
of Aladdin, but in reality, it is, Journey to the Center of the Earth that he is
best known for.
This stars the wonderful James Mason. Mason is one of my all-time
favorite actors. He had a style and attitude toward his characters that few
actors have. There is a sophisticated reality toward his persona's. His character of Sir Oliver S. Lindenbrook in Journey to
the Center of the Earth is no different. Well over 150 acting performances in
his career.
Gracing such amazing pieces of cinema as, 1954’s A Star
is Born, 1950’s North by Northwest, 1962’s masterpiece, Lolita. His long career
from the 1930’s till 1985 was a mix of high class performances. Many will know him
from some of his most famous roles, Nazi Erwin Rommel in 1951’s The Desert Fox, and
the other that I love him in, 1954’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,
where he plays the famous character Captain Nemo. I also am a huge fan of 1978’s
The Boys from Brazil where Mason is golden in the part of Eduard Seibert. But
in all his career, I think it would be his role in Stephen King’s masterpiece TV
movie 1979’s Salem’s Lot playing Straker that I always end up remembering. Now he also acted in another film
that Twilight Time graced with their amazing Limited Edition Blu-ray, the
wonderful War, Action Drama, 1966’s The Blue Max READ MY REVIEW HERE.
Journey to the Center of the Earth also stars the beautiful
and stunning Arlene Dahl playing the part of Carla Goetabaug. She started in
the 60’s becoming a television regular, playing pivotal characters in Burke’s
Law, Love Boat and others. She is possibly best known now for writing and also
becoming her own business woman creating and running Arlene Dahl Enterprises.
Her products consisted of Lingerie and makeup. Now here is a little trivia for
all you cinema buffs out there that might not know this, she is the mother to
action star and b-movie icon, Lorenzo Lamas. Also another little trivia is her
granddaughter Shayne Lamas, was a part of the 2002 TV reality show, The Bachelor,
and was picked at the end of the show as the winner. Whatever Dahl was a part of,
she is a stunningly beautiful and vibrant actress that owns anything she
performed in. Her last acting was in 1999, but she makes TV appearances as
herself quite often in TV programs or documentary’s. Currently as of this
writing she is filming a documentary to be released in 2016 about Broadway.
Journey to the Center of the Earth has been done many times in the film cinema world. Countless adaptions have been on
both, the big screen, and the small screen, but it will always in my viewpoint be
this adaption, that I return to the most. Wonderful acting, solid direction and a fanciful imagery of imagination and wonder, that only Jules Vern could create.
All those that were involved with The First Men in the Moon
and Journey to the Center of the Earth, would be proud to see these masterly
crafted Blu-rays. Twilight Time did both films justice. Beautiful wonderful
examples of amazing products that the cinema world needs.
Audio/Video: 5/5
First Men in the Moon: Excellence is how to simply put it. I don’t
think First Men in the Moon has ever looked or sounded any better than this
product has done. It’s crisp, clear and vibrant in every way.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1964 / Color
103 MINUTES
Journey to the Center of the Earth: Like First Men in the
Moon, this is a priceless example of how to treat a film with high class imagery
and sound quality. This is another prime example of how to treat a film that is
older and bring out for a new generation to explore. Simply put, this is listening heaven, and eye
candy, in the craftsmanship put into this product.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA / English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1959 / Color
129 MINUTES
RATED: G
REGION FREE
Extras: 4/5
First Men in the Moon:
Isolated Score Track
Randall William Cook Introduces the “Men in the Moon". This runs almost five minutes, clocking in at 4 minutes 54 seconds.
Audio Commentary with Ray Harryhausen and FX Artist Randall
William Cook.
Tomorrow the Moon is a fun old-school and somewhat silly
feature on how close the space race is, and it’s closing purpose, running 4
minutes 33 seconds.
Original Theatrical Trailer.
Awesome hearing and listening to the master Harryhausen. The
price of admission for this Blu-ray is worth it, just for this special feature.
Harryhausen is a god of stop motion animation and should never be forgotten. He was a pioneer
and an extraordinary man. He gave the world of cinema so many imaginative
characters and situations that only a master talent could do. He gave me a mind of adventure and imagination that I cherish every
day.
Journey to the Center of the Earth:
Isolated Score Track
Audio Commentary with Actress Diane Baker, and Film
Historians Steven C. Smith & Nick Redman
Original Theatrical Trailer.
The commentary of this one is utterly fantastic hearing
Diane Baker talk about the film and also learning about the history of the film
through the historians, is a golden ticket in itself. I love listening to the
making and history of films and these commentaries are always very informative
and the products that Twilight Time brings out, sometimes have these
commentaries, and they are highly regarded by me, and for those who love cinema
period.
Both come with the special feature that most Twilight Time
films come with. The isolated music, so you can listen to just the
soundtrack of the film. This special feature I always look forward to because I
am a huge music lover and soundtracks are something very important to the
pieces of cinema.
The music from Lionel Newman in the film First Men in the
Moon sends you the watcher on the adventure. The sounds and tunes is like an
exploration all its own. This is
fantastic example of an isolated music track. His vast career started in the
1930’s and went on until his death in 1989.
Mastering over 300 credits to his
name in the music department. From TV to motion pictures and everything else,
from writing, to composing, to conducting. From great works as composer on 1968’s
The Boston Strangler, to 1953’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1954’s There’s No Business like Show Business,
1976’s horror masterpiece The Omen, also working in an uncredited role as music
supervisor on the sci-fi classic 1977’s Star Wars, and it’s sequels. He also was
involved in other movies, that Twilight Time Limited Edition release’s brought
out, The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre READ MY REVIEW HERE, and Flaming Star READ MY REVIEW HERE. From TV’s The Green Hornet,
to Lost in Space, to Batman, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Time Tunnel, Land
of the Giants, Daniel Boone, Mash, and so many others. He was a talented guru of
music. He had his hands in so many wonderful films and television series that
his legacy lives on, and through Twilight Time, they honored him greatly with
this Blu-ray.
The isolated music track for Journey to the Center of the
Earth is no different; it is an excellent listen just the same. The man behind
the music really needs no introduction to cinema lovers. Bernard Herrmann. He is
the master behind some of the greatest music scores of all time. He was a
regular on Hitchcock films composing such masterpieces as Psycho, North by
Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo and many, many other Hitchcock
films. Now he also did beyond Hitchcock films such as the masterpieces Citizen
Kane, Cape Fear, Fahrenheit 451, and Taxi Driver. Whatever he graced with his
master talent, was a true one of a kind music orgy of total perfection that
left a movie, with so much more glory, when it had his, musical talent. He was a
multi-award winning master composer. He worked his talent from 1941 all the way
until 1976. His last four movies in the 70’s was an array of his talent from, De
Palma’s Sisters and Obsession, to Cohen’s, It’s Alive, to Scorsese’s, Taxi
Driver. He left his stamp in the music and movie world for all generations to
experience. He also was graced by another Twilight Time release with his music score from The Bride
Wore Black CLICK HERE TO READ MY REVIEW. His music is still being used today in films and TV, most recently
in the awesome first season of American Horror Story and on the big screen in
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.
Overall:
Product Rating: 5/5
Both these are must own Blu-ray’s. You should treat yourself
to, two imaginative sci-fi Drive-in, late night mastery’s of exploration of the
fanciful of the mind. Twilight Time did a fantastic job at honoring both of these
old school sci-fi trips into a time when stop motion animation, and sets, and
costumes, and props where the masters of Special Effects, how I miss those days.
Today in a world of computer run effects, where CGI has destroyed and run
rampant in falsifying craftsmanship, at least we have the classics to return to, and Twilight Time has honored both these films with two fantastic Blu-ray’s, on
their Limited Editions, 5,000 Unit pressing. Don’t wait, make sure you buy as
soon as possible.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
Also head over and like Twilight Time on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovies