Episode 128 - Journey To The Center Of The Earth

We wrap up our salute to the music of Bernard Herrmann with “Journey to the Center of the Earth” from 1959. Under Henry Levin’s direction the Jules Verne classic is brought to life in a fun and engaging adventure. The cast led by James Mason and Arlene Dahl is delightful to watch as we join them on this trip into an unknown world. Mr. Mason as Sir Oliver Lindenbrook is quite taken by his own renown and thoroughly enjoys everyone’s adulation. He meets his match in Ms. Dahl’s Carla Goteborg a strong person bent on completing her dead husband’s lifelong work. Also Alec McEwan played by Pat Boone and Diane Baker as Jenny Lindenbrook together add depth, romance and song to the story. We cannot forget Thayer David as Count Saknussemm who is determined to meet his evil goal no matter the cost or Peter Ronson as Hans Bjelke who, with his pet duck Gertrud, adds strength to the drama. As always, Bernard Herrmann’s musical score is excellent. The music perfectly frames the scale of this adventure. Mr. Herrmann is quoted as saying “I feel that music on the screen can seek out and intensify the inner thoughts of the characters”. His music certainly does that in the films we have reviewed. Join us in this “Journey to the Center of the Earth”.